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The Great Northern War
In the Great Northern war, Russia allied with Denmark and Poland against the Swedish Empire. Led by Peter the Great, the Russia's main cause for the war was to gain an outlet on the Baltic Sea, which would greatly increase trade. St. Petersburg was built as a port city on this outlet.
Picture: Battle at Narva, which ended in a victory for Sweden. -
The Decembrist Revolt
As unrest grew in the middle classes, a small group of nobles and army officers tried to overthrow the czar's government. However, Czar Nicholas I quickly crushed the revolt and executed 5 leaders and sent many more to a harsh life in Siberia. This event affected future generations because the leaders became martyrs and heroes. -
Czar Alexander II Emancipates the Serfs
Because of the Feudal System, industrial growth in Russia was frustratingly slow, Alexander II freed serfs in order to enable more people to work in factories. This did little to improve the former serfs' lives. Ex-serfs had to buy land at ridiculously high prices, and they suffered from extreme poverty created by debt. -
Assassination of Alexander II
After repeated attempts on his life, Alexander II finally was assassinated in 1881 when multiple bombs were thrown at his carriage. Before his untimely death, however, Alexander II had created the idea of the Duma and planned to announce it on March 15. However, he was killed before he could, and the idea of the Duma sat dormant until 1905. -
The Russo-Japanese War
Conflict over Korea and Manchuria led to the Russo-Japanese War in 1904. Russia, led by Nicholas II, suffered a huge defeat, leaving many soldiers dead and Russia's people in a revolt. Russia fought in the war with handicaps- soldiers and ammunition were thousands of miles away from the scene of the battle. Despite this, Russia was predicted to win. However, Japan allied itself with Great Britain and dealt Russia a serious defeat. -
Bloody Sunday
On January 22, a day that would soon be known as Bloody Sunday, peaceful protesters marched to the czar's Winter Palace asking for two rights- the right of free speech, and the right to vote. The protesters, many of whom were women and children, were shot at. Some were killed. After this massacre, Czar Nicholas became "Bloody Nicholas." This event caused even more unrest in the already chaotic Russia. -
Revolution of 1905
The events that aspired on Bloody Sunday horrified and angered the Russia people, sparking the Revolution of 1905. Riots and strikes became so intense that Czar Nicholas II established the Duma, an elected assembly. However, the Duma had little to no power. Though it ended the Revolution of 1905, it did not solve Russia's long term problems.
Picture: Opening of the Russian Duma. -
Russia's Involvement in World War I
On August 1 of 1914, Germany declared war on the quickly encroaching Russia, which had been mobilizing its troops in hopes of capturing warm water ports from Germany. Before they knew it, the Russians were involved in the First World War. After the war, Russia had lost close to two million soldiers and their government structure. -
The March Revolution
In Petrograd, Russia's capital, riots and strikes erupted as the people protested the terrible living conditions. They chanted "Bread and Peace!" Though the czar's soldiers were ordered to fire on the crowds, many refused and joined the protesters. Only a few weeks after these events, Czar Nicholas II abdicated the throne. -
Czar Nicholas II abdicates the throne
Life was getting worse and worse for the czar. Though he once embodied hope on the war front, Czar Nicholas II was now a scorned and hated sight. When riots erupted in Petrograd and his officials were overthrown, it was the last straw for Nicholas, who promptly abdicated the throne.
