Events Leading Up to the Russian Revolution By eschmity Oct 5, 1700 The Great Northern War Dec 26, 1825 The Decembrist Revolt Oct 8, 1861 Czar Alexander II Emancipates the Serfs Mar 13, 1881 The Assassination of Alexander II Feb 8, 1904 The Russo-Japanese War Jan 22, 1905 Bloody Sunday Jan 22, 1905 The Revolution of 1905 Aug 27, 1916 World War I Mar 2, 1917 Czar Nicholas II abdicates the Russian throne Mar 8, 1917 The March Revolution