Russia Revolution Timeline Project

  • Revolution of 1905 and the October Manifesto

    Revolution of 1905 and the October Manifesto
    Started with what is known as Bloody Sunday; 150k workers peacefully marched to protest economic grievances in St. Petersburg, in which Tsar Nicholas II responded with violence. On October 6, 1905, Count Witte developed the October Manifesto which outlined a list of reforms in response.
  • Beginning of WWI

    Beginning of WWI
    Russia mobilized its forces to prevent the same humiliation from the Bosnian Crisis from occurring and to act upon a possible Austrian invasion of Serbia in order to maintain power and prestige.
  • Czar Nicholas II takes sole control of military operations

    Czar Nicholas II takes sole control of military operations
    Tsar Nicholas II decides to take up the position of commander-in-chief of the Russian army and Navy and travel to the front line which leads to the Tsarina rule.
  • Brusilov Offensive

    Brusilov Offensive
    Lasted until August 10, 1916. Led by General Aleksey Brusilov and was significant because it showed Russia’s capability as it defeated Austro-Hungarian forces, rendering an impossible recovery for them. On the other hand, the Russian price of this was heavy due to Russia’s lack of resources and the amount of casualties for Russia. This map shows how the Russian offensive on Austria-Hungary worked geographically with the forces and their movements.
  • Assassination of Rasputin

    Assassination of Rasputin
    Vladimir Purishkevich, Prince Yusopov, and Dmitri Pavlovich murdered Rasputin in order to end his threatening influence over Tsarina and the empire.
  • Brought under Soviet control

    Brought under Soviet control
    The Bolsheviks became the communist party of the Soviet Union
  • Kronstadt uprising

    Kronstadt uprising
    Groups of sailors whom thought that the Bolshevik rule was unfair and whom decided to rebel against them from march 7th, 1917 to march 17, 1917 but however lost. This led to the N.E.P which made laws a tad fairer and favorable to the working class
  • International Women's Day March in Petrograd

    International Women's Day March in Petrograd
    Militant women marched through Petrograd to show their solidarity on Int. Women’s day (February 23 in the old Russian calendar) and were joined by many other students, male employees, and women from bread queues. These demonstrations continued for days, and Tsar Nicholas II sent troops to shoot into the crowds who instead began to mutiny.
  • Nicholas II abdicates

    Nicholas II abdicates
    A group of Duma representatives arrived at Pskov to describe to Nicholas II the chaos and bloodshed of the February 1917 Revolution and results in him abdicating the throne.
  • Provisional Government formed

    Provisional Government formed
    Government that consisted of those who formerly favored the idea of constitutional monarchy (liberals, moderate socialists, etc) which soldiers, peasants, and workers thought was undemocratic and untrustworthy and held more faith towards the Petrograd Soviet.
  • April Theses published

    April Theses published
    Called for the global socialist revolution and the abandonment of the provisional government and called for peasant land reforms while pulling out of WW1. Protested "Bread, Peace, Land", popular amongst the people because they were going to get rid of the provisional government also brought peace to Russia. The image is symbolic of how Lenin simplified everything to these three words which gained mass popularity from Russians.
  • Return of Lenin from exile

    Return of Lenin from exile
    Lenin returned to Russia in Petrograd for the Russian revolution. This photo is symbolic of his return and gave a speech in which he vowed that the people needed peace, bread, and land, and persuading his followers that the provisional government is not giving them what they want.
  • First All-Russian Congress of Soviets meet

    First All-Russian Congress of Soviets meet
    Lasted until July 7, 1917 - National Conference of the Soviets, which was dominated by Mensheviks and SRs, also rejected anything from Bolsheviks. Continuity of Provisional Government and rejection of stopping the war, although popular opinion was against the war. Photo represents what the conference looked like during these talks.
  • July Days

    July Days
    Lasting till July 20, 1917, an uprise with 500,000 workers/sailors occurred in Kronstadt demanding an end to provisional government sending troops to dismantle rebellion. This picture represents the period of unrest in Russia during the July Days, showing the unreliability of the Provisional Government and the people’s severe disliking of it.
  • Kornilov Affair

    Kornilov Affair
    Lasted September 13, 1917. Revolt led by Lavr Kornilov to overthrow the Provisional government. Kerensky requested help from bolsheviks and Kornilov did not reach Petrograd due to bolsheviks, mutines, and sabotaged railways. The Kornilov Affair showed how weak the Russian military was and the lack of loyal supporters. Mensheviks and SR’s were seen as incompetent and Kadets were distrusted. A significant result of this event was that the Bolsheviks were seen as saviors and were armed.
  • Trotsky organized Red Guard to defend Petrograd

    Trotsky organized Red Guard to defend Petrograd
    Lasted November 7/8 where Trotsky played a key role in the organization of the Red Army, leading to the overthrow of the Provisional Government. During the revolt in Petrograd, he distributed weapons to the Red Guards, leading to the capture of important property belonging to the government, communications, and other important points. The sign says “Long live the Council of Workmen’s and Soldiers’ Deputies!” showing the immense support behind the removal of the Provisional Government.
  • Bolsheviks overthrow the Provisional Government and take control

    Bolsheviks overthrow the Provisional Government and take control
    Coup d’etat by Bolsheviks in which they seized power. The assault on Winter Palace was met with barely any resistance and transfer of power to Bolsheviks was easy. This picture was taken after the coup d’etat, signifying victory as the dual power arrangement was abolished.
  • Cheka formed

    Cheka formed
    The Cheka was the Bolsheviks' secret police and they dealt with identifying and dealing with potential counter-revolutionaries
  • Wartime Communism created

    Wartime Communism created
    Was the political and economic system meant to keep the Red Army supplied with food and weapons through the expropriation of private businesses and nationalization of industry.
  • Ending of Wartime Communism

    Ending of Wartime Communism
    Bolsheviks had 2 types of control in wartime communism, political and economical. Political required all employees to be working for the government, not owned individually. Imposed the secret police and rations for different rankings leading to famine. With economics there was increased weapon production and taking peasant payments during the war
  • Constituent Assembly meets and is disbanded

    Constituent Assembly meets and is disbanded
    The Constituent Assembly was disbanded in 1918 and was a democratically elected constituent created in order to make a Russian constitution.
  • Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

    Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
    The treaty signed by the Ukrainian Republic on February 9 1918 ensured that Russia recognized Ukraine, Georgia, and Finland's independence and gave up Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia to Germany and Austria-Hungary. Also gave Kars, Ardahan, and Batum to Turkey.
  • Red Terror

    Red Terror
    A campaign of political and brutal repression and executions made by the Bolsheviks against their class enemies.
  • Kolchak begins serious attacks against Red from Siberia

    Kolchak begins serious attacks against Red from Siberia
    The Whites were more destructive than both the Greens and the Reds so the Whites attacked the Reds in an attempt to win the war and throw off the Reds’ unity. The attacks continued till October 1919.
  • Soviet’s attempt to take Warsaw

    Soviet’s attempt to take Warsaw
    Stalin refused to help out Warsaw because he wanted to impose a communist state, they bombed it to make Poland surrender and didvided it into ‘ Spheres of influence into German and soviet
  • Poles move towards Kiev

    Poles move towards Kiev
    Poles invaded Kiev due to a trade agreement and saw the expansions of their capitals
  • Tambov Rebellion

    Tambov Rebellion
    Opposition movement from 1920- 1921 due unsatisfactory with Bolshevik rule, some reasons would be the use of War Communism during the russian civil war and shortage of food during that time
  • Lenin Dies

    Lenin Dies
    Before lenin died he wanted to put some policies in place, he wanted Stalin to not have any more power however and tried to enforce a little democracy however it didn't work due to lack of support from the Committee and Stalin soon gained control
  • Treaty of Rapallo

    Treaty of Rapallo
    Treaty of rapallo ensured that Germany and Soviet Unions agreed to cancel all financial claims against each other on april 26th, 1922
  • Soviet Union

    Soviet Union
    December 30, 1922: After the Russian revolution in 1917, due to this revolution a new ideology had formed known as the soviet union, other countries joined Russia including Ukraine, Berlruissia and Gerogian and was formed mainly to ensure a longer Bolshevik rule over the people