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February Revolution
February Revolution begins with mutinies, strokes and revolts around Petrograd. -
Provisional Government Formed
Czar Nicholas II abdicates and includes his son. The following day, Nicholas' brother, Mikhail announced his refusal to accept the throne. Provisional Government formed -
Lenin returns from exile
Lenin returns from exile in a sealed train to Petrograd. -
Protests against Provisional Government
The July Days begin in Petrograd with spontaneous protests against the Provisional Government; after the Bolsheviks unsuccessfully try to direct these protests into a coup, Lenin is forced into hiding, Troops who are loyal to the Provisional Government attack the rioters, killing and wouding 400 troops. -
Alexander Kerensky becomes PM of Provisional Government
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Kornilov Affair
A failed coup by General Lavr Kornilov - commander of Russian Army. -
October Revolution
The Bolsheviks take over Petrograd. -
Bolsheviks take the Winter Palace
The Winter Palace, the last holdout of the Provisional Government, is taken by the Bolsheviks; the Council of People's Commissars (abbreviated as Sovnarkom), led by Lenin, is now in control of Russia -
Treaty of Brest-Litovskll is signed
The treaty of brest-litovsk is signed, meaning that Russia lost all their western lands - Finland, Estonia ,Latvia, Lituania, Poland, Ukraine and Georgia. They lost 26% of their population , 27% of farm land, 26% of railways and 74% of iron ore and coal. -
Czech Prisoners of War take Trans-Siberian Railway
Czech prisoners of war were taken across Russia to Vladivostok. On the way, one train's prisoners got into a quarrel with the Soviets of a town on the railway. When more Bolsheviks went to support the Soviets, more trainloads of Czechs joined in the fight. Within two weeks the Czech had take nover all important towns in the area. -
War Communism
The Bolsheviks created a political and economic system that existed in Russia. It meant that:
1. All industry was nationalized and strict centralized management was introduced.
2. All workers were under government control, including death penalty to strikers.
3. Private trading was banned.
4. The government allowed money to lost it's value. People were encouraged to barter instead.
5. In cities food was strictly rationed. -
The Red Terror
The Sovnarkom ordered the Cheka (the secret political police), to begin a 'Red Terror'. The casualties in the first two months were between 10,000 and 15,000. -
Peasant grow less food
The peasants start to sow less grain and breed fewer animals because they believed that their was no point in growing more crops if the War Communism just took away all of their surplus crops. They only grew enough crops for themselves, causing food shortages and famines. -
Kronstadt Rebellion
In March 1921 there was a revolt of 10,000 sailors and Kronstadt (a naval base near Petrograd). They had been loyal to the Bolsheviks before, but now the sailors said that War Communism wasn't what the Bolsheviks had promised in 1917. They got ready to attack Petrograd. Leon Trotsky and 60,000 troops surrounded Kronstadt. They bombed the naval base and attacked the the sailors' headquarters. Many sailors were killed. -
The New Economic Policy (NEP)
Lenin realized that a change of policy was needed so their were to be no more risings. He abandoned War Communism and introduced NEP, that said that:
1. Peasants could sell their surplus food for profit again.
2. Peasant who increased their food production would have pay less tax.
3. Factories with fewer than twenty workers would be given back to their owners.
4. People could use money once again. -
The 1923 Constitution
At the end of 1922 (start of 1923) Russia gained a new constitution and a new name. Russia was now a 'Union of Soviet Socialist Republis'. They were now a union of four republics - Russia, Byelorussia, Ukraine and the Caucasus. -
Vladimir Lenin Dies
Lenin did not live to see the USSR grow to be one of the great powers of the twentieth century world. He suffered a series of strokes in 1922 and 1923, then died in 1924.
