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Decembrist Revolt
In December of 1825 in St. Petersburg, Russia, a group of military officials staged a revolt against czar Nicholas I. The rebels felt threatened by Nicholas’ conservative views. However, the czar’s forces defeated them. As a result of this revolt, Nicholas I created new regulations to prevent the spread of more rebellions across Russia. The rebels instead wanted Constantine and the Constitution. -
Freeing of the Serfs
In 1861, Alexander II was the first person in Russian history to free the serfs, a worker bound to the land and their landlord, of Russia. Not only were they free for the first time, but they could also own land as well. This was the first and most important of his many reforms to try and help Russia, but in the end, their rights were taken away when Alexander II was killed. The main reason the serfs were freed wasn't because of cruel treatments but because of the Crimean War. -
Bloody Sunday
A group of peaceful workers led by priest Georgy Apollonovich Gapon marched to the czar's Winter Palace in St. Petersburg to make their demands that asked for better working conditons and political reforms. Imperial forces opened fire on them, killing and wounding hundreds. Strikes and riots broke out in Russia in response to the massacre. Nicholas responded by promising the formation of a series of representative assemblies, or Dumas, to work toward reform. -
The October Manifesto
The October Manifesto was a document promising political reforms, issued by Tsar Nicholas II. It came after ten months of popular unrest, strikes, violence and political debate about the future of Russia. The October Manifesto was approved by most reformists, particularly liberals and moderate socialists. The manifesto satisfied the moderate revolutionaries, and further unrest was crushed. In 1906 the Fundamental Laws were established to serve as a constitution and to create the Duma. -
Duma
The first Duma opened on April 27th, 1906.
Created in response to Bloody Sunday, it was the elective legislative assembly established by Nicholas II to help settle rebellions and start reforms. The first Duma only lasted 3 months because the people asked what the czar thought was too much and the czar was reluctant to share power. Three more Dumas followed. The Duma had little power and the reforms didn't resolve the basic problems Russia faced. -
Rasputin Murdered
Rasputin was known by many as the "mad monk" and for his special abilities to predict the future and have healing capabilities. He became a favorite of Nicholas I's wife, Alexandra, but his political influence was small. Men repeatedly beat and shot Rasputin several times and then wrapped him in a blanket and threw him in the river where he drowned. The nobles were concerned that Rasputin was influencing the decisions of the Empress Alexandra and giving the family a bad reputation. -
February Revolution
Because of the calendar change, it is called the February Revolution but took place in March. Over 400,000 factory workers rioted over the shortages of bread and the continuation of the war. The goal of this revolution was to displace the czar. The orders called for violent action to be taken and the soldiers were told shoot the citizens and instead the decided to join the strikes and the military lost its control. Nicholas II stepped down and paved the way for the Bolsheviks to get into power. -
Czar Nicholas II Abdicates
Czar Nicholas II abdicates himself after the February Revolution of 1917. He and his family were imprisoned and later killed by the Bolsheviks. His abdication followed shortly after the Petrograd riots where demonstrators were overthrowing czarist officials. -
October Revolution
Because of the calendar change, it is called the October Revolution but took place in November.
This brought about the Bolshevik rule and a change in Russia's social structure, while also paving the way for the USSR and Communism. It took place to try and reform the current government of Russia. It was very violent and included rioting and protesting. Bolsheviks organized the soviets and called for a socialist revolution. -
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk brought about the end of the war between Russia and Germany in 1918. Lenin had ordered that the Bolshevik representatives should get a quick treaty from the Germans to bring about an end to the war so that the Bolsheviks could concentrate on the work they needed to do in Russia itself. The Germans knew the Bolsheviks were desperate to come to terms so held out for extreme terms and Bolsheviks didn't have much option but to agree so they could focus on the civil war. -
New Economic Policy
Lenin's New Economic Policy was a temporary retreat to help rebuild Russia's economy. It was not a long term plan, but just to help the economy stay on its feet. Individual profit and private ownership of land were permitted in order to revitalize the Russian economy. This was also introduced to help keep the peasants from revolting. It managed to drag an entire country out of starvation and help the economic and industrial start to recover. It created capitalism in a socialist state.
