Russian Revolution

By lindsayn
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    Rapid Industrialization

    The number of factories doubles between 1863 and 1900, but Russia still lags behind other European countries. In the late 1800s, a new plan boosts steel production and a major railway begins.
    The poor working conditions and low wages seem to be the only changes for most people.

  • Nicholas II Becomes Czar of Russia

    Nicholas II was the last Russian Emperor; his reign saw Imperial Russia go from being one of the foremost great powers of the world to economic and military collapse. Called him Nicholas the Bloody because of his violent suppression of rebellion, he executed of political opponents and pursued military campaigns on an unprecedented scale.

  • The Revolutionary Movement Grows

    Industrialization breeds discontent over working conditions and wages. Workers demand better wages/conditions. Growing popularity of Marxist idea that proletariat (workers) will rule.
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    Russo-Japanese War

    Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War in the early 1900s causes embarrassment and unrest in Russia.

  • Bloody Sunday: The Revolution of 1905

    200,000 workers march on the Czar’s palace to demand reforms, The army fires into the crowd, killing many. Massacre leads to widespread unrest; Nicholas is forced to make reforms.

  • The Duma Meets

    The Duma, Russia’s first parliament, meets in 1906. Czar is unwilling to share power, dissolves the Duma after only 10 weeks.

  • Russia enters WWI

    Heavy losses in World War I reveal government’s weakness. Nicholas goes to war front; Czarina Alexandra runs government in his absence.
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    Czarina rules poorly during WWI

    Czarina falls under the influence of Rasputin—a mysterious “holy man”—who she believes has the power to heal her son. Nobles fear Rasputin’s influence and murder him. Army losing effectiveness; people at home are hungry and unhappy

  • The March Revolution

    In March 1917, strikes expand; soldiers refuse to fire on workers. Most of the tension is caused by Nicholas II personally taking command of the military in World War I, and the war going so badly.

  • The Czar Steps Down

    Protests become an uprising, and Nicholas abdicates the throne. Duma establishes a provisional, or temporary government. Soviets—committees of Socialist revolutionaries—control many cities.

  • Lenin Returns to Russia

    In April 1917, Germans aid Lenin in returning from exile to Russia (pictured in disguise with his goatee shaved and wearing a wig).

  • The Bolshevik Revolution

    In November 1917, the provisional government falls, and the Bolsheviks seize control.

  • Bolsheviks in Power

    Lenin gives land to peasants, puts workers in control of factories.
    Bolsheviks sign Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany; Russia pulls out of World War I.
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    Civil War Rages in Russia

    Civil War between Bolsheviks’ Red Army (Bolsheviks) and loosely allied White Army (anti-Bolsheviks). Red Army wins the war that leaves 14 million dead.

  • Lenin Restores Order

    Lenin launches New Economic Policy; has some capitalism. NEP and peace restore economy shattered by war and revolution. By 1928, Russia’s farms and factories are producing again.

  • Start of the Soviet Union

    Lenin creates self-governing republics under national government. In 1922, country renamed Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.). Communist Party—new name taken by Bolsheviks from the writings of Marx.

  • Stalin Becomes Dictator

    Trotsky and Stalin compete to replace Lenin after Lenin’s death in 1924. Joseph Stalin was a cold, hard Communist Party general secretary who consolidated his power and eliminated his political opposition.

  • Stalin's First Five Year Plan

    Focus was to set up a command economy and rapidly industrialize the Soviet Union. In the countryside he forced peasants onto huge collective farms that were run by the government.

  • Collectivization and Famine

    Purpose was to bring peasantry under complete control of the communist state. Party leaders eliminated opposition by sending them to the Gulag (labor camps). Collectivization resulted in 10 million dead (7 million by forced starvation in Ukraine).
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    The Great Purge

    Eight million arrests against Stalin's "enemies." Old Bolsheviks tried and executed, army officers expelled or liquidated. Millions of citizens were killed, died in labor camps, or disappeared.