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Timeline of the Causes of the 1917 Russian Revolution
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Workers demand a 50% wage increase
The workers of the Putilov engineering factory, the largest factory in the city, demanded a 50% wage increase so that they could buy food to eat. The management refuse, causing the workers to go on strike. This angered people because food prices were now very high because all the farmers had been sent to war. The workers would've thought that the authorities didn't care about them and the fact that they would die of starvation. -
The Riots Increase
30,000 were locked out of work and were not paid. They now could not afford any food. They began to strike and persuaded other workers to strike with them. Demonstrations began to occur throughout the whole of Petrograd. Nicholas II was in the city, but left to monitor the troops at the war front, thinking that the demonstrations were the work of hooligans and would end shortly. This made the protestors more angry because they felt as if their king didn't care and could just ignore them. -
Order of Emergency Food Supplies rejected
The riots began to get out of hand. Nicholas was informed by the Duma who then began to plead him to order the release of emergency food supplies. He refused this and ordered that the riots be put down by the next day. This would've angered his Parliament because he has rejected their requests. These requests were concerning the people, who he should be looking after. His response also shows that he doesn't care about his people and what they want and that he believes in the Divine Right. -
Nicholas dismisses the Duma
The police tried to carry out Nicholas' orders and were unsuccessful. People were killed and this worsened the riots. Rioters released prisoners and called for the Tsar to quit. The soldiers decided to join the rioters. The Tsar had enough and decided to dismiss the Duma. This angered everyone and now he didn't have anyone on his side. -
First Act of A Revolution
The Duma decided to disobey the King and meet up. They supported the 25,000 soldiers that had mutinied and decided to form a temporary government, the Provisional Government. The public would've seen this as the first act and or beginning of a revolution. They would've supported this because they didn't like the King and because they knew that now the King was weak because even his close advisors didn't want to support him. -
King stopped on his return to Petrograd
Rodzianko, the leader of the Duma, persuaded Nicholas that things had gotten bad for the royal family and that he should return to restore law and order. The Provisional Government stopped the royal train outside of Petrograd. They negotiated with the King to give throne to his son or his relatives but both of them were unable to rule. Nicholas was then forced to resign. -
Lenin Returns
The famines and shortages continue and the Provisional Government don't do anything to try and help the people. Because of this, the Bolsheviks bring in Lenin from Siberia. The Bolsheviks knew that Lenin would bring the Provisional Government to an end. Lenin makes catchy and meaningful slogans to attract workers and peasants such as "Peace, Bread and Land". People saw Lenin as a leader who would help them get their rights and communism. -
Message leaked about the War
Pavel Milyukov states the Provisional Government's intention to continue the war through a telegram sent to the Allied Powers. The telegram is leaked, resulting in protests and increased support for the Bolsheviks. Consequently, Milyukov resigns. Protests break out because the people remember what happened with the wars when Nicholas II was ruling. -
Soldiers encouraged to disobey
Soldiers’ committees begin to debate orders and encourage soldiers to disobey officers. Many soldiers return home to take part in redistribution of land. The committees were encouraging them to rebel against the Provisional Government similar to when the army began to leave Nicholas II's side. -
The Beginning of The End
General Kornilov, a commander of the Russian Army, orders troops to advance towards Petrograd and counter the threat of the Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks, from this, secured power among the city's working classes, workers and soldiers. This was known as the 'Kornilov Affair'. It was a failed coup against the Bolsheviks because it only benefitted them. -
The Bolsheviks take over the Petrograd Soviets
The Bolsheviks manage to take control of the Petrograd Soviet and their leader, Leon Trotsky, who is also the leader of the Red Guards, becomes its president. -
The Plan is put in action
Late in the night, Kronstadt sailors help Trotsky's Red Guards take over the bridges and telephone exchange in Petrograd. They soon cut off the city from the rest of Russia. -
The End
Then, the Red Guards take over Government buildings, the banks and the railway station. Finally at 21:40, they are signalled by a shell fired from the cruiser Aurora and they move in and take over the Winter Palace (the headquarters of the Provisional Government). The Bolsheviks are now in control of Russia.
