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The Revolutionary Movement Grow
The Russian Marxists split into two different group over revolutionary tactics. The Mensheviks wanted a bigger foundation to support the revolution. On the other hand, the Bolsheviks wanted a smaller committed group that was willing to sacrifice anything for change. -
The Russo-Japanese War
Russia and Japan signed an agreement to take over Manchuria and Korea. Later in 1904, Japan turned on that agreement and attacked the Russians at Port Arthur. Due to Russia losing so much, it led to a revolt in the middle of the war. -
Bloody Sunday
Russian workers attempted to petition Czar Nicholas II for better working conditions, freedoms, and a representative government. The Czar troops fire on the petitioners and kill several hundred. This event demonstrated the socioeconomics problems suffered by average Russians and the unwillingness of the monarchy to reform -
WW1: The Final Blow
Unprepared, Russian armies fought against Germany armies. Due to weak generals and poorly equipped soldiers, Russia was defeated left and right- millions killed, wounded or held captive just like that. Czarina Alexandra ran the government while Nicholas was up at the war front. Falling under the holy man's tricks, Alexandra let him take charge in ordering troops around which did not help because the troops did not listen. -
The Provisional Government Topples
Armed factory workers, also known as Bolshevik Red Guards, marched into the Winter Palace in Petrograd and took over the government. After arresting the leaders of the Provisional Government, Kerensky and his men vanished within minutes. -
The Czar Steps Down
Women textile workers in Petrograd formed a citywide strike which later led to Czar Nicholas II abdicate of the throne. A year later, Nicholas II and his family were executed. While the people succeeded in getting rid of the Czar, they failed to realize they no longer have anyone to take over and rule over them. Without a leader, everything went downhill from that point on; there was a temporary government, peasants demanded land, socialist competed for power, etc. -
Civil War Rages in Russia
Within the Bolshevik group, there became two other groups that formed- the Bolsheviks’ Red Army and the White Army. But within the White Army there were many other groups; those who supported the ruling by the czar, wanted democratic government, or even socialists who opposed Lenin’s style of socialism. Western nations, including the U.S sent help for the White Army, however millions died from the three years fighting and famine that came after. -
New Economic Policy
Lenin did not like the state controlled economy, so he built the NEP, a small version of capitalism. The NEP allowed peasants to sell their surplus instead of having to give it to the government. The government kept control over bigger companies and banks but gave more privacy to farms and small companies which led to Russia producing just as many products as before the War. -
Stalin Becomes Dictator
In 1922 Lenin was not in the best of health and later on thought Stalin was a strong and dangerous man. Before Stalin became leader, he worked as a behind the scenes member and changed his name to Stalin in order to fit his working position. By 1928, Stalin was the official leader due to Lenin's death. -
Political Reforms
Lenin created many self-governing republics in Russia to keep nationalism in check. The country was renamed the USSR "in honor of the councils that helped launch the Bolshevik Revolution". Meanwhile, the Bolsheviks renamed their party to the Communist Party after the writings of Karl Marx.
