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Industrialization
Alexander III was a totalitarian ruler, and the Industrial Revolution helped to advance Russia in the world. However, factory workers were treated terribly, and had awful working conditions. This led citizens to believe in Marxism, the idea that the proletariats could rule Russia instead of a czar. -
Russo-Japanese War
Russia and Japan had a treaty about Korea and Manchuria's land, but Russia betrayed the treaty. Japan won the battle in 1904. This led to public disfavorment of the czar once they realized that Russia lost the war, and led to dissatisfaction in the political system, inspiring the revolution. -
Bloody Sunday
200,000 workers held a protest at the czar's Winter Palace, but after soldiers opened fire upon them, 1,000 workers died. To appease the people, Czar Nicholas II created a Russian parliament, which he disbanded after ten weeks. While this protest didn't throw the czar out of power, it showed that citizens were concerned with the way their government was operated, and that they wanted more rights for the work that they did. -
WWI
Czar Nicholas II entered Russia into WWI, which was met with a devastating 4 million soldiers dead, making him very unpopular with the people. In addition, his wife fell under the influence of Rasputin, a herbal healer, who climbed the ranks of government under the pretense that he aided the czar's son with his ailment. WWI only continued to make the czar unfavorable in the public's opinion, and the beginning of the citizens dissatisfaction lead to an actual revolt. -
Bolshevik Revolution
With Lenin taking control of the revolution, the citizens protested in the Winter Palace at Petrograd, overthrowing the provisional government. Lenin gave back to citizens by giving farmland to citizens and withdrawing from WWI. This was the beginning of the Bolshevik's becoming the major rebel group in Russia. -
The Durma
After the March Revolution, the Durma put in a provisional government. However, they didn't prosper, and continued to keep Russia in WWI, and there was no improvement to the citizens' lives. This led to dissatisfaction in the citizens and willing acceptance to join the Bolshevik cause. -
March Revolution
Women factory workers held a citywide strike in Petrograd, compelling even the soldiers who were supposed to combat them to join them. This sparked the general uprising in Russia, culminating in revolutionaries killing the Romanov family. As a result of the murders of the Romanov family, a new political system was set in place for Russia. -
Bolsheviks vs. White Army
This is civil war which took place in Russia from 1918-1920. The White Army was extremely disorganized, with each member rebelling for a different cause. The civil war ended in carnage with 14 million citizens dead in only three years. This civil war was particularly difficult for Russia to overcome as it challenged the Bolshevik party, and helped the Bolsheviks to become united in their goals. -
Creation of the USSR
Lenin renamed Russia to the USSR, (Union of Soviet Socialist Republicans), as a memorial to the beginning of the Bolshevik Revolution, and the Bolsheviks renamed their party to the Communist Party. The USSR marked a new era for Russia, and helped to raise citizens' moral that the USSR would prosper, This had a lasting impact as Lenin paid tribute to past leaders and set a hopeful future for the USSR. -
Stalin's Reign
After Lenin had a stroke, Stalin stood up to take over the Communist Party, from 1922-1927. In addition, he became the dictator of the USSR until his death in 1953. This had lasting implications as he led the USSR to become a military powerhouse during WWII and to become a dominating country afterwards.
