Russian Revolution: by Sam By branham 1903 Russian Social Democratic Labor Party splits into Bolsheviks (led by Lenin) and Mensheviks Period: 1904 to 1905 Russo-Japanese War 1905 Russian Revolution of 1905 1905 Start of WWI 1916 Murder of royal advisor Grigori Rasputin 1917 February Revolution leads to Abdication of Tsar Nicholas II and to rule by provisional government 1917 October Revolution led by the Bolsheviks under Vladimir Lenin Period: 1917 to 1923 Russian civil war between the Reds and Whites, with foreign aid supplied to Whites. 1918 Lenin orders the executions of Nicholas II and his family. 1922 USSR (Soviet Union) officially established. 1924 Death of Vladimir Lenin