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Marxists Revolutionaries split
Marxists revolutionaries disagree over revolutionary tactics. The more radical Bolsheviks are ready to risk everything. The charismatic Vladimir Lenin becomes the leader. -
Port Arthur
Japan attacks Russia at Port Arthur, Manchuria due to disputes over territories. News of Russian losses sparks unrest at home. -
Bloody Sunday
200,000 workers and their families marched to the czar’s winter palace with a petition asking for better working conditions. Soldiers were ordered to fire on the crowd. 1000 were wounded and several hundred were killed. -
First Duma Meets
The first Duma met. Its leaders wanted Russia to become a constitutional monarchy, but Nicholas was hesitant to share his power, so he dissolved the Duna after 10 weeks. -
Russia Enters WWI
Russia enters World War 1 and suffers multiple defeats against Germany which killed more than 4 million Russian soldiers. -
Petrograd Riots
Women textile workers in Petrograd led a citywide strike. Five days later, riots flared up due to shortages of bread and fuel. At first, soldiers followed orders and shot on the rioters. But eventually, they sided with them. -
Bolshevik Red Guards Storm Winter Palace
Armed factory workers stormed the Winter Palace, calling themselves Bolshevik Red Guards. They took over government offices and arrested leaders of the provisional government. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Russia and Germany signed the treaty of Brest-Litovsk which gave Germany a large part or Russia’s territory. Russians objected the signing of this treaty. -
Civil War in Russia
Civil war rages in Russia. -
New Economic Policy
Lenin temporarily put away his plans a state-controlled economy. Instead, he implemented a small-scale version of capitalism called the New Economic Policy. The NEP allowed peasants to sell their surplus crops instead of turning them in to the government. -
Lenin has a Stroke
Lenin has a stroke. This begins the competition in the communist party with Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky.
