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Causes of the Russian Revolution
Russia suffered from severe problems at the beginning of 1917, including an autocratic and ineffective government under Czar Nicholas II, mounting losses suffered during World War I, severe food shortages, and a general dislike of the Czarina Alexandra (who was left in charge of the government while Nicholas II was at the front). -
The March Revolution Begins
Food riots broke out in St. Petersburg which quickly turned into a general uprsing. 10,000 women led the protests demanding "Peace and Bread"; soldiers and police refused to fire on the protestors and joined the strike instead. By March 10 strikes had paralyzed St. Petersburg and Moscow and reformists in the Duma were demanding the formation of a new government. -
The Abdication of Czar Nicholas II
On March 14 Czar Nicholas II abdicated on behalf of himself and his son, Alexis, passing the throne to his brother Grand Duke Michael (who refused to accept the throne). -
The Creation of Rival Governments in Russia
On March 17 the Provisional Government of Russia declared the creation of the Russian Republic. This government saw itself as only temporary until elections could be held for an assembly to write a constitution for Russia; as such it didn't carry out any systematic reform to deal with food shortages, land reform, or the continual losses in the war. It also had to deal with the communist Petrograd Soviet as a rival source of power. -
Lenin Returns to Russia
On April 3 Vladimir Lenin returned to St. Petersburg from exile in Switzerland with the help of the German army. He almost immediately published the April Theses in Pravda calling for an immediate end to the war, land redistribuation, nationalization of industry, and the overthrow of the Provisional Government. "Peace, Land, and Bread" and "All Power to the Soviets" became the new slogans. -
The Kornilov Affair
On August 27 General Kornilov, the commander of the Russian Army, ordered troops in Petrograd to seize control of the city in preparation to his plan to make himself military dictator of Russia. The Provisional Government was unable to stop him, but the communists organized the Red Guard to protect the city, which increased support for the Petrograd Soviet. -
The November Revolution
On the night of November 6/7 the Bolsheviks overthrew the Provisional Government and established the Council of People's Commissars, led by Lenin, as the new government. Lenin began peace negotiations with Germany, nationalized factories, seized landlord property, established the Red Army, and created the CHEKA. -
Constituent Assembly Meet
On January 18 the Russian Constituent Assembly met to debate the future of Russia. The assembly meet for a total of 13 hours before being disbanded by the Bolsheviks because they claimed it didn't represent the will of the Russian people. -
The Russian Civil War Began
The Russian Civil War was a brutal conflict lasting until 1922 when the Bolsheviks were finally able to defeat the "White" forces allied against them. About 15 million Russians were killed during the fighting, including the Imperial Family, who were exectued on the night of July 16, 1918. Foreign states, including the US, UK, and Japan, intervened militarily on the side of the Whites, but were ineffective in stopping the Red victory. -
Lenin becomes Premier of the USSR
On this date Lenin took office as Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Soviet Union (premier), a position he held until his death on January 21, 1924.
