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Bloody Sunday
Description:
On Bloody Sunday Russia was faced with labour and political disagreements. Most of these issues were blamed on Russia's war losses. Workers went to the Tsar in order for their problems to be changed. They wanted to protest the shortage of bread and fuel. As the protest continued the workers' focus became more political. -
Bloody Sunday
Significance:
Many workers were killed and there was major unrest among the workers in major cities. Bloody Sunday caused the Tsar to form a representative Duma. The Duma was elected by wealthy Russians, making it the closest Russia had ever been to giving a say to their people. -
Period: to
World War One
Description:
After three years of war, Russia got defeated and had to drop out of the war early. They were left in a bad economic and political state. Russia had the largest army, but lost many soldiers throughout the war. Significance:
Russia's economy took a big hit and their country was left devastated by the war. The war turned Russia into communists. People didn't like that the new government stayed in the war, so they began protesting. This helped cause the Revolution. -
Rasputin's Death
Description:
A group that was dedicated to saving the Romanov dynasty assassinated Rasputin. They were worried that Rasputin was influencing Tsarina Alexandra's decisions and controlling the government. Significance:
There was no longer someone outside of the Romanov dynasty making decisions. This made people more in favor of their decisions. -
February Revolution
Description:
There was a strike by 90 000 textile workers that were protesting about the shortage of bread and fuel. Their reason for protesting got more political and they began putting down the war and the Tsar. Significance:
This led to the abdication of the Tsar. The Tsar's abdication meant Russia would have a new provisional government. This also led to Russia withdrawing from the war. -
Nicholas II abdicated
Description:
The Tsar gave up his throne, in favor of his brother. His brother refused the crown and the Duma stepped in. The Romanov Dynasty was at an end and Russia became a republic. Significance:
It ended the three hundred year long Romanov Dynasty. His abdication led to the formation of a provisional government. This new government introduced wide, democratic freedoms. -
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July Days
Description:
Half a million workers and soldiers rebelled, demanding an end to the war. Riots occured against the provisional government and the government brought in troops to end the riots. Significance:
This caused big problems within the government. Prince Lvov resigned and handed the power to Kerensky. It resulted in the decline of bolshevik influence and the formation of a new provisional government. -
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War Communism
Description:
The urgent needs created by the Civil War led to War Communism. Peasants were forced to give up their crops to the government and workers were told where to work. Significance:
It negatively affected agricultural and industrial production. Wages declined and inflation was uncontrolled. The public was not happy so there were strikes and protests. -
November Revolution
Description:
The Red Guards in Petrograd took control of the stations, telegraph office, bridges, and government buildings. By this time Lenin controlled only the heartland of Russia. After a week of fighting, 200 Russians were killed. Significance:
Russia's provisional government collapsed and a new communist government was introduced. This was the world's first communist government. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Description:
A harsh treaty between Germany and Russia. In order for Russia to get out of the war they were forced to sign it. Russia lost significant amounts of land, population, iron ore, and coal. Significance:
The treaty ended Russia's World War One effort. Russia lost a lot of land, a big portion of their population and 74% of their iron ore and coal. This led to the Russian Civil War. -
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Russian Civil War
Description:
The war occurred because many people were opposed of Lenin's Bolsheviks. The Civil War raged for the first three years of the new Bolshevik state. Significance:
After the war, the communists established the Soviet Union. The policy of War Communism was abandoned and the New Economic Policy was created. -
Russia's New Economic Policy
Description:
The Kronstadt naval base rebelled against Communist rule and demanded free soviets and a constituent assembly. It created serious dissatisfaction with Bolshevik rule. To change this, a New Economic Policy was created. The NEP was designed to bring capital to the state and help it prosper economically. Significance:
The NEP left transportation and foreign trade under state control. It helped recover the agriculture industry and increased the standards of living. -
Treaty of Rapallo
Description:
A treaty between Germany and Russia that brought the two countries into close co-operation. This co-operation was both commercial and military. Significance:
Germany was the first major country to officially recognize the new Soviet state. It provided for the mutual repudiation of war costs and damages and a German promise of economic assistance to the Soviet Union. -
Lenin's Death
Description:
Vladimir Lenin suffered from a stroke in 1922 and never returned to lead the government effectively. He had another stroke later that year. Finally, in 1924 he had a third stroke, but this one killed him. Description:
After Lenin's death, Russia suffered from a power struggle within the Communist party. This led to Stalin eventually emerging as the new leader. -
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Great Purge
Description:
Stalin carried out a "purge" of those in the USSR who could oppose him. He moved in against the Communist party, the intelligentsia, and the Red Army. The resulting arrests and show trials were called the Great Purge. Significance:
It removed all of the opposition of power. A million people were executed and many were sent to labour camps. -
Nazi-Soviet Pact
Description:
A pact between Germany and the Soviet Union in which both countries promised not to fight each other. There was also a secret clause that said both countries were to invade and divide Poland between them. Significance:
Now that the Soviet Union was neutral, Britain and France were out of powerful European allies. After Hitler broke the pact, WWII started.
