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Alexander III becomes the new czar of Russia
In 1881, Alexander III becomes the new czar of Russia, hanging on to the laws of autocracy in which he controlled the government and had all of the power. During his years as czar, he destroyed anyone who questioned his authority, made Russia the official language while forbidding any other languages, and oppressed other national groups in Russia. Alexander III continuously oppressing his people in Russia caused social unrest and progression towards a full scale revolution fueled by anger. -
Growth Of Revolutionary Movement
The rapid industrialization that occurring in Russia brought on new problems for the citizens of Russia like hard working conditions, incredibly low wages, child labor, and the outlawing of trade unions. This spurred on two major revolutionary movements that began to fight for power- the Mensheviks and Bolsheviks - and who believed that the working class would rule the country and overthrow the czar. V.I. Lenin would later become the leader of the Bolsheviks and lead the revolution in Russia. -
Bloody Sunday
On January 22, 1902, more than 200,000 workers and their families approached the Winter Palace of the czar with a petition for better working conditions, an elected national legislature, and more personal freedom. However, soldiers were ordered to fire on the crowd, injuring more than 1,000 and killing hundreds. The czar approved the creation of the Durma in response to the strikes and violence that followed Bloody Sunday, however he soon dissolved it due to his unwillingness to share his power. -
Russia's Involvement in World War I
In 1914, Nicholas II entered Russia into WWI despite being unprepared to handle the economic and military cost, and with their weak generals and ill equipped troops, the Russians had no chance against the Germans. Nicholas's wife was running the government back in Russia failing to listen to the czar's chief adviser, instead listening to a man named Rasputin. People were now beginning to see the weakness in the czar's ruling, and the governments incapability to handle the country's problems. -
The March Revolution
On March 1917, women textile workers were joined by other workers and soldiers in a march calling for the end to the autocracy and war. With this uprising, the czar was forced to abdicate his throne, and later executing him and his family. While this brought down the reign of the Romanovs and the czar, Russia was left with a weak provisional government that continued the country's involvement in the war, and radical city workers and peasants demanding more land. -
Lenin and Bolsheviks Gain Power
Germans arranged the return of Lenin to Russia to stir unrest in the country and when Lenin returned to Russia, he and the Bolsheviks gained control of the Petrograd soviet. Armed factory workers calling themselves the Bolshevik Red Guards stormed the Winter Palace and toppled the Provisional Government. Lenin ordered the farmland to be distributed to the peasants and signed a treaty with Germany, however this treaty also gave a large part of their territory to Germany, which upset the Russians. -
Russia's Civil War
Many different groups who opposed the Bolshevik's ruling came together as the White Guard and fought for power against the Red Army. About 14 million Russian's died in the struggle and famine that came with the war, and a worldwide flu epidemic along with hunger and life loss caused Russia to be left in chaos. However, with the win of the Red Army, the Bolsheviks were able to show the Russians that they had the ability to take power and keep it. -
Restoration
After the war, Russia's economy was destroyed with trade at an impasse, industrial production decreasing, and workers fleeing to other countries. Lenin turned the country to the New Economic Policy, which had the peasants sell their surplus crops, the government take control of the industries, banks and communication, but let small business, factories, and farms operate under private ownership. This caused the economy of Russia to slowly recover and farms were producing as much as before WWI. -
Communist Party
With nationalism being a threat to the Bolshevik unity and loyalty, Lenin developed governing republics undder the central govenment and renamed Russia into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The Bolsheviks were now named the Communist Party and they created a constitution "based" on socialist and democratic principles. However, the party had all of the power, and Lenin became a dictator of the Communist Party (not of the proletariat). -
Death of Lenin
After Lenin suffered a stroke in 1922 Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin were both competing to lead the Communist Party. Even though Lenin believed that Stalin was a threat to Russia, Stalin still climbed up to power and exiled Trotsky in 1929. Russia was now in danger of Stalin gaining absolute power and becoming a dictator, destroying their progress.
