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Decemborist Revolt
The Decembrist revolt is also known as the Decembrist uprising. This took place in Imperial Russia by army officers who led three thousand Russian soldiers. The revolt took place in December so the rebels called themselves the Decemberists. -
Czar Alexander II Emancipates the Serfs
Alexander II emancipated the Serfs because he realized that they were hurting the nation. It was Russia’s weakness because it caused poor military power, food shortages, over population, civil disorder, and industrial backwardness. This held Russia back from progress. -
Nicholas II becomes czar of Russia
Nicholas’s father, Alexander III, was the czar before him. During his coronation overcrowding lead to a stampede in which people were crushed to death. He also had very little experience of government. -
The Social-Democratic Labor Party splits into two groups, Mensheviks and Bolsheviks
The Social-Democratic Labor Party was a political party in Russia. They completely disagreed on how it should be formed. The Mensheviks wanted the party to be as large as possible with few restriction. While the Bolsheviks wanted the party to be a tightly knit small organization of professional revolutionaries. -
The Russo-Japanese War starts
Because the Russians rejected the Japanese plan to divide Manchuria and Korea into spheres of influence, Japan launched a surprise naval attack against a Russian naval base in China. Japan destroyed the Russian fleet. The Russians underestimated the Japanese which lead to a series of decisive victories for Japan. -
Bloody Sunday
Bloody Sunday was a massacre in St. Petersburg, of peaceful demonstrators which led to the violent phase of the Russian Revolution. At the end of the 19th century, industrial workers in Russia had begun to organize police agents, to prevent the Labour Movement from being overwhelmed by revolutionary influences. -
The Revolution of 1905
This was an uprising that convinced Nicholas II to attempt to make the Russian government a constitutional monarchy instead of an autocracy. The humiliating Russo-Japanese War and diverse social groups lead to protesting and terrorist assassinations. -
World War I starts
World War I was a disaster for Russia. Soldiers were low on supplies and weapons due to lack of transportation and unmodernized industries. Also because of the war food was becoming more and more scarce. -
The March Revolution
In March growing, civil unrest, coupled with large food shortages, lead to an open revolt. This forced Nicholas II to abdicate from the throne. -
Czar Nicholas II abdicates the Russian throne
Nicholas was neither trained or inclined to rule. So he was forced to abdicate the throne by the Petrograd insurgents. These events lead to a provisional government to take his place. -
Alexander Kerensky becomes the leader of the provisional government
Alexander Kerensky was a part of the Socialist Revolutionaries. He was also a member of Duma. These things lead to a solid representative to become the Prime Minister of the Provisional Government. -
Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks capture the Winter Palace
Vladimir had been banished to Switzerland by the Czarist government. Lenin then wanted to lead the Bolsheviks to power by showing what war does to people. As soon as the Bolsheviks were armed Lenin ordered an assault on the winter palace. -
The Russian Civil War begins
From 1918 to 1921 the civil war between the Bolsheviks (Reds) and the anti-Bolsheviks (Whites) tore apart Russia. This war started because the Bolsheviks had many enemies, army officers were angry that Lenin had made peace with Germany, and many more reasons. -
Nicholas II and his family are executed
First Nicholas II and his family were being held prisoner near St. Petersburg and then they were transported to Ekaterinburg. They were taken to a house that had been commandeered by the Bolshevik’s to execute and kill people. They were then killed when the white army was getting too close to the town, and to hide the evidence they buried their bodies and poured acid on them to decay them quickly. -
Vladimir Lenin dies and Josef Stalin becomes leader of the Soviet Union
After Lenin died everyone thought that Trotsky, the brilliant leader of the Red Army would become leader. Also because Lenin left a will saying that Stalin was dangerous and should be dismissed. But then Stalin took power against Lenin’s will.
