Events Leading Up to the Russian Revolution

  • The Great Northern War

    The Great Northern War was a conflict between the Tsardom of Russia and the Swedish Empire. Peter the Great was the leader of the anti-Swedish alliance along with the rulers of Denmark/Norway and Poland/Lithuania. They started out by attacking the newly crowned ruler of Sweden, who was 18 years old.
  • Decembrist Revolt

    It is also known as the Decembrist Uprising which took place in Imperial Russia. The Russian army officers took about 3,000 troops to protest against Nicholas I. Nicholas I took the throne because his older brother took himself out of the line of succession.
  • Czar Alexander II Emancipates the Surfs

    It was one of the most important reforms that took place during the reign of Alexander II. It made all of the serfs free from their nobles. There was no more serfdom after tat day.
  • The Assasination of Alexander II

    He was assassinated in Saint Petersburg. He was buried in the Peter and Paul Cathederal which is located in Saint Petersburg as well. A bomb was thrown under his carriage to stop it and kill ALexander II. The bomber was arrested on the spot.
  • The Russo-Japanese War

    It was the first great war of the 20th century. It started because both Russia and Japan wanted Manchuria and Korea. The Russians were not organized and the Japanese beat them in a series of battles on land and at sea.
  • Bloody Sunday

    Bloody Sunday was a massacre that took place in St. Petersburg. Many peaceful and unarmed workers marched with a priest to present a petition to Nicholas II. They were gunned down by the Imperial Guard before they could get to the palace.
  • The Revolution of 1905

    The Revolution of 1905 was a wave of social and political unrest that spread throughout the Russian Empire. It went on for over 2 years and 4 months. It led to a lot of new changes in the Russian government.
  • World War 1 (Russian Involvement)

    In 1907 Russian joined an alliance with Great Britian and France to form the Triple Entente. In 1914 Russia believed that Germany was their biggest threat to their territory. At one point, Russia had the biggest army, navy, and air force. In 1918 Russia was forced to surrender.
  • The March Revolution

    This revolution resulted in the abdication of Nicholas II. It ended the Russian Empire. It was the start of the Russian Civil War and the Bolshevik's took over power in Russia.
  • Czar Nicholas II Abdicates the Russian Throne

    During the February Revolution Czar Nicholas II is forced by the Petrograd insurgents to abdicate the throne. A provincial government is installed in his place.