-
Trans-Siberian Railway
Created with the help of the British and French the railway connected Moscow with East ports in Russia. It allowed Russia to take goods across the pacific. Trade flourished in Russia due to this, and it started to give Russia a good grasp on a stable economy. -
Separation of Political groups
The large political group called the Marxists broke into the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks. The Bolsheviks were more radical and would sacrifice anything for change, while the Mensheviks wanted change but on a much less intense scale. This was the start to the Bolsheviks who do so much later in Russian history, so this is a very necessary part of what shaped Russia as we see it today. -
Russo-Japanese War
Russia started the conflict by breaking the agreements held over the lands of Korea and Manchuria. Japan attacked a Russian port to counter what Russia had done. This sparked revolt in Russia, and brought up big ideas of revolution. -
Bloody Sunday
A large petition was held at the Czar's Winter Palace for better working conditions, more personal freedoms, and an elected national legislature. 200,000 workers joined in, but 1,000 were injured and several hundred were killed because Nicholas II told his soldiers to fire at them. This sparked more hate toward the government and only led the way for more revolutions to come. -
Creation of Duma
Nicholas II approved the creation of Duma to try to please the people of Russia, and to make it seem as though it was no longer a monarchy. He had lost some of his power in doing this, so 10 weeks later he got rid of the group out of selfishness. This group comes back into play as Russia starts to fall, and it was also known as Russia's parliament, so their role was important so that Russia didn't fall apart. -
Russia enters WWI
Nicholas II took Russia into the first World War, but under terrible circumstances. They were not in any state to go to war, they could not take the economic and the military costs from this, as well they could not match the German machine guns, after 1 year 4 million soldiers were dead. Russians were very bitter about how the war was going, and they didn't see a need to go into it in the first place, this set up bad relations with the people and the government. -
Completion of Trans-Siberian Railway
-
Lenin Returns to Russia
Lenin was exiled from Russia in fear of the Bolsheviks wreaking havoc on the government that had existed. He had come back with his men during a time when Russia was vulnerable, his plans were to gain power. This was the start of a war bout to break Russia, and a new government was on the rise. -
March/ February Revolution
Riots broke out due to lack of food and nothing would quell them because the soldiers sided with the rioters. It was around 200,000 textile workers who marched against war and autocracy. This was one of the first large riots that people could get behind and it led to the fall of the autocracy and new governmental provisions. -
Provisional Government Falls
Factory workers unhappy with how the government was functioning stormed the Winter Palace. The Bolshevik red guards took over the government offices and killed all of the government officials. This was the fall of Duma, and a new power was now running Russia. -
Russian Civil War
A white army formed against the Bolsheviks to fight over laws. Leon Trotsky led the Red army, or the Bolsheviks into battle, it lasted three years and devastated the country. Having the Bolsheviks win brought a strong economic hold on Russia that could defend against threats. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
The Russian government and the German government looks for means of peace between their two nations. In March 1918 that time came as they signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which stated that after a portion of land was allotted to Germany and its allies the fighting would cease and talks of peace would start. This was not good for the Russians though, and it angered many, people were unhappy with the ways of the Bolsheviks and revolt was bound to happen. -
Creation of a New Economic Policy (NEP)
This allowed peasants to sell surplus crops as opposed to giving them to the government.While the government owned the large businesses and bank, some factories and small businesses were allowed to produce under a private ownership. This allowed Russia to gain more control of their economy after WWI. -
USSR
Russia declared that they would now be referred to as the USSR. This took into account all of the unions that Lenin had created to avoid the problem of Nationalism. Now everyone was looked upon as having a voice in Russia, bringing them a step closer to total equality. -
Lenin's Death
In 1922 Lenin had a stroke leaving both him and the Bolsheviks group in a vulnerable position. On his death bed Lenin said that Stalin was a very dangerous man and that he could not be trusted. This was a very true statement, but people would not listen, and this foreshadowing a dark future for Russia. -
Russian Constitution
the Bolsheviks, now the Communists, under Lenin's rule created a constitution. This document was based off or socialist and democratic views, and it stated equality but truly gave all of the power to the communists. This was the start to a dictatorship coming back, but Lenin made it so true communism was impossible, it was a dictatorship of the communist party not one of the proletariat, leaving equality behind. -
Stalin comes to Power
As Lenin weakened both Stalin and Trotsky were scheming to take his place. Stalin was able to gain power over the Communist Party of Russia, and he exiled Trotsky, later having him hunted and killed. This brought a strong dictator to Russia making them a feared power world wide and bringing Russia into one of the largest conflicts in all of world history.
