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Czar Alexander II was Assassinated
In 1881 Czar Alexander II was assassinated by the “People’s Will” a terrorist group who believed in socialism and overthrowing the Czar. Alexander II relaxed laws on things like speaking against the government which gave people who didn’t agree with having a Czar even more freedom to plot against him. His death made way for his successor Alexander III who placed major restrictions on things like education and surveillance over revolutionary groups. -
Nicholas II crowned Czar of Russia
On November 1, 1894 Nicholas II was crowned czar, unfortunately he was not as respected or feared as his father, the previous czar, Alexander III. He did not take control or make any decisions for Russia except for when they included saving his place as czar. In 1905 Nicholas II had legalized political parties, because he did this there were many parties that could openly discuss ways of overthrowing the czar and eventually succeeded. -
Bloody Sunday in St. Petersburg begins the Russian Revolution
In January of 1905 a large crowd of workers from St. Petersburg marched, with a long list of demands, up to palace of the czar. Although the march was peaceful Russian troops opened fire on the protestors. Around 130 of the protesters were killed and that day became known as Bloody Sunday. After this, the news of the Russians defeat by Japan, this sent the whole empire into an uproar. -
World War I begins
World War I began because of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, his assassination caused Austria-Hungary to blame Serbia without any evidence. Austria-Hungary eventually declared war on Serbia and because of the Triple alliance (consisting of Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary) and the Triple Entente (consisting of Britain France and Russia) many countries became involved. These countries that were involved then created alliances with other -
Lenin comes back from exile to Petrograd
In August of 1917 Vladimir Lenin returned to Petrograd, after 10 years in exile in Siberia, to take control of the Russian Revolution. After the February Revolution, Germany allowed Lenin and his lieutenants to cross from Switzerland to Sweden. Lenin called for the overthrow of the Provisional Government and was then deemed a “German Agent” and exiled. But, he called for “peace, land, and bread” which increasingly gained him support making him the virtual dictator of Russia. -
The February Revolution begins
The women who worked in the factories were getting angry about the food shortages, began protesting having to wait in line for bread. Eventually they gained the support of the men working in the factories and within a couple of days all of the working people in Petrograd were on strike. Students and members of the middle class joined in the strikes. The troops that were called to end the protesting did not, instead they also joined. -
Czar Nicholas II abdicates.
Czar Nicholas II abdicated because he was leading his people to famine and war. His inability to lead his country led them into a war, because of the war he lost many of his soldiers and food became rapidly scarce.Then in 1917 workers began to strike, demanding socialist reforms, leaving with only one option, which was to abdicate. -
Bolshevik uprising fails in Petrograd
On July 4 the Bolsheviks attempted a peaceful demonstration which unfortunately led to about 400 injured people, due to confusion. The Provisional Government and the Soviets both could not control the crowds and the Bolsheviks did nothing to stop it. To reduce the Bolshevik’s popularity the government provided evidence that Vladimir Lenin was close to Germany financially. WIth rapidly decreasing popularity the Bolshevik party was arrested and jailed. -
Russian civil war begins
Throughout Russia people who shared similar beliefs were splitting into three groups. The Red’s who believed in communism, The whites who all supported different things but all disliked the idea of communism and wanted to take the Bolsheviks out of power. The greens were peasants who did not follow either, they just wanted to protect their land that they had worked hard for from the Reds and the whites. -
The October Revolution
In order to get rid of the Provisional Government, during the night on November 7, 1917, the Bolsheviks took control of bridges, railroad stations and other key points throughout the city. The next morning Lenin said that the government had been taken over by the Soviets leaving the Provisional government no choice but to surrender. The Congress passed a decree giving all private land to the peasants. -
The Bolshevik Party changed names to The Communist Party
In March 1918 the Bolshevik party who supported Marxism, (which believed in communism where everybody would work together to provide for each other and soon a government would not be needed,) changed their Party’s name to the Communist party. They changed their name to show their complete support of communism, before they changed their name though they created an army that they called the Red Army. The Red Army was opposed by the White army who supported the Provisional . -
Czar Nicholas II and his family were killed
Vladimir Lenin had been on a “killing spree” he ordered about 300,000 people to be killed, among those people were the Czar Nicholas II and his family. They were taken from their rooms into their cellar by Bolshevik, and told that the White Army was coming to kill them. KIlled, were Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, and their five children. -
Russia exits WWI
Russia left WWI because of the civil wars happening within their country. They couldn’t rule over their fighting country and try to fight other countries at the same time.The Russian’s were very unprepared for the war making it hard to keep up with the other countries who had many weapons and factories that were producing weapons. -
Russia’s capital changes from St.Petersburg to Moscow.
Vladimir Lenin changed the capital from St.Petersburg to Moscow to protect Russia. He was afraid there would be a foreign invasion and St. Petersburg is closer to other countries with larger armies than Moscow, which is closer to countries with smaller armies. Moscow is closer to the Balkans and because Austria-Hungary broke apart it left the Balkans with smaller armies. St. Petersburg is close to Germany which is growing their armies making them a larger threat. -
Russian civil war ends
The Russian civil war ended with a peace treaty. On march 18 1921 the treaty of riga was signed. -
U.S.S.R. formed
In 1922 the Red army was dealing with non-Russian parts of the Russian Empire, instead of declaring each of these regions independent they created six self-governed Soviet republics. After the Red Army defeated the white and green armies they joined those newfound Soviet republics with Russia to form the Union of Soviet Socialist R12epublics. (U.S.S.R) -
Lenin dies
In 1924 Vladimir Lenin died from a brain hemorrhage leaving Russia with a struggle for power in the Communist Party. The Communist Party secretary Joseph Stalin eventually gained power as dictator of the Soviet Union. He worked his way up and in 1922 became secretary general of the Communist Party. After Lenin died Stalin outmaneuver his opponents and won control over the Communist Party. Unfortunately he ruled through terror and many of his citizens were killed during his reign.
