Russian Revolution 1905-1924
Jan 15, 1905 Jan 19, 1905
•◀︎ Uprisings End
The government stops uprisings in Moscow, killing hundreds
Jan 22, 1905
Bloody Sunday
•◀︎ Striking workings march to the Winter Palace to deliver a petition to the tsar on January 22 (January 9 O.S.).
Troops open fire and killed between 96 and 200 people. The events of Bloody Sunday sparked strikes,
peasant uprisings, mutinies in the navy, and assassinations of royalty and officials.
Mar 18, 1905
•◀︎ Universities Closed
The tsarist government closes all universities until the following academic year, believing them to be a
source of revolutionary ideas
Apr 12, 1905
•◀︎ Bolshevik Meeting
The Bolshevik Party meets in London and turns down a proposal to reunite with the Mensheviks
Jul 19, 1905 Jul 26, 1905
•◀︎ Political Summit
The tsarist government holds a political summit and devises a new system based on class qualifications
Aug 6, 1905
•◀︎ Bulygin Constitution
The tsarist government announces the Bulygin Constitution which means a Duma will be elected. The idea
is rejected by most political groups
Oct 13, 1905
•◀︎ The Soviet of Soldiers’ and Workers’ Deputies
The Soviet of Soldiers’ and Workers’ Deputies is formed in St Petersburg with Leon Trotsky as vice-
chairman. The council comprises primarily of Mensheviks
Nov 8, 1905
•◀︎ Lenin Returns
Amid strikes and political unrest, Lenin returns to St Petersburg
Nov 24, 1905
•◀︎ Relaxation
A relaxation in press censorship is announced leading to a flood of anti-tsarist literature and propaganda
Dec 3, 1905 Dec 7, 1905
•◀︎ Arrests and Strikes
About 250 members of the St Petersburg Soviet are arrested and Moscow is paralysed by a strike
Dec 23, 1905
•◀︎ Kerensky Arrested
Young radical Alexander Kerensky is arrested and imprisoned for possessing anti-tsarist literature
Apr 23, 1906
•◀︎ Fundamental Laws
Tsar Nicholas II issues the Fundamental Laws, a constitution which reasserts his and retracting promises
made in the October Manifest
Apr 27, 1906
•◀︎ First Duma Meets
The first Duma meets in St Petersburg, boycotted by the Mensheviks and Bolsheviks
Jun 3, 1906
•◀︎ Anti-Semitic Violence
Over 800 Jews are killed in a spate of anti-Semitic violence in Bialystok, ending on June 3rd
Jul 7, 1906
•◀︎ Stolypin as Prime Minister
Stolypin replaces Goremykin as prime minister and the SR later make an attempt on his life
Sep 29, 1906
•◀︎ St Petersburg Soviet Trial
Members of the St Petersburg Soviet go on trial. Most are exied t Siberia, including Trotsky
Feb 20, 1907
•◀︎ Second Duma
The second Duma opens comprising of many socialist representatives, including SRs, Mensheviks and 18
Bolsheviks. It is dissolved by the tsar in June
Nov 1, 1907
•◀︎ Third Duma
The third Duma opens and is comprised primarily of land-owners and conservatives.
Jan 7, 1908
•◀︎ Lenin Flees
Lenin flees Russia and returns to exile in Switzerland
Mar 1, 1911
•◀︎ Rasputin Banished
Rasputin is temporarily banished by the tsar due to reports of his drinking and womanising.
Sep 1, 1911
•◀︎ Stolypin Assassination
Stolypin is shot at the theatre, dies of his injuries, and is replaced by Vladimir Kokovstoff
Apr 4, 1912
•◀︎ Lena River
Troops arrest strike leaders in Lena River and fire on the marchers, killing more than 200. This triggers more
strikes in other parts of Russia
Nov 15, 1912
•◀︎ Fourth Duma
The fourth Duma opens
Jun 15, 1914
•◀︎ Franz Ferdinand
The Austrian archduke, Franz Ferdinand is assassinated in Sarajevo
Jul 19, 1914
•◀︎ Germany Declares War
Germany declares war on Russia. This leads to a boost in patriotism and a decrease in support for socialist
groups.
Aug 18, 1914
•◀︎ Petrograd
St Petersburg is renamed Petrograd
Jun 20, 1916
•◀︎ Dissolution of Duma
Tsar Nicholas II temporarily dissolves the Duma on advice from Rasputin and the tsarina
Jan 9, 1917
•◀︎ Bloody Sunday Strike
Over 140,000 Russian workers strike in commemoration of the 12th anniversary of Bloody Sunday
Feb 19, 1917
•◀︎ February Revolution
The February Revolution begins. Food rationing is announced, leading to panic buying in cities, where food
availability is already low
Mar 2, 1917
•◀︎ Abdication
The Duma’s Provisional Government committee meets Tsar Nicholas II and demands his abdication. He
abdicates in favour of his brother Michael who refuses to take the throne, ending 300 years of Romanov rule
Apr 3, 1917
•◀︎ Lenin Returns
Lenin returns to Russia with the help of the German government and delivers a speech which forms the
basis of the April Theses
Jul 4, 1917
•◀︎ July Days
Workers and soldiers in Petrograd revolt, demanding the Soviets or the Bolsheviks take power but they
refuse and the rebellion is crushed by government troops
Jul 8, 1917
•◀︎ Prime Minister Kerensky
After the Petrograd uprising, the liberal coalition of the Provisional Government collapses and Kerensky
becomes prime minister. The cabinet is then filled with socialists.
Aug 1, 1917
•◀︎ Lenin Shot
An attempt is made on Lenin's life by a member of the SR
Aug 25, 1917
The Kornilov Affair
•◀︎
◀︎ New commander-in-chief of the Russian army, General Kornilov, declares his intention to march on
Petrograd and free the country from radical socialists.
Sep 25, 1917
•◀︎ Chairman Trotsky
Bolsheviks have majority in the Petrograd Soviet and Trotsky elected as chairman
Oct 10, 1917
•◀︎ October Revolution Begins
The Bolshevik Central Committee declares that “an armed uprising is inevitable” and the Petrograd Soviet
creates Military Revolutionary Committee (MRC)
Oct 10, 1917 Oct 23, 1917
•◀︎ Motions
The Petrograd Soviet and Bolsheviks pass motions for the seizure of power and discuss how this should be
achieved.
Oct 25, 1917
•◀︎ Bolsheviks Seize Power
It is announced by Lenin that the Bolsheviks have seized power. He calls for preparations for a Soviet
government causing the Menshevik and moderate SR delegates to walk out of the Congress of Soviets.
Oct 26, 1917
•◀︎ Decree on Land and Decree on Peace
Having seized power, Lenin issues the Decree on Land, which calls for the abolition of private ownership,
and the Decree on Peace, which requests an immediate ceasefire and treaty.
Nov 3, 1917
•◀︎ Bolshevik Red Guard
After a week of fighting, the Bolshevik Red Guards successfully take control of Moscow
Nov 10, 1917
•◀︎ Abolition of Tsarist Ways
The Bolshevik government abolishes all tsarist ranks, titles and privileges
Nov 12, 1917
•◀︎ Elections
44 million people wote in the elections for the Constituent Assembly
Feb 1, 1918
•◀︎ Gregorian Calendar
The Bolsheviks adopt the Gregorian, or New Style, calendar which was already in use in the rest of Europe.
Feb 1, 1918
•◀︎ Religion
The church and the state are separated, making the practice of religion a matter of choice.
Feb 1, 1918
•◀︎ War
The Red Army is offically formed and Trotsky is appointed war commissar. Germany invades Russia
Mar 1, 1918
•◀︎ End of War Involvement
Russia ends its involvement in World War I and surrenders large amounts of land, people and resources to
the Germans.
Mar 1, 1918
•◀︎ Russian Communist Party
The Bolshevik party changes its name to the Russian Communist Party
Apr 1, 1918
•◀︎ Foreign Intervention
British and French forces land in Russia, the first instances of foreign intervention in the Russian Civil War
Jul 1, 1918
•◀︎
•◀︎ Left SRs
Thounsand of Left SRs attempt an October-style rebellion in Moscow but are defeated and arrested
Jul 1, 1918
•◀︎ Romanov Execution
The Romanov family and tare shot by a local CHEKA detachment
Jan 1, 1919
•◀︎ Grain Requisitioning
The beginning of prodrazvyorstka, compulsory grain requisitioning, is announced
Jan 2, 1919
•◀︎ Comintern
The third Communist International, or Comintern,meets in Moscow and disucsses how to aid and advance
the cause of world revolution.
Feb 1, 1919
•◀︎ Menshevik Suppression
The CHEKA closes down the Menshevik newspaper when it publishes criticism of Bolshevik policies
Mar 1, 1919
•◀︎ Hungary
Socialist revolutionaries declare a workers’ soviet republic in Hungary which is finally dispersed in August
Feb 1, 1920
•◀︎ White Army
White Army general is arrested and executed after leading an assault on Petrograd that almost succeeds in
capturing the city
Feb 1, 1920
•◀︎ Peace Offer
The Bolshevik government makes an offer of peace to the US but it is rejected
Nov 1, 1920
•◀︎ Fighting Ends
Most fighting in the Civil War ends though there are some localised skirmishes and peasant uprisings
Mar 1, 1921
•◀︎ Blocakdes Lifted
Britain signs a bilateral trading agreement with Russia and other nations lift their trading blockades
Mar 1, 1921
•◀︎ NEP
At the tenth Party Congress of the Communist Party, Lenin announces the New Economic Policy (NEP)
May 1, 1921
•◀︎ Rebellion Suppressed
Rebellions in the Tambov are finally suppressed, after Red Army troops are sent into the region
Aug 1, 1921
•◀︎ American Relief
A USA based famine relief group distributes millions of tons of grain in Russia
Feb 1, 1922
•◀︎ OGPU
The CHEKA is replaced with a new security agency, the OGPU
Apr 1, 1922
•◀︎ General Secretary Stalin
Joseph Stalin is appointed General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
May 1, 1922
•◀︎ Lenin's Strokes
Lenin has the first of several strokes.
Dec 1, 1922
•◀︎ Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Lenin announces the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, a federation of all soviet states
Jan 1, 1923
•◀︎ Lenin and Stalin
Stalin and Lenin's relationship deteriorates
Mar 1, 1923
•◀︎ Lenin Paralysed
Lenin has another stroke which paralyses him and leaves himbarely able to speak.
Jun 1, 1923
•◀︎ End of Charity
American charities stope sending famine relief to Russia when they discover the government is exporting
grain abroad
Jan 21, 1924
•◀︎ Lenin's Death
Lenin dies and is embalmed in a mausoleum. The city of Petrograd is renamed Leningrad in his honour.
Feb 1, 1924
•◀︎ USSR
The USSR is formally recognised by Commonwealth nations.
