Key Events in the Reign of Tsar Nicholas II

1865

Nicholas II's grandfather (emperor alexander) 'frees' slaves- freedom from serfs. However, peasants weren't completely freed due to debt slavery to the landlords.

1881

Assassination of Alexander II (Nicholas II witnesses it- beef w peasants).

1894

Tsar Nicholas II becomes tsar (father, alexander III died) little father of Russia.

1896 26/05

Nicholas II crowned. 1200 people crushed to death at coronation. Believed in AUTOCRACY, divine right to rule, was an absolute monarch. Secret police: Okhrana.

1900s

Conditions of Russia at the start of Nicholas II's rule: 1. only ~40% of tsar's subjects (imperial council-often corrupt) spoke Russian as a first language. Many different nationalities: COSSACKS, POLES AND FINNS. Not all were very loyal. 130 ethnic groups: over 100 languages spoken. 2. Jews (5mil) often suffered racial prejudice and vicious attacks (POGROMS) sponsored by gov. Roman Orthodox Catholic Church was main religion. 23 Muslims also lived in Russia. 3. Keen to become an industrial power, helped by SERGEI WHITE. Industrialisation a lot more prominent in the west. 4. 80% of population were peasants living in communes, MIRS, used ancient farming techniques (not very efficient), subsistence farmed, and were very poor and illiterate. KULAKS AND ZEMSTVAS. 5. Lots of urban migration. Workers living in poor conditions. 6. Middle class (capitalists) formed; clashes between workers and MC. 7. Russian empire stretched over 6000 miles; bordered w German Empire, China, Finland and Afghanistan. Very big- hard to rule, communicate, lots of land unsuitable for farming, lack of railways and useable roads. 8. Aristocrats (1%, owned 25%), clerfy (0.5%), middle class (0.5%) urbanities (tradesmen, shopkeepers 11%), peasants (80%). Rapid population increase. 9. Growth of opposition- SRs, social democrats.

1903

Years of the Cockrel- peasants would commit arson to landlord's houses. Social democrats split into BOLSHEVIKS AND MENSHEVIKS (illegal).

1904

90,000 strikes leading to violence.

1904/5

Japan/Russia war- long term cause of revolution. Russia lost.

January 1905

09/01: Bloody Sunday- Father Gapon lead 150,000 workers in a peaceful protest with a petition to Winter Palace. Tsar was away, soldiers got scared and opened fire. 1000+ deaths.

February 1905

400,000 workers on strike in St. Petersburg.

April 1905

Illegal trade unions forming in major cities; organised strikes.

May 1905

First Soviets set up. Aim to seize control of factories.

June 1905

Crew of Battleship Potemkin mutinied in support of strikers.

October 1905

General strike- economy almost collapsed bc. Railway strikes and peasant rebellions in the countryside. OCTOBER MANIFESTO- ministers want reform. DUMA formed middle class government- all laws had to be checked by duma before being implemented. More human rights.

1906

Stolypin appointed; carrot (allowed kulaks to opt out of mirs and buy land to prosper) and stick (harsh punishments-20,000 exiled and 1000 hanged) method. Killed off opposition (stolypin's neckties). Conditions: low worker wages, high cost of living, country debts.

April 1906

FUNDAMENTAL DECREES-duma stripped of power; power back to autocracy.

1907

Tsar changed voting rules so his opponents could not be in duma.

1908

Rasputin summoned to help heal a bleeding episode of Alexei. Gets reputation of a healer.

1911

Stolypin assassinated. Nicholas II was going to fire him anyways bc. He was changing Russia too much (wanted basic education for all).

1912

Conditions: increasing unemployment and hunger.

1913

300 years of Romanov rule. Little enthusiasm for celebration.

1914

Jul: WWI begins (Russia enters). Tsar increases in popularity (patriotism). WWI death toll: 9.5-13 mil soldiers. Aristocrat officers were not good.

Aug 1914

Russia defeated at Tannenberg by Germans

Sep 1914

Russia defeated at Masurian lakes by Germans

1915

Conditions: food shortages, army badly supplied, huge defeats and losses. Russia defeated at Masurian lakes by Germans

September 1915

Discontent and famine throughout Russia. Tsar v. unpopular

November 1916

Council of United Nobility asks Tsar to step down

December 1916

Rasputin assassinated

07/03

20,000 on strike. Workers locked out at Putilov Steelworks. In support, workers in other factories strike

08/03

90,000 on strike (50 more factories close). International Women's Day- women join on the streets, socialist women demonstrating

09/03

200,000 on strike

10/03

250,000 on strike. No public transport/newspapers. Food shortages. Cossacks refuse to attack strikers

11/03

Duma President (Rodzianko) telegrams Tsar about new gov. Tsar shuts down Duma

12/03

TIPPING POINT: full scale mutiny breaks out. Duma sets up a provisional gov (PG) of 12 people

13/03

Tsar telegrams Duma, suggesting shared power. Duma refuses

14/03

Tsar (500km away) tries to return to Petrograd

15/03

Tsar (250km away) is stopped by revolutionaries and is forced to abdicate

16/03

Nicholas II's brother Michael abdicates after 24 hours of having the crown, ending Romanov rule. Russia is now a republic.

April 1917

Lenin returns from Finland

16/04

April thesis- 'peace, land bread', 'all power to the soviets', proposing a 2nd revolution

June 1917

Russia suffer major defeat in Austria. Soldiers deserting army

July 1917

July days (3 days)- 100,000 Bolshevik soldiers mutiny, roaming streets shouting 'all power to the soviets'. Wanted Lenin to revolt immediately. Mobs broken up violently by Kerensky's army

September 1917

Kornilov Revolt. General Kornilov tries to overthrow Kerensky. Kerensky allows Bolshs to form Red Guards. Ended quickly because Kornilov's troops didn't want to shoot red guards. Support for Bolsheviks increased as they are seen as heroes.

November 1917

06/11: Red guards gaining control in Petrograd. 07/11: morning- Red Guards seize important buildings, evening- storming of winter palace (not violent). 08/11: BOLSHEVIK DECREE 1- Land belonging to Tsar, Church, and nobles handed to peasants. BOLSHEVIK DECREE 2- Russia asked for peace with Germany.

12/11

BOLSHEVIK DECREE 3- Working day limited to 8hrs, 48 hr week. Rules about overtime and holidays

14/11

BOLSHEVIK DECREE 4- Workers insured against illness or accident

December 1917

01/12: BOLSHEVIK DECREE 5- All non-Bolshevik newspapers banned. 11/12: BOLSHEVIK DECREE 6- Constitutional Democratic Party (Cadets) banned, leaders arrested (opposition of bolsh). 20/12: BOLSHEVIK DECREE 7- Cheka set up to deal with spies and counter revolutionaries. 27/12: BOLSHEVIK DECREE 8- Factories under control of worker's committees. BOLSHEVIK DECREE 9- Banks under Bolshevik gov. control. 31/12: BOLSHEVIK DECREE 10- Marriage could take place without a priest. BOLSHEVIK DECREE 11- Divorce made easier.

18 Jan 1918

Constituent Assembly- Bolsheviks lose so Lenin closes it down using Red Guards. Instead used Congress of Soviets to pass his laws as it had a Bolsh majority. Lenin thought he was establishing a dictatorship of the proletariat which would give way to true communism.

28 Jan 1918

Red Army formed. 300,000 soldiers, lead by Tsarist officers whose family was held hostage.

Mar 1918

Lenin accepted terms of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk; end of Russia in WWI. Russia lost A LOT: 34% of population, 32% of agricultural land, 54% of industry, 89% coal mines, fine of 300 million golden roubles.

May/Jun 1918

Full scale civil war begins and war communism (all large factories taken over by gov, strikers could be shot, food was rationed, free enterprise became illegal, army took all of peasants' surplus, leaving them with barely enough to eat).