The Russian Revolution- Overview
The Russian Revolution was a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917 (known as the February Revolution). In the second revolution (known as the October Revolution), the provisional government was removed and replaced with a Bolshevik (Communist) government.
The February Revolution
Events:
February 22, 1917 Nicholas II leaves Petrograd to visit troops
February 23 International Women’s Day demonstration in Petrograd
February 24 Massive strikes and demonstrations occur throughout the capital
February 25 Unrest continues; Mensheviks meet and set up a “Workers’ Soviet” Nicholas II orders military to stop riots
February 26 Troops fire on demonstrating crowds Mass mutiny begins in local army regiments Firefights break out between troops and police
February 27 More than 80,000 troops mutiny and engage in widespread looting
February 28 Duma and Workers’ Soviet gather separately and begin making decisions about restoring order and establishing a new state March 2 Nicholas II abdicates the throne; provisional government formed
Key People:
Nicholas II - Last Russian tsar; abdicated as a result of the February Revolution
Alexander Kerensky - Member of the provisional government and Petrograd Soviet; wielded significant political power after Nicholas II’s abdication
February 22, 1917 Nicholas II leaves Petrograd to visit troops
February 23 International Women’s Day demonstration in Petrograd
February 24 Massive strikes and demonstrations occur throughout the capital
February 25 Unrest continues; Mensheviks meet and set up a “Workers’ Soviet” Nicholas II orders military to stop riots
February 26 Troops fire on demonstrating crowds Mass mutiny begins in local army regiments Firefights break out between troops and police
February 27 More than 80,000 troops mutiny and engage in widespread looting
February 28 Duma and Workers’ Soviet gather separately and begin making decisions about restoring order and establishing a new state March 2 Nicholas II abdicates the throne; provisional government formed
Key People:
Nicholas II - Last Russian tsar; abdicated as a result of the February Revolution
Alexander Kerensky - Member of the provisional government and Petrograd Soviet; wielded significant political power after Nicholas II’s abdication
The October Revolution
Events:
August 31, 1917 Bolsheviks achieve majority in the Petrograd Soviet
September 5 Bolsheviks achieve majority in the Moscow Soviet
October 10 Lenin and the Bolshevik Central Committee decide to proceed with revolution
October 23 Provisional government acts to shut down all Bolshevik newspapers
October 24 Provisional government deploys junkers Bolshevik troops begin to take over government buildings in the city
October 25 Kerensky escapes Petrograd Bolsheviks struggle all day long to capture Winter Palace Second Congress of Soviets convenes
October 26 Provisional government is arrested early in the morning Lenin issues Decree on Peace and Decree on Land Congress approves Soviet of the People’s Commissars, with all-Bolshevik membership, as new provisional government
Key People:
Vladimir Lenin - Bolshevik leader; became leader of Russia after October Revolution; issued on Decree on Peace and Decree on Land
Lev Kamenev - Bolshevik leader who resisted Lenin's plans for a prompt revolution
Grigory Zinoviev - Bolshevik leader who sided with Kamenev, voting against revolutionAlexander Kerensky - Prime minister of provisional government; fled Russia during revolution to live in Europe then the United States.
August 31, 1917 Bolsheviks achieve majority in the Petrograd Soviet
September 5 Bolsheviks achieve majority in the Moscow Soviet
October 10 Lenin and the Bolshevik Central Committee decide to proceed with revolution
October 23 Provisional government acts to shut down all Bolshevik newspapers
October 24 Provisional government deploys junkers Bolshevik troops begin to take over government buildings in the city
October 25 Kerensky escapes Petrograd Bolsheviks struggle all day long to capture Winter Palace Second Congress of Soviets convenes
October 26 Provisional government is arrested early in the morning Lenin issues Decree on Peace and Decree on Land Congress approves Soviet of the People’s Commissars, with all-Bolshevik membership, as new provisional government
Key People:
Vladimir Lenin - Bolshevik leader; became leader of Russia after October Revolution; issued on Decree on Peace and Decree on Land
Lev Kamenev - Bolshevik leader who resisted Lenin's plans for a prompt revolution
Grigory Zinoviev - Bolshevik leader who sided with Kamenev, voting against revolutionAlexander Kerensky - Prime minister of provisional government; fled Russia during revolution to live in Europe then the United States.
