Russian Revolution of 1917

The Russian Revolution of 1917 was a political movement in Russia that climaxed in 1917 with the overthrow of the Provisional Government that had replaced the Russian Tsar system, and led to the establishment of the Soviet Union, which lasted until its collapse in 1991.

Brief chronology leading to Revolution of 1917

Dates are correct for the Julian calendar, which was used in Russia until 1918. It was twelve days behind the Gregorian calendar during the 19th century and thirteen days behind it during the 20th century.

Related Topics:
Julian calendar - 1918 - Gregorian calendar

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• 1855 - Start of reign of Tsar Alexander II
• 1861 - Emancipation of the serfs
• 1866-74 - The White Terror
• 1881 - Alexander II assassinated; succeeded by Alexander III
• 1883 - First Russian Marxist group formed
• 1894 - Start of reign of Nicholas II
• 1898 - First Congress of Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP)
• 1900 - Foundation of Socialist Revolutionary Party (SR)
• 1903 - Second Congress of Russian Social Democratic Labour Party. Beginning of split between Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.
• 1904-5 - Russo-Japanese War; Russia loses war
• 1905 - Russian Revolution of 1905.

:January - Bloody Sunday in St. Petersburg.

Related Topics:
Bloody Sunday - St. Petersburg

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:June - Battleship Potemkin uprising at Odessa on the Black Sea (see movie The Battleship Potemkin)

Related Topics:
Battleship Potemkin uprising - Odessa - Black Sea - The Battleship Potemkin

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:October - general strike, St Petersburg soviet formed

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:: - Imperial agreement on elections to the State Duma - October Manifesto

Related Topics:
Duma - October Manifesto

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• 1906 - First State Duma. Prime Minister - Petr Stolypin. Agrarian reforms begin
• 1907 - Second State Duma, February - June
• 1907 - Third State Duma, until 1912
• 1911 - Stolypin assassinated
• 1912 - Fourth State Duma, until 1917. Bolshevik - Menshevik split final
• 1914 - Germany declares war on Russia
• 1915 - Serious defeats, Nicholas II declares himself Commander in Chief. Progressive Bloc formed.
• 1916 - Food and fuel shortages and high prices
• 1917 - Strikes and riots; troops summoned to Petrograd

Expanded chronology of Revolution of 1917

January

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:Strikes and unrest in Petrograd

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February

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: February Revolution

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:26th – 50 demonstrators killed in Znamenskaya Square

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:27th – Troops refuse to fire on demonstrators, desertions. Prison, courts, and police stations attacked and looted by angry crowds.

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::Okhranka buildings set on fire. Garrison joins revolutionaries.

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::Petrograd Soviet formed.

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March

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:1st – Order No.1 of the Petrograd Soviet

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:2nd – Nicholas II abdicates. Provisional Government formed under Prime Minister Prince Lvov

Related Topics:
Nicholas II - Provisional Government - Prince Lvov

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April

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:3rd – Return of Lenin to Russia. He publishes his April Theses.

Related Topics:
Lenin - April Theses

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:20th – Miliukov's note published. Provisional Government falls.

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May

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:5th – New Provisional Government formed. Kerensky made minister of war and navy

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June

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:3rd – First All-Russian Congress of Soviets in Petrograd. Closed on 24th.

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:16th – Kerensky orders offensive against Austro-Hungarian forces. Initial success.

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July

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:2nd – Russian offensive ends. Trotsky joins Bolsheviks.

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:4th – Anti-government demonstrations in Petrograd

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:6th – German and Austro-Hungarian counter-attack. Russians retreat in panic, sacking the town of Tarnopol. Arrest of Bolshevik leaders ordered.

Related Topics:
Austro-Hungarian - Tarnopol

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:7th – Lvov resigns. Kerensky is new PM

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:22nd – Trotsky and Lunacharskii arrested

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August

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:26th – Second coalition government ends

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:27th – Right-wing General Lavr Kornilov is alleged by Kerensky to have attempted a coup. Kornilov arrested and imprisoned.

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September

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:1st – Russia declared a republic

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:4th – Trotsky and others freed. Trotsky becomes head of Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies.

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:25th – Third coalition government formed

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October

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:10th – Bolshevik Central Committee meeting approves armed uprising

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:11th – Congress of Soviets of the Northern Region, until 13th

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:20th – First meeting of the Military Revolutionary Committee (Revolutionary Soviet Committee) of the Petrograd Soviet

Related Topics:
Military Revolutionary Committee - Petrograd Soviet

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:25th – October Revolution is launched as MRC directs armed workers and soldiers to capture key buildings in Petrograd. Winter Palace attacked at 9.40pm and captured at 2am. Kerensky flees Petrograd. Opening of the 2nd All-Russian Congress of Soviets.

Related Topics:
October Revolution - Winter Palace - 2nd All-Russian Congress of Soviets

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:26th – Second Congress of Soviets: Mensheviks and right SR delegates walk out in protest against the previous day's events. Decree on Peace and Decree on Land. Soviet government declared - the Council of People's Commissars (Bolshevik dominated with Lenin as chairman).

Related Topics:
Decree on Peace - Decree on Land - Council of People's Commissars

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