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April 1870 |
Vladimir Ulyanov (Lenin) is born. |
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1894 |
Nicholas II ascends the throne. |
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1904-1905 |
Russo-Japanese War |
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Jan. 9, 1905 |
Bloody Sunday sparks Revolution of 1905. |
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Oct. 18, 1905 |
October Manifesto promises legislature, civil rights. |
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April 1906 |
First Duma meets. |
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June 1907 |
Stolypin dissolves second Duma and restricts electoral franchise. |
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Aug. 1914 |
Outbreak of World War I, beginning series of Russian defeats. |
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1916 |
Growing popular discontent among both educated elite and the masses. |
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Feb. 9-22, 1917 |
Rising tide of strikes in Petrograd. |
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Feb. 23-26, 1917 |
Women’s demonstrations (February 23) expand to include most of the population of Petrograd by February 25; troops reluctant to act against demonstrators; government barricades street and orders troops to fire on demonstrators (February 26) |
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Feb. 27, 1917 |
Garrison mutiny; Petrograd Soviet formed; Temporary Committee of the State Duma formed and announces assumption of authority. |
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Mar. 1, 1917 |
Order No. 1. |
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Mar. 2, 1917 |
Provisional Government formed; abdication of Nicholas II. |
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Mar. 14, 1917 |
Soviet “Appeal to the People of the World” for a “peace without annexations or indemnities.” |
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Mar. 20, 1917 |
Tsereteli arrives in Petrograd from Siberian exile. Provisional Government abolishes all discriminations based on nationality or religion. |
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Mar. 21-22, 1917 |
Tsereteli and Revolutionary Defensists establish leadership of Petrograd Soviet. |
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Apr. 3, 1917 |
Lenin arrives in Petrograd from Switzerland. |
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Apr. 4, 1917 |
Lenin issues “April Theses.” |
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Apr. 18-21, 1917 |
April Crisis. |
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May 2-5, 1917 |
Government crisis and reorganization to include Soviet leaders in the government: “coalition government.” |
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June 3-5, 1917 |
First All-Russia Congress of Soviets of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies. |
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June 10, 1917 |
Ukrainian Central Rada issues First Universal. |
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June 18, 1917 |
Russian military offensive begins. Soviet-sponsored demonstration in Petrograd turns into massive antiwar and antigovernment demonstration. |
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July 1, 1917 |
Provisional Government delegation and Central Rada reach agreement on limited self-government for Ukraine. |
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July 2, 1917 |
Kadet ministers resign over Ukrainian issue – new government crisis begins. |
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July 3-5, 1917 |
July Days; Lenin and other Bolshevik leaders forced to go into hiding. |
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July 5, 1917 |
German counteroffensive and collapse of Russian offensive. |
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July 8, 1917 |
Kerensky becomes Minister-President. |
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July 18, 1917 |
General Kornilov appointed Supreme Commander of army. |
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July 20, 1917 |
Provisional Government extends right to vote to women. |
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July 21-23, 1917 |
New government crisis, leading to second coalition government. |
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Aug. 27-31, 1917 |
Kornilov Affair; government collapses again. |
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Aug. 31, 1917 |
Bolshevik resolution passes in Petrograd Soviet for first time. |
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Sept. 1, 1917 |
“Directory,” a five-man government headed by Kerensky, established. |
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Sept. 5, 1917 |
Bolshevik resolution passes in Moscow Soviet. |
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Sept. 14-22, 1917 |
Democratic Conference to find a new base of support for Provisional Government; debates forming an all-socialist government, but fails to reach agreement. |
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Sept. 25, 1917 |
Trotsky elected chairman of Petrograd Soviet, Bolshevik-led radical bloc takes control. Third coalition government formed under Kerensky. |
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Oct. 10-16, 1917 |
Bolshevik leadership debates seizing power. |
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Oct. 21-23, 1917 |
MRC challenges military authorities over control of Petrograd garrison. |
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Oct. 22, 1917 |
“Day of the Petrograd Soviet” with rallies for Soviet Power. |
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Oct. 24, 1917 |
Kerensky moves to close Bolshevik newspapers, sparking the October Revolution. |
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Oct. 24-25, 1917 |
Struggle for control of key points in Petrograd between pro-Soviet and pro-government forces – the former prevail. |
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Oct. 25, 1917 |
Provisional Government declared deposed; Kerensky flees to front seeking troops; Second Congress of Soviets opens in evening. |
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Oct. 26, 1917 |
Second session of Second Congress of Soviets passes decrees on land, on peace, and on formation of a new government – Council of People’s Commissars. |
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Oct. 27, 1917 |
Decree establishing censorship of press. |
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Oct. 29, 1917 |
Vikzhel appeals for broad socialist government and forces negotiations. |
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Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 1917 |
First wave of spread of Soviet power across country, culminating in victory in Moscow on November 2. |
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Nov. 7, 1917 |
Third Universal proclaims Rada the government of Ukraine. |
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Nov. 10, 1917 |
Abolition of ranks and titles. |
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Nov. 12, 1917 |
Elections to Constituent Assembly begin. |
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Nov. 20, 1917 |
Bolsheviks take over army general staff headquarters. |
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Nov. 28, 1917 |
Arrest of Kadet Party leaders ordered. |
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Dec. 2, 1917 |
Formal armistice with Germany and Austria-Hungary, but informal armistices already begun between troops. |
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Dec. 7, 1917 |
Cheka established. |
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Mid-December |
Further spread of Soviet power in south and at front. |
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Dec. 12, 1917 |
Left SRs join the government. |
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Dec. 16 & 18, 1917 |
Decrees on divorce, marriage, and civil registration. |
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Jan. 4, 1918 |
Soviet government officially accepts Finnish independence. |
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Jan. 5-6, 1918 |
Constituent Assembly opens and is closed by force. |
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Jan. 9, 1918 |
Ukranian Rada issues “Fourth Universal” declaring independence. |
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Jan. 15, 1918 |
Red Army officially founded. |
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Jan. 20, 1918 |
Decree separating church and state, including church and education. |
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Feb. 1/14, 1918 |
Russia adopts Western calendar, skips thirteen days (February 1 become February 14). |
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Feb.-Mar. 1918 |
Cossack and Volunteer Army opposition in south Russia collapses. |
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Mar. 3, 1918 |
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk signed, formally ending World War I for Russia. |
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Mar. 8, 1918 |
Bolsheviks’ name formally changed to Russian Communist Party. |
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Mar. 12, 1918 |
Seat of government moved from Petrograd to Moscow. |
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Mar. 16, 1918 |
Trotsky appointed People’s Commissar of War. |
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Mar.-May 1918 |
German troops occupy Ukraine and parts of southern and western regions. |
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May 13, 1918 |
Decree on food procurement. |
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May 14-28, 1918 |
Revolt of Czechoslovak Legion and beginning of hostilities with Bolsheviks. |
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June 8, 1918 |
Komuch (Committee of Members of the Constituent Assembly) government founded at Samara. |
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June 28, 1918 |
Decree on nationalization of industry. |
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July 2, 1918 |
Allies formally decide to intervene in Russia. |
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July 16, 1918 |
Nicholas II and his family executed at Ekatrinburg. |
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Aug. 1918 |
Denikin’s army makes important gains in south. |
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Aug. 4, 1918 |
Decree authorizing food requisitioning detachments. |
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Aug. 6, 1918 |
Czechs and Komuch forces capture Kazan, their furthest advance. |
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Sept. 4-5, 1918 |
Bolsheviks proclaim intensified Red Terror. |
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Sept. 10, 1918 |
Red Army retakes Kazan, begins to push Czechs and Komuch army back. |
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Sept. 8-23, 1918 |
Anti-Bolshevik groups in Siberia meet and agree to create a unified government, the Directory, centered at Omsk. |
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Nov. 11, 1918 |
Armistice ends World War I on the Western Front. |
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Nov. 17-18, 1918 |
Directory overthrown and Kochak proclaimed “Supreme Leader” of Russia. |
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Nov.-Dec. 1918 |
Intensified fighting begins in south, Ukraine, and west as German troops withdraw. |
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Jan.-Feb. 1919 |
Red Army retakes most of Ukraine and some areas in west. |
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Mar. 1919 |
Kochak begins his major offensive from Siberia, makes early gains. |
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Mar. 2-7, 1919 |
First Congress and founding of the Communist International (Comintern). |
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Apr. 26, 1919 |
Kolchak’s offensive stopped before reaching the Volga River. |
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May 19, 1919 |
Denikin begins offensive from south. |
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June 9, 1919 |
Red counteroffensive against Kochak begins, pushes steadily eastward. |
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Oct. 11, 1919 |
General Iudenich launches attack on Petrograd from Estonia; stopped by October 22. |
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Oct. 14, 1919 |
Denikin takes Orel, about 235 miles south of Moscow, his furthest reach. |
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Oct. 20, 1919 |
Red Army retakes Orel, begins general offensive against Denikin. |
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Nov. 14, 1919 |
Kolchak’s capitol, Omsk, taken by Red Army. |
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Nov.-Dec. 1919 |
Red Army drives south, taking most of Ukraine and south Russia. |
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Dec. 16, 1919 |
Trotsky’s proposal for labor armies. |
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Feb. 7, 1920 |
Kolchak executed by pro-Soviet authorities in Irkutsk. |
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Mar. 1920 |
Denikin’s defeated army retreats to Crimean Peninsula. |
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Apr. 24, 1920 |
Poland attacks, beginning Russo-Polish War; makes early gains. |
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June-July 1920 |
Red Army counterattacks, re-conquers Ukraine and drives toward Warsaw. |
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Aug. 15, 1920 |
Polish counteroffensive stops Reds before Warsaw and drives them back. |
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Oct. 12, 1920 |
Armistice with Poland. |
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Oct.-Nov. 1920 |
Red offensive against General Wrangel (successor to Denikin) drives Whites from Crimea, destroys last White army; remainder evacuated by sea. |
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Mid 1920-Mid 1921 |
Height of the peasant revolt and “Green” armies in Tambov and surrounding provinces. |
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Late 1920-Early 1921 |
Red Army re-conquers most remaining territories that had declared independence, except Poland, Finland, and Baltic states, which remain independent. |
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Mar. 1-18, 1921 |
Kronstadt rebellion. |
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Mar. 8-16, 1921 |
Tenth Party Congress; Lenin introduces the New Economic Policy and a resolution “on Unity,” designed to clamp down on debate within the party. |
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Mar. 18, 1921 |
Treaty of Riga ends war with Poland. |
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Dec. 30, 1922 |
Declaration of Union and Treaty of Union lay foundation for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, completed by the approval of the constitution in January 1924. |
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1924 |
Lenin dies. |