1905 revolution
1.Tsar’s total power – In early 1900s Russia, the Tsar
ruled alone without any parliament to control him.
2.Hard times in 1904 – Prices of basic goods rose fast,
and workers’ wages fell by 20%.
3.Factory dispute – Four workers at Putilov Iron Works
were fired, which started protests.
4.Big strike – Over 1,10,000 workers in St Petersburg
went on strike for shorter working hours, better pay,
and safer conditions.
5.Bloody Sunday – Peaceful workers led by Father
Gapon marched to the Winter Palace but were attacked
by soldiers and police. Over 100 were killed and 300
hurt.
6.Protests spread – The killings caused strikes and
protests all over Russia. Students also walked out of
universities.
7.Duma formed – The Tsar agreed to set up an elected
parliament called the Duma.
8.Tsar kept control – He soon closed the first two
Dumas, changed voting rules, filled the third Duma
with his supporters, and stopped political activities.
The February revolution
1. Petrograd in 1917 – The city was divided: workers’ areas
and factories were on the right bank of River Neva, while
rich areas and government buildings were on the left bank.
2. Food shortage – Workers’ areas suffered badly from food
shortages during an extremely cold winter with heavy snow.
3. Tsar vs. Duma – Parliament members wanted to keep
elected government, but the Tsar wanted to dissolve the
Duma.
4. 22 February lockout – A factory on the right bank locked
out workers, starting unrest.
5. International Women’s Day strike – On 23 February,
women workers led strikes in 50 factories; workers marched
to the city centre.
6. Protests grow – Demonstrators returned on 24–25 February
despite curfews; police and cavalry were sent to control
them.
7. Duma suspended – On 25 February, the government closed
the Duma; protests and clashes increased.
8. Army mutiny – On 27 February, some regiments refused to
fire on protesters, and soldiers joined the workers.
9. Petrograd Soviet formed – Soldiers and workers together
formed a council (soviet) in the same building as the Duma.
10. Tsar abdicates – On 2 March, the Tsar gave up the
throne; a Provisional Government was formed, and elections
were promised for a new assembly chosen by all adults.
October revolution
1. Lenin plans uprising – In September 1917, Lenin began planning
to overthrow the Provisional Government to prevent a dictatorship.
2. Military Revolutionary Committee – On 16 October, the
Petrograd Soviet, led by Trotskii, secretly prepared for a socialist
takeover.
3. Uprising starts – On 24 October, Bolsheviks moved quickly to
take control of government offices and arrest ministers.
4. Winter Palace attack – The ship Aurora fired on the Winter
Palace, and by night the city was in Bolshevik hands.
5. Bolshevik victory – By December 1917, the Bolsheviks had full
control over the Moscow-Petrograd area despite heavy fighting.
