Civil and Political History of the Russian Revolution

Civil and Political Life
during the Russian Civil War
(1917-1921)

A historical overview of the political and civilian events
during the Russian Civil War.

This section will focus on a history of events that took place throughout Russia during the turbulent days of the Russian Civil War. Here we will discuss the political changes and significant civil events that occurred between 1917 and 1921. The Russian leaders of the period will also be profiled at a later time.

Political & Civil Events Historical Index

1917
1918
1919

1920
1921

Statistics of Russia
1917-1921

Russian Leaders (1917-1921)
1894-1917	Nicholas Romanov II
1917-1917	Alexander Kerensky
1917-1921	Vladimir Ilyich Lenin

Timeline 1917-1921

1917
	9 January	Trepov resigns his position. Russian Prime Minister Prince Golitzin succeeds him.
	17 January	General Bieliaev is appointed as the Russian Minister of war, replacing General Shuvaiev.
	18 January	Duma re-opens and the Council of the Empire is delayed. It was originally scheduled for January 25, is now scheduled for February 27.
	20 January	Tsar Nicolas addresses Prince Golitzin, and states his main policy objectives. Among these are continuation of the war, improved provisioning of the armies and civil population, an improvement of transport systems. He says he hopes the Duma and the Council of Europe will support Prince Golitzin.
	30 January	Allies send delegates to Petrograd to hold meetings about military and financial matters.
	February	Bread riots and strikes in Petrograd
	5 February	Russian Conference of the future of Poland is held.
	13 February	Allied conference in Petrograd ends. Lord Milner says that more is being done to increase cooperation between Allied countries.
	27 February	The Duma is reopened.
	2 March	Warsaw is reported to have been organizing a national army to fight against Russia.
	8 March	February Revolution Occurs (February 23rd by old-style calendar).
	9 March	Strikes, food demonstrations, and rioting increase in Petrograd, the Russian government agrees to allow local governments to handle food distribution problem.
	12 March	Russian Revolution begins. A Provisional Goverment is formed with Rodzianko, Kerenski, Miliukov, Vladimir Lvov, Karajulov, and Colonel Engelhart. The first proclamation of the new government states that it finds itself compelled to bring order to the chaos caused by the old government. They also ask for the full cooperation of the people and army. The Fortress of Peter and Paul is to be the new headquarters of the army.
	13 March	Revolutionary activity continues in Petrograd. Russian Admiralty surrenders and Petrograd garrison goes over to Provisional Government's side. Duma makes a second proclamation appealing to the people of Petrograd to not damage public service buildings or harm the property of other citizens.
	14 March	Moscow, Odessa, and Kharkov declare their support for the Provisional government. Grand Duke Cyril places himself and his sailors under command of Rodzianko.
	15 March	Tsar Nicholas II abdicates in favor of Grand Duke Mikhail, whom he asks to work with the Provisional Government. Grand Duke Mikhail transfers power to Provisional Government under Prince Lvov. Prince George Lvov is made the Prime Minister of the Provisional Government. Kerensky is made Minister of Justice. Many new laws are passed. Among these are the abolition of all social, religious, and ethnic restrictions, a law declaring freedom of the press and association. Labor unions are allowed. A national militia is to replace the current police.
	16 March	Kerenski gives a speech in the Duma where he asks for the Army to support the new government.
	18 March	The Russian press urges loyalty to the Allied cause. Russian food shortages become less acute. Provisional government begins inquiries into the conduct of former Ministers.
	19 March	Petrograd Soviet of Workers' Deputies issue Order No. 1. In an unrelated event, an assassin attempts to kill Kerenski.
	20 March	Former Tsar Nicholas reviews the troops of the Russian army and urges them to be loyal to the Provisional Government. The appointment of Grand Duke Nicholas as supreme commander of Russian army is annulled. Provisional Government issues a proclamation stating that they cannot become neutral because the prospects of peace in Europe are non-existent.
	21 March	The former Tsar Nicholas and his wife are arrested. The food and munitions problem in Petrograd is well on its way to being dealt with.
	22 March	The former Tsar is taken to Tsarkoe Selo. Italy, England, and France recognize the Provisional Government. The death penalty is abolished in Russia.
	23 March	Lloyd George sends a telegram to Russian Prime Minister congratulating him on his revolution and stating that only the Prussian autocracy stands in the way of freedom and liberty.
	March	Kamenev and Stalin return from Siberia
	25 March	The Provisional Government accepts all responsibilities of the previous regime. It also abolishes or alters all orders and medals except the Order of Saint George.
	27 March	Provisional Government issues a proclamation favoring peace and self-determination.
	28 March	All members of the Romanov family take an oath of loyalty to the Provisional Government.
	30 March	The independence of Poland is recognized by the Provisional Government.
	April	Lenin arrives at the Finland Station in Petrograd Lenin writes his April Theses
	10 April	The Provisional Government issues a proclamation detailing Russia's new war aims. They state that the military is in a severe state of disarray and that defense of the nation is top priority. It also says that Russia seeks only peace and autonomy, not new territory.
	13 April	The All-Russian Conference of workers and soldiers delegates meet in Petrograd. British and French representatives arrive in Russia and meet with Provisional Government.
	14 April	Allies (including Russia) agree of future status of an independent Poland.
	15 April	Austria makes effort to seek a separate peace with Russia.
	1 May	Miliukov writes note stating the new Russian foreign policy.
	4 May	Russian Provisional Government faces a vote of confidence, which it narrowly passes.
	5 May	General Kornilov reorganizes the Russian reserves.
	10 May	The president of the Duma affirms Russian loyalty to the Allies.
	16 May	Coalition Provisional Government is formed. Kerensky is made head of War and Marine matters. Tereshchenko is made Foreign Minister. German Chancellor hints at possible peace with Russia.
	19 May	First performance of Diaghilev's 'Ballet russe'
	21 May	French Minister of Munitions speaks in Moscow.
	30 May	Socialists announce International Conference in Stockholm.
	June	Election of Constituent Assembly set for September 30.
	1 June	Socialist revolt against Provisional Government at Kronstadt.
	5 June	Revolt at Kronstadt ends after negotiations with Provisional Government succeed.
	9 June	Russians reject a German proposal for an unlimited armistice.
	11 June	A message from United States President Wilson is published. It states that no people should live under a government that they do not desire, and that all possible means must be taken to stop a repeat of the Great War.
	16 June	In Petrograd the All-Russian Congress of Worker's and Peoples' Delegates opens.
	30 June	Russian delegates leave Russia for conferences in England, France, Italy, and Stockholm.
	6 July	Andrei Gromyko was born. He would later become the Soviet Foreign Minister during the Cold War era.
	July	6th Party Congress is held.
	15 July	Four ministers of the Cadet Party resign in protest against recognition of the Ukraine.
	16-18 July	Revolts in Petrograd. Maximalists under V. Lenin cause the Petrograd garrison to mutiny. Machine gun and rifle fire is heard in the streets. The revolt is soon crushed.
	19 July	An assassination attempt against Kerensky fails.
	22 July	Prince Lvov resigns as Prime Minister; Kerensky takes his place. Kerensky retains his offices as War and Marine minister.
	2 August	Kerensky resigns.
	August	Kerensky becomes dictator Constituent Assembly election is postponed until November 25.
	9-14 Sept	Kornilov uprising
	25 Oct	Bolsheviks begin the October Revolution (November 7th by current calender)
	November	Patriarchate is re-established
	7 November	The Bolsheviks under Lenin overthrow the provisional government of Alexander Kerensky in Petrograd.
	25 Nov	Constituent Assembly elections begin
	December	Establishment of the Cheka Left Socialist Revolutionaries enter into a coalition with Bolsheviks
	20 Dec	Armistice negotiations at Brest-Litovsk begin
1918
	January	Constituent Assembly is dissolved.
	31 January	The Soviet Government declares that the following day will be 14 February instead of 1 February as it switched from the Julian to the Gregorian Calendar.
	February	Separation of church and state is announced.
	1 February	Russian government, but not the Church, moves to the Gregorian Calendar.
	March	7th Party Congress British land at Murmansk.
	13 March	Treaty of Brest-Litovsk is signed ending Russia's involvement in World War One.
	April	Japanese forces land at Vladivostok
	June	Committees of the Village Poor established. Nationalization of industry.
	July	Foreign Intervention begins. The Russian Federation of Soviet Federalist Republics Constitution is ratified. This was also known as the Lenin Constitution.
	17 July	Murder of Tsar Nicholas II and his family in Ekaterinburg.
	August	American troops land in Vladivostok.
	September	American troops land at Archangelsk.
	December	British troops land at Batum.
1919
	March	Founding of the ComIntern
	March	Kolchak launches drive against the Bolsheviks. 8th Party Congress
	April	The French withdraw from Odessa
	June	Maximum extent of General Denikin's advance
	28 June	The Treaty of Versailles is signed
	October	Allies withdraw from Murmansk and Archangel
	10 November	The Russian engineer and weapons designer Mikhail Kalashnikov is born. He would go on to develop weapons like the AK-47, RPK, RPK-74, and AK-74 for the Soviet Army.
1920
		Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia become the first states to establish relations with the Soviet Union. Finland does so later that year.
	January	General Kolchak is shot by the Bolsheviks Allied blockade is lifted
	March	9th Party Congress is held
	April	General Wrangel replaces General Denikin.
	November	General Wrangel evacuates the Crimea and the Civil War ends in Russia.
1921
	March 7 - 17	Kronstadt Uprising occurs. 10th Party Congress orders for Purge issued
	17 March	Lenin proclaimed the New Economic Policies (also known as the NEP).
	18 March	Poland recognizes the Soviet Union and the two nations sign the Treaty of Riga which leads to the establishment of the Curzon Line

Statistics of the Russia during the Revolution (1917-1921)
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