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| 1917, March 8 |
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| Strikes and riots broke out in St. Petersburg (named Petrograd at the beginning of the war). | 1 |
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| March 10 |
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| A general mutiny of the troops in the capital, which sealed the fate of the old regime. | 2 |
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| March 11 |
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| The duma refused to obey an imperial decree ordering its dissolution. | 3 |
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| March 12 |
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| A PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT, headed by Prince George Lvov (chairman of the Union of Zemstvos and Municipalities), was established by the duma. The new government included Paul Miliukov, leader of the Constitutional Democrats (as minister for foreign affairs); Alexander Guchkov, leader of the Octobrists (minister of war); and Alexander Kerensky, the only Socialist (minister of justice). | 4 |
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| March 15 |
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| Nicholas II abdicated for himself and his son in favor of his brother Michael, who in turn (March 16) abdicated in favor of the provisional government pending election by a constituent assembly. | 5 |
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| March–Nov |
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| THE RULE OF THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT. At the outset the new regime proclaimed civic liberties and recognized equality of all citizens without social, religious, or racial discrimination. Finland was recognized as independent within a Russian federation (March 21); Poland's complete independence accepted (March 30); Estonia granted autonomy (April 12). At the same time the govern-ment announced a program of far-reaching social reforms, including distribution of land among the peasants (confiscation of imperial and monastery lands, March 30). But the decision on these and other matters was reserved for the constituent assembly. From the outset the provisional government, essentially liberal and bourgeois, found itself in conflict with the Petrograd Soviet (Council of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies), which had been organized by the Socialists (March 12). The government pledged itself (March 18, May 1) to continuation of the war against the Central powers, in common with the Allies, until the attainment of a “victorious end.” It attempted to maintain the efficiency of the army and proceeded, but cautiously, toward its democratization. The Soviet leaders, on the other hand, insisted on a radical revision of war aims, renunciation of secret diplomatic agreements concluded by the tsarist government (and promising Russia Istanbul), and the speedy conclusion of a “general democratic peace,” without annexations or indemnities. Suspecting the generals of counterrevolutionary tendencies, the Soviet issued (March 14) Order No. 1, which deprived the officers of all authority except for strategic operations, and entrusted the administration of the army to committees elected by both officers and men. The counterorder of the provisional government was virtually ignored, and the committee system was subsequently introduced in all army detachments. The antagonism of the Soviet to the government soon became more outspoken. | 6 |
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| April 16 |
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| Lenin, Gregory Zinoviev, Karl Radek, Anatoli Lunacharski, and other Bolshevik leaders arrived in Petrograd from Switzerland, having been transported through Germany in a sealed carriage, the German high command having calculated that these extremists would soon undermine the pro-Allied provisional government. Lenin's program was (1) transfer of power from the “bourgeois” provisional government to the Soviets; (2) immediate cessation of the war, if necessary by the acceptance of a separate peace with the Central powers; (3) immediate seizure of land by the peasants, without awaiting the decision of the constituent assembly; (4) control of industry by committees of workers. Lenin was ably supported by Leon Bronstein, who adopted the name Trotsky. Trotsky returned from the United States and England early in May, but Lenin's program was not accepted by the more moderate (Menshevik) wing of the Social Democratic Party or by the Social Revolutionaries. | 7 |
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| May 14, 16 |
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| Guchkov and Miliukov were obliged to resign from the provisional government as a result of agitation over war aims and army organization. The government was remade and now accepted a policy of no annexations and no indemnities, though still declaring against a separate peace. Several Socialists were included in the cabinet, and Kerensky became minister of war. He undertook to revive the war spirit and the fighting power of the army on the basis of the new “revolutionary discipline.” | 8 |
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| June 29–July 7 |
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| A Russian offensive against the Austro-German forces was ordered by Kerensky after a spectacular visit to the front and a stirring appeal to the soldiers. After a brief initial success the offensive collapsed, and the disorganized Russian troops were completely defeated (See Aug. 6–17). The radicals now took the initiative. | 9 |
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| July 16–18 |
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| The Bolsheviks attempted to seize power in Petrograd, but the effort proved premature. The movement was suppressed by the government, and many of the leaders (including Trotsky) were arrested. Lenin went into hiding in Finland. | 10 |
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| July 20 |
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| The resignation of Prince Lvov, whose place was taken by Kerensky, was caused by this coup and by disagreement between ministers regarding the burning question of land reform and the status of national minorities (assumption of power in Ukraine by the local rada, June 26; establishment of Gen. Alexis Kaledin as hetman of the Don Cossacks, June 30; Finnish declaration of complete independence, July 20). The position of the government, however, remained precarious in view of the growing restlessness of the masses, who suffered from war-weariness and material privations, and were all too ready to listen to Bolshevik propaganda. On the other hand, the conservative elements opposed the government because of its alleged weakness in dealing with the Bolsheviks. The advocates of a strong line found a champion in Gen. Lavr Kornilov, recently appointed commander in chief. | 11 |
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| Sept. 9–14 |
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| The Kornilov attack upon the government was brought about by a rift between Kerensky and Kornilov. Kerensky had dismissed Kornilov, who refused to obey and ordered his troops to advance on Petrograd, his avowed aim being to destroy the Soviet and liberate the provisional government from Socialist domination. The movement broke down because of defection on the part of many soldiers and because of mobilization of the radical elements in the capital, to whom Kerensky appealed for support against the “counterrevolution” (Trotsky and some other Bolshevik leaders were released from prison). | 12 |
| Kornilov was defeated, but Kerensky now found himself under the domination of his Bolshevik allies. The masses had come to suspect not only the army command but the provisional government also of counterrevolutionary designs. Bolshevik influence made rapid progress among the factory workers and soldiers of the Petrograd garrison. In October the Bolsheviks secured a majority in the Soviet, Trotsky becoming its chairman. Thereupon Lenin decided to attempt a coup. | 13 |
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