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The May Revolution/ The Revolution of 1905
The period of 1904-1905 was a period of growing peasant and worker discontent, which culminated in full revolution in May. Bloody Sunday had begun a chain reaction against the Imperial Regime, and by March of 1905, resentment against the Tsar had grown so vast that several nationalities were fighting for their independence, while factories all across St. Petersburg and Moscow were being seized on authority of the several Soviets that had been founded across the country.
Instrumental to the May revolution would be two groups. The first was the St. Petersburg Soviet, whose members would be organised by Leon Trotsky and would launch the revolution on May 2nd. The second group would be the Menshevik party. Under Julius Martov, the Mensheviks had at first wanted an evolutionary phase, rather than a revolutionary phase. However, changing circumstances and Trotsky’s seizure of the government on behalf of the Mensheviks would place them as the first government of the Soviet Union of Russia.
However, it is possible that the Revolution would not have happened if it weren’t for one crucial decision. Tsar Nicholas’ decision to leave the capital and participate in the talks at Liverpool, leaving the Tsarina in charge would prove to be the nail in the coffin for Imperial Russia. On March 30th, upon the signing of the Treaty of Liverpool, the Russian economy collapsed and protesters against the Tsarist government numbered over half a million. The Tsarina ordered the St. Petersburg garrison to open fire on the protesters, but many soldiers instead shot their officers and joined the protesters against the government. On March 2nd, Tsar Nicholas II attempted to return to St. Petersburg and restore order, but upon his arrival in St. Petersburg, he was confronted by rioters and revolutionary troops and was forced to abdicate. In the chaos that followed, soldiers and members of the St. Petersburg Soviet, led by Leon Trotsky seized government buildings and by 5 pm, the royal family was arrested and a socialist government was proclaimed by the Mensheviks, with elections promised for August. The authority of the new government was recognised across the majority of Russia and a Soviet Republic of Russia was proclaimed by Martov and Trotsky. However Poland, the Baltic States, Finland and the Ukraine declared independence, which the German Empire was happy to guarantee, and the Bolshevik Party under Lenin openly rejected the new government, declaring it be “un revolutionary and capitalist”.
After 300 years of Romanov rule, Russia had found itself free of Romanov rule. With the former Tsar and his family sent into exile (they wound up in Germany as guests of Nicholas’ cousin), Russia had entered a new era, but it was unclear if the new government could survive and fix the problems that now plagued Russia.
Next: The Russian Constitution and the Civil War
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Authors note-
In TTL, Trotsky does not leave the Mensheviks, although he still supports a revolutionary action. Further, Trotsky is a founding member of the St. Petersburg Soviet and thus had authority within the Soviet.