CHRONOLOGY - Russia: A Reference Guide from the Renaissance to the Present - page 418

1892-1903
As minister of finance, Sergei Witte revolution-
izes industry, commerce, and transport.

1898
Founding of Marxist Russian Social-Democratic
Labor Party and first party congress, held in
Minsk.
Andizhan insurrection.
Russia occupies Port Arthur in China.
Diaghilev founds influential journal Mir isskustva
(World of Art).

1893
Clauses in Emancipation Act permitting the
leaving of communes are abrogated.
German University of Dorpat is transformed into
Russian university of Iurev.

1899
February Manifesto curtails Finnish autonomy.
Publication of Vladimir Lenin's first major work,
The Development of Capitalism in Russia.

1894
Formal ratification of Franco-Russian Alliance
ratified.
Alexander III dies at the age of 49.

1899-1904
Russification in Finland.

1894-1917
Reign of Nicholas II.

1900
Boxer rebellion in China; Russia occupies Man-
churia.
Founding of Revolutionary Ukrainian Party;
renamed Ukrainian Social Democratic Work-
ers' Party in 1905.

1895
Pamir Agreement with Great Britain determines
border between Russian empire in Central
Asia and British empire in India.
“Senseless dreams” speech of Nicholas II deflates
reformist hopes of liberal nobility.

1901
Compulsive Military Service Law in Finland.
Chekhov's Three Sisters opens at MKhAT to poor
reviews.

1896
Coronation ceremonies of Nicholas II in Moscow
marred by accidental deaths among crowd
gathered at Khodynka Field.
Disastrous production of Chekhov's The Seagull
in St. Petersburg.
Closure of Armenian church schools.
Russian expansion into Manchuria and con-
struction of Chinese Eastern railway.
Textile workers strike in St. Petersburg; St.
Petersburg Union for the Liberation of Labor
established.

1901-1903
Moscow police chief Sergei Zubatov experiments
with government-sponsored trade unions to
undermine socialist influence on workers.

1902
Founding of Socialist Revolutionary Party (1901-2).
Assassination of D. S. Sipyagin, minister of the
interior.
(March-April) Peasant disorders in Poltava and
Kharkov.
Gorky's Lower Depths opens at MKhAT.
Lenin writes What Is to be Done?
Foundation of Belorussian Revolutionary Hra-
mada.

1897
First general census of the Russian Empire
records population of 129 million.
Founding of Moscow Art Theater (MkhAT).
Witte establishes the gold standard for the ruble.
Founding of the Bund (General Jewish Workers'
Association) in Lithuania, Poland and Russia.