# Timeline of Independence of Finland (1917–1920)

This is a timeline of the Independence of Finland. Timeline starts from February Revolution and ends with membership of the League of Nations. Events take place in Saint Petersburg and Finland.
References;

## 1917

* 7 March: February Revolution starts in Saint Petersburg
* 15 March: Prince Georgy Lvov forms a Provisional government in Saint Petersburg
* 15 March: Czar Nicholas II abdicates
* 16 March: Governor-General of Finland Franz Albert Seyn is removed from his office and arrested
* 20 March: Provisional government imprisons the Imperial family
* 19 March: Mikhail Aleksandrovich Stakhovich became new Governor-General of Finland
* 20 March: March manifesto is abolished
* 26 March: Oskari Tokoi is appointed as the Chairmen of the Senate
* 16 April: Vladimir Lenin arrives by train from Switzerland via Germany, to Saint Petersburg
* 16 July: Protests by pro-Bolshevik forces in Petrograd
* 18 July: Parliament of Finland accepts the Act of Rule of Law
* 21 July: Aleksandr Kerensky becomes the new Premier of the Provisional government of Russia
* 31 July: Provisional government of Russia dissolves the Parliament of Finland
* 17 August: Oskari Tokoi resigns from the Senate
* 17 August: E.N. Setälä becomes the new Chairman of the Senate
* 17 September: Nikolai Vissarionovich Nekrasov become the new Governor-General of Finland
* 1-2 October: General elections in Finland; Social Democratic Party loses its majority
* 7 November: Bolshevik revolution in Petrograd
* 8 November: Labour movement forms Revolution Councils in Finland
* 15 November: Parliament of Finland declares itself as the supreme authority in Finland with the support of the Soviet government
* 4 December: Svinhufvud senate declares Independence of Finland
* 6 December: Parliament accepts the Independence of Finland
* 31 December: Soviet government recognizes the Independence of Finland
* 31 December: Åland declares itself as part of Sweden

## 1918

* 4 January: Soviet parliament ratifies the recognition of Finnish independence
* 4 January: Sweden and France recognize Finnish independence
* 6 January: Germany recognizes Finnish independence
* 10 January: Norway and Denmark recognize Finnish independence
* 25 January: National Guard is declared as government troops
* 27 January: Labour movement takes power in Finland
* 15 February: Swedish naval ships arrive at Åland
* 16 May: White Army marches to Helsinki
* 18 May: P. E. Svinhufvud becomes State Regent of Finland
* 27 May: J. K. Paasivi becomes Deputy Chairman of the Senate
* 29 May: Blue cross flag became the flag of Finland
* 9 August: Parliament accepts the Constitution of 1772 and starts the process of electing a monarch
* 9 October: Parliament selects Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse as King of Finland
* 27 November: Paasikivi Senate resigns
* 12 December: Mannerheim becomes State Regent of Finland
* 14 December: Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse abdicates

## 1919

* 3 March: General elections in Finland: Republican front gets majority
* 17 April: Kaarlo Castrén becomes the Prime Minister of Finland
* 6 May: United Kingdom recognizes the Independence of Finland
* 7 May: United States recognizes the Independence of Finland
* 21 June: Parliament accepts the Republican form of Government
* 17 July: State Regent Mannerheim ratifies the Republican form of Government
* 25 July: K.J. Ståhlberg becomes the first President of Finland
* 6 December: Finland's independent day becomes 6 December

## 1920

* 26 July: Finland takes the Åland Islands dispute to the League of Nations
* 14 October: Finland and Soviet Russia sign a peace treaty in Tarto
* 16 December: Finland becomes a member of the League of Nations