Russian Revolution 1917: Rise of the USSR
The Russian Revolution of 1917: The Creation of the USSR
The Crisis of the Tsarist Empire
At the beginning of the 20th century, Russia’s Empire extended from the Baltic to the Black Sea and from Poland to the Pacific Ocean. It was ruled by the Tsars of the Romanov dynasty and was in a state of confusion.
Causes of the Revolution Within the Tsarist Regime
- Political dissatisfaction: Due to the autocratic government of the Tsars, which led to political opposition made up of liberal bourgeois parties and Marxist revolutionary parties, such as the Bolsheviks.
- Economic and social dissatisfaction: Due to the contrast between the rich minority and the extremely poor peasants and industrial proletariat.
The Revolution of 1905
The spark that set off this revolution was the general discontent and the defeat of Russia by Japan in the Russo-Japanese War. This forced the Tsar to create a parliament, or Duma, and implement certain reforms. However, the autocracy remained.
The Revolution of 1917
In 1917, the loss of the Russian army in the First World War and the mass suffering that it caused set off two revolutions:
- The February Revolution of 1917 (Bourgeois): Deposed Tsar Nicholas II and established a republic. The slowness of the liberal and bourgeois provisional government and their decision to remain in the world war led to the downfall of their promised reforms.
- The October Revolution of 1917 (Bolshevik): Was organized by radical Marxists, or Bolsheviks. It overthrew the provisional government and placed their leader, Lenin, in power, who was supported by the Soviets, or councils of workers, peasants, and soldiers.
In 1918, the Bolsheviks began to call themselves the Communist Party and took Russia out of the war by signing the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany. They then drafted a Constitution, which transferred large estates to the peasants, gave workers control of factories, and nationalized banks and transport. In 1919, they founded the Third International. Lenin’s actions were met with the opposition of armed counter-revolutionary groups, which formed what was known as the White Army. Supported by the UK, France, and Japan, they battled the Bolshevik Red Army, led by Leon Trotsky. The result was a bloody civil war (1918-1921), in which 8 million people lost their lives. The Red Army’s victory consolidated the revolution.
The Consequences of the Revolution: The USSR
Lenin’s Government (1921-1924)
Lenin held all the political power. In 1922, he created a political organization called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), made up of Russia and other Asian Republics. It was organized as a federal state and adopted a New Economic Policy (NEP), which combined communist and capitalist policies. Thanks to this policy, the Soviet economy made a recovery.
Stalin’s Government (1927-1953)
Lenin’s successor began a new era called “Stalinism”. A totalitarian political system was established, which used state violence to purge society of his opponents.
The economy became controlled by the state. Land was collectively owned and farmed by agricultural cooperatives, or kolkhozy, or by salaried peasants on state-owned estates, or sovkhozes. Large industrial estates were built for metallurgical, chemical, and arms production, and the banking system and other services remained nationalized. Moreover, the state planned each area of production through five-year plans, which established objectives to be fulfilled in that time frame. Through all of these measures, the USSR became a major economic and military power.