Tsarist Russia to Stalin’s Dictatorship: Key Events
Tsarist Russia in the Early 20th Century
Tsarist Russia in the early twentieth century faced high general social and political unrest. The Tsar was supported by the nobility and the Orthodox Church. Opposition wings of politics emerged due to nineteenth-century industrialization, poverty, and state-driven economic policies following the abolition of peasant feudal bondage in 1861. Supporters of opposition included populist-agrarian groups. The Bolshevik Revolution aimed at creating a proletariat dictatorship. In 1898, the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party was created.
The 1905 Revolution
The 1905 revolutionary movement involved the creation of opposition parties and attempts to unite and challenge the Tsar. Strikes and protests began in St. Petersburg, culminating in the violent event known as ‘Bloody Sunday’. The failure of reforms and worsening conditions led to increased political repression and disillusionment following World War I. The Tsar faced difficulties with the Duma, creating great expectations among workers and peasants.
The February Revolution of 1917
Russia faced military problems during World War I. By February 1917, Nicholas II was replaced by Lvov. Strikes in arms factories spread, leading to revolutionary fervor. Soviets were created, and a provisional government was formed. Two parallel powers emerged: the Soviets and the Provisional Government, which did not collaborate effectively. The Provisional Government’s reforms and continued involvement in the war led to crises and a break with the Bolsheviks. Workers’ revolutions, supported by Mensheviks, Socialist Revolutionaries, and liberals, aimed to create a new government. By October 1917, the Bolsheviks seized power, declared other parties illegal, arrested Trotsky, and exiled Lenin. Kornilov’s attempted coup was stopped by the mobilization of revolutionary socialists, Mensheviks, and Bolsheviks.
Stalin’s Dictatorship
The Rise of Stalin
Stalin’s dictatorship began in 1929. As a communist, Stalin controlled the party, eliminated dissent, and legalized his dictatorship in 1936. There were no free elections. The nomenklatura, a bureaucratic class, arose. Stalin’s terror, enforced by the NKVD (police), led to the Moscow Trials between 1936 and 1939, resulting in the execution of approximately 700,000 people. Many were sent to labor camps in Siberia. Soviet society suffered during Stalin’s rule.
Economic Policies
In 1928, Stalin abandoned economic stabilization and implemented a state-driven planned economy. He enforced the collectivization of fields, leading to a famine in 1932 due to the elimination of the kulaks (average peasant class). Stalin launched industrialization, which led to significant industrial development but worsened the production of common goods.
The October Revolution and its Aftermath
Bolshevik Seizure of Power
The Bolsheviks, taking power, reinforced state intervention. Bolshevik soviets, led by Trotsky in Petrograd, became an alternative power. Worsening conditions led to demands for land, factory control by workers, and democratization of the army. Lenin returned from exile and advocated for revolutionary power. Trotsky directed operations in Petrograd, leading to the arrest of government officials between October 24 and 25. The Second Congress of Soviets in Russia, where Mensheviks and Socialist Revolutionaries were present, saw Lenin advocating for Bolshevik control. A new Bolshevik Soviet state was created, marking the beginning of the USSR.
Early Policies of the Soviet State
The first steps included the Decree on Peace, aiming to end the war. Measures to gain popular support included establishing an 8-hour workday and recognizing national identities. Factories were collectivized. Peace was signed with Germany at Brest-Litovsk, withdrawing the Soviets from World War I. A constitution was approved, establishing a proletarian dictatorship under the Communist Party.
The Russian Civil War
Conflict and Opposition
Various political groups opposed the Bolsheviks. The White Army, composed of anti-Bolsheviks, military officers, and Tsarist supporters, initiated a fight in 1918. The White Army received support from Western powers seeking to prevent the spread of Bolshevik ideology. Trotsky led the Red Army, which gained victory by 1920. By the end of 1922, the Bolsheviks controlled the territory, marking the end of the Russian Civil War.