NEP, Trotsky, Stalin, Lenin, and the Revolutions of 1917
NEP and Trotsky’s Role
NEP (New Economic Policy)
The state controlled only large industries, stimulating the opening of private businesses and allowing private profit. Workers were paid in cash or in-kind. Farmers could sell their production and gain profits.
Trotsky’s Contributions
Trotsky organized the Red Army in 1917 and led it during the Russian Civil War. Popular with grassroots party members and the army, he lacked support within the Politburo. He advocated for permanent revolution and the need to export it.
The Crash of 1929
The Crash of ’29, also known as the Crisis of 1929 or the Great Crash, was the most devastating stock market crash in American history due to its scope and lasting consequences. Black Thursday (October 24, 1929), Black Monday (October 28, 1929), and Black Tuesday (October 29, 1929) mark this period of unprecedented financial panic and long-term repercussions for the United States.
The Bolshevik Revolution of October 1917
Lenin, leader of the Bolsheviks, returned from exile with his April Theses: withdrawal from the war, land redistribution, and transfer of power to the Soviets. An unsuccessful popular uprising led to Lenin’s exile. Following a conservative coup led by Kornilov, the Bolsheviks seized power after storming the Winter Palace. The revolutionary government withdrew from the war with the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
The Russian Civil War and War Communism
In 1918, supporters of the Tsarist regime attempted to counter the revolution, dividing the country between the White Army (counter-revolutionaries) and the Red Army (Bolsheviks). The three-year civil war ended with a Bolshevik victory, thanks to Trotsky’s efforts. The government implemented “War Communism,” nationalizing industries, collectivizing agriculture, and requisitioning grain.
Lenin’s Policies and the Kronstadt Rebellion
Lenin’s policies replaced the liberal system with a “dictatorship of the proletariat.” Strikes were met with violence, notably the Kronstadt sailors’ revolt.
Roosevelt’s New Deal
Roosevelt’s New Deal, influenced by Keynesian economics, aimed to overcome the Great Depression and mitigate its social effects. Implemented after his 1932 election, it included the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA), the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) with its National Recovery Administration (NRA) and Public Works Administration (PWA), and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), which built hydroelectric dams in a depressed area.
Lenin and the 1917 Revolution
With the onset of World War I, Lenin’s political influence grew through his opposition to the war. After the February Revolution and the Tsar’s abdication, a revolutionary process began, culminating in November (October in the old calendar).
Stalin’s Rise
Stalin played a key role in organizing the 1917 revolution and managing internal party affairs. A Politburo member, he became the party’s general secretary in 1922, with the support of party leaders. He advocated for “Socialism in One Country” and aimed to transform Russia into an industrial power.
The February 1917 Bourgeois Revolution
Unprepared for World War I, Russia faced economic and military hardship, leading to demonstrations and unrest. The February 23rd demonstration in St. Petersburg triggered a general strike and riots. An interim government, led by Kerensky, formed on February 27th, forcing the Tsar’s abdication. Soviets of workers, peasants, and soldiers, leaning towards the Bolsheviks, called for an end to the war.
The Creation of the USSR
In 1922, the USSR was established as a federation of republics, with a constitution drafted in 1923 granting autonomy in domestic policy, judicial organization, and education. The Supreme Soviet held legislative power, appointing the president as head of state and the Council of People’s Commissars. The Communist Party controlled the political system, with the Central Committee, headed by the general secretary, as its main organ. In 1919, Lenin created the Third International, leading to the formation of Communist parties modeled after the highly centralized and undemocratic CPSU.