The Fall of the Tsarist Regime and the Rise of the USSR
The Russian Revolution: Causes, Events, and Impact
Background: The Russo-Japanese War (1905)
In 1905, Russia, underestimating the rising power of Japan, engaged in a war for control of Korea and Manchuria, including Port Arthur. Russia’s surprising defeat against the industrialized Japan exposed the weaknesses of the Tsarist regime, a giant with feet of clay. Russia was a backward country with millions of illiterate peasants, a weak bourgeoisie, and limited industry. The Tsar decided to spearhead industrialization, focusing on key rail transport and concentrating it in a few cities in European Russia.
The February Revolution (1917)
By February 1917, Russia’s economic situation had deteriorated significantly. The country had been deeply involved in World War I, and all resources were allocated to the war effort. Widespread hunger fueled protests. The people, allied with the Tsar, demanded bread and peace. The Tsar responded with violence. However, in February, the Tsar was forced to abdicate. A provisional government was established, promising democracy, political reforms, and the end of serfdom. The first elections were won by moderate socialists who aimed to implement reforms to improve the lives of the people.
However, Russia remained in World War I, and the situation did not improve. Public discontent continued to grow.
The October Revolution (1917)
Taking advantage of the widespread discontent, a small revolutionary communist party, the Bolsheviks, staged a coup in October 1917. They seized control of the parliament, government, and banks, and began to impose their ideas. Lenin, a prominent intellectual and follower of Marx’s ideas, believed that revolution could occur even in less developed countries with strong leadership. He transformed Russia into the first communist state. One of his first acts was to make peace with Germany and withdraw from the war.
All land was placed under state control, along with factories, banks, and transport.
The Russian Civil War (1918-1922)
In 1918, members of the nobility and landowners, with support from France and Austria, declared war on the Bolsheviks. The ensuing civil war, also known as the Communist Revolution, lasted three years and resulted in the consolidation of Bolshevik power. In 1922, the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) was born. The Communist Party became the only permitted party, and the state controlled all aspects of the economy.
Lenin’s New Economic Policy (NEP)
The post-war economy was in crisis, and people lacked motivation because they did not directly benefit from their labor. In 1921, Lenin approved the New Economic Policy (NEP), which incorporated some capitalist principles. Producers were allowed to sell goods freely, and smaller businesses could be privately owned, while the state maintained control of large companies and banks. This led to an increase in the standard of living, production, and, unfortunately, inequalities.
Stalin’s Rise to Power and the Five-Year Plans
Lenin retired in 1924 and died in 1927. A power struggle ensued between two of his successors: Trotsky, the director of the Red Army, who favored extending the revolution to other countries, and Stalin, who advocated for consolidating the revolution within one country. Stalin emerged victorious, consolidating his power and establishing a totalitarian dictatorship. He eliminated his revolutionary peers and implemented policies that resulted in millions of deaths, including the establishment of concentration camps where people lost all their rights. Stalin promoted a planned economy through Five-Year Plans, which were sets of economic strategies and goals. He also forcibly collectivized agriculture, placing all land under state control, leading to widespread famine and further loss of life.
Conclusion
Despite the immense human cost, the USSR emerged as an economic, military, and industrial power, rivaling the United States. However, the Five-Year Plans often resulted in production shortfalls and goods of inconsistent quality.