The Rise of Bolshevism and the Fall of the Tsar in Russia
The fascism in Italy, nationalism of Hitler in Germany in 1903, and militarism in Japan created a complex backdrop for Russia. Economically, the country maintained a full century of feudal structure, and the farmers lived under very poor conditions. Tsarism represented an absolute monarchy where the Tsar governed with an extensive bureaucracy, supported by the nobility and the church. The Russian Empire integrated many peoples and cultures but was one of the most backward nations in Europe.
The Duma, the Russian Parliament, had limited powers and could be summoned or dissolved by the Tsar. The Constitutional Democratic Party, a liberal party formed by the bourgeoisie, aimed to modernize the country and implement a system of constitutional monarchy. The Socialist-Revolutionary (SR) Party represented the poor peasants who aspired to be free from the major landowners. The Marxist guidance of the Social Democratic Party was divided into two large groups: Mensheviks and Bolsheviks.
The anarchist movement staged several attacks on the Tsar, culminating in the assassination of Tsar Alexander II in 1881. In 1905, under the tyrannical rule of Tsar Nicholas II, poor harvests, famine, and the incomprehensible Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) led to unrest. The Tsar’s Imperial Guard opened fire on demonstrators in an event known as Bloody Sunday.
In 1914, the Russian Empire entered World War I in favor of France and Britain. The conflict sparked a revolutionary movement that ultimately led to the end of the Tsar. In February 1917, a socialist character emerged, forming the first socialist republic in the world. The war resulted in miserable living conditions, with most industries converted to war production.
The labor sector suffered as a result of the conflict, leading to a decline in production. Many farmers refused to deliver crops to survive, resulting in rising prices and low purchasing power. Factory closures increased unemployment and social unrest. The army suppressed demonstrations, and the government accused the Bolsheviks of causing the situation, leading to their persecution. The Bolsheviks were targeted to the point that their newspaper, Pravda, was shut down.
In the empire, movements emerged as peasants occupied lands, soldiers deserted the front, and many officers were absent. Workers went on strike, and the only solution they saw was a Bolshevik revolution. The Soviets in Petrograd and Moscow supported the armed insurrection. On October 25, the insurrection was set in motion. The uprising began on October 24 in Petrograd, where a revolutionary committee started to take over the city and occupied the Winter Palace. All government officials attempting to escape were arrested, except for Kerensky, who managed to flee.
That same evening, the Congress of the Soviets was convened, eliminating the provisional government. The Bolsheviks, being the majority, adopted a series of revolutionary measures, including a decree for peace. The Soviet delegation began negotiations in Brest-Litovsk with the Germans. They signed a decree on the land of the nobility and the church, redistributing it among the villagers. The decree on nationalities recognized the diversity of the Russian people. Workers gained control of companies with more than five employees, and banks were nationalized.
This led to a civil war (1918-1921), which ended with the victory of the Bolsheviks. After their triumph, the Bolsheviks established total power. In 1918, they founded a socialist federal republic, and in December 1922, the USSR was born.