The Russian Revolution: Origins, Bolsheviks, and the USSR

The Russian Revolution

The Tsarist Empire in the 19th and 20th Centuries

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Russia was a Tsarist Empire characterized by:

• Absolute Monarchy: Governed by the Tsar, where civil rights were not recognized and political parties suffered repression.
• Semi-Feudal Economy: A wealthy minority owned most of the agricultural land, which was worked by a peasant majority.
• Limited Capitalism: A capitalist economy could not develop because the bourgeoisie and the proletariat were small in size.

The Crisis of the Tsarist Regime

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Tsarist regime faced significant challenges:

The Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP)

• Objective: Establish a socialist state.
• Ideology: Marxism.
• Internal Divisions:
  • Mensheviks: Defended gradual reforms (led by Martov).
  • Bolsheviks: Defended a revolution (led by Lenin).

The 1905 Protests and WWI

In January 1905, protests against the Tsar were suppressed by the government. In response, workers and soldiers formed soviets in St. Petersburg. Later, Russia's participation in World War I triggered further unrest.

The 1917 Revolution

The Russian Revolution broke out in February 1917; peasants, workers, and soldiers participated in widespread protests, leading to the abdication of Nicholas II.

The Provisional Government vs. The Soviets

Initially, the Mensheviks formed a provisional government, declared Russia a Republic, and legalized political parties. However, the Bolsheviks opposed the Mensheviks and established an alternative government based on the soviets.

Bolshevik Control and Civil War

In October 1917, the Bolsheviks seized control of the government, and Lenin became the leader of Russia. One of his first actions was to sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with the German Empire.

The Bolsheviks began persecuting their opponents. In July 1918, they executed the Tsar and his family, resulting in a civil war between the Red Army (Bolsheviks) and the White Russians (counter-revolutionaries).

The Aftermath and the Formation of the USSR

The Red Army won the civil war, leading to the following consequences:

• The appearance of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1922.
• The approval of a new communist constitution.
• The establishment of the Communist Party as the most important political organization.