USSR History from 1917 to 1930s

Flashcards covering key events in the USSR from 1917 to the 1930s, focusing on the rise and consolidation of Bolshevik power under Lenin and Stalin.

1905 Revolution’s Legacy

Unresolved issues such as land for peasants and better wages for workers kept Russia unstable, contributing to the Bolsheviks' rise.

World War I Economic Collapse (1914–1917)

Russia’s involvement in WWI led to economic collapse, food shortages, and inflation, weakening the Tsarist regime and fueling revolutionary unrest.

February Revolution (February 23–March 2, 1917)

The Tsar's abdication created a power vacuum with the Provisional Government and Petrograd Soviet in disagreement, allowing the Bolsheviks to push for revolution.

1917 Women’s Day Protests (February 23, 1917)

Women textile workers protesting on International Women’s Day demanding bread and an end to WWI sparked the February Revolution.

1917 Petrograd Strikes (February–October 1917)

Strikes weakened the Provisional Government and radicalized workers, who then supported the Bolsheviks' call for "All Power to the Soviets."

Lenin’s April Theses (April 1917)

Lenin's April Theses demanded "All Power to the Soviets," land reform, and Russia’s exit from WWI, galvanizing support for the Bolsheviks.

1917 Bolshevik Propaganda Campaigns (1917)

Bolshevik propaganda, using slogans like “Peace, Land, Bread,” rallied urban support for revolution by simplifying their message.

Kornilov Affair (August 1917)

Kornilov's attempted coup exposed the Provisional Government’s weakness and allowed the Bolsheviks to gain weapons and credibility.

Peasant Land Seizures (1917)

Peasants seizing noble estates showed rural unrest, leading them to align with the Bolsheviks who promised land reform.

October Revolution (October 25–26, 1917)

The Bolsheviks seized Petrograd’s key sites, overthrowing the Provisional Government and establishing Bolshevik rule.

Bolshevik Leadership in 1917 (October 1917)

Lenin, Trotsky, and other Bolshevik leaders formed the Sovnarkom, replacing Tsarist and Provisional leaders with a revolutionary vanguard.

1917 Decree on Land (October 26, 1917)

The Bolsheviks legalized peasant land seizures, redistributing land and securing peasant loyalty crucial for surviving the Civil War.

Dissolution of the Constituent Assembly (January 5–6, 1918)

The Bolsheviks dissolving the Constituent Assembly rejected democracy, signaling their authoritarian intent.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 3, 1918)

The Bolsheviks signed a treaty with Germany, ceding territory to exit WWI, fulfilling the promise of "Peace" but angering nationalists.

1918 Family Code (October 1918)

The Bolsheviks legalized divorce and equal property rights to show a commitment to social reform, appealing to women.

1918 Constitution (July 1918)

The 1918 Constitution established a one-party state, formalizing authoritarian control under the Bolshevik Party.

Russian Civil War (1918–1921)

The Red Army defeated the Whites in the Civil War, solidifying Bolshevik rule and proving their military strength.

Russian Civil War Economic Disruption (1918–1921)

The Civil War disrupted the economy, forcing harsh economic policies (War Communism) and alienating peasants.

War Communism (1918–1921)

The Bolsheviks nationalized industries, banned private trade, and requisitioned grain under War Communism, maintaining the army but wrecking the economy.

Red Terror (1918–1921)

The Cheka executed “class enemies” in the Red Terror, embedding repression in Bolshevik rule.

Menshevik and Socialist Revolutionary Opposition (1917–1921)

Rival socialist parties were banned, removing political rivals and ensuring the Bolshevik monopoly.

Comintern Establishment (1919)

The Bolsheviks founded the Comintern to support global communist movements, boosting prestige but isolating the USSR diplomatically.

Zhenotdel Mobilization (1919–1921)

The Women’s Department recruited women for Civil War efforts, strengthening Bolshevik support among a key demographic.

Agitprop Trains (1918–1921)

Agitprop trains distributed propaganda in rural areas, extending Bolshevik influence to peasants.

Universal Education Campaign (1919–1930s)

The Bolsheviks built schools and raised literacy, creating a “socialist” society, but it was propaganda-heavy.

Women’s Literacy Campaigns (1920s–1930s)

Targeting women with literacy campaigns empowered them and aligned them with Bolshevik goals, though it was tied to propaganda.

Healthcare Expansion (1920s–1930s)

Free clinics reduced infant mortality, showing Bolshevik commitment to social welfare, though limited by resources.

1921 Volga Famine (1921)

Grain seizures and drought caused a famine, exposing the failures of War Communism and leading to the NEP.

Kronstadt Rebellion (March 1921)

Kronstadt sailors demanding democratic Soviets were crushed, showing Bolshevik intolerance of dissent.

Ban on Factions (March 1921)

Lenin banned internal factions to centralize power, setting the stage for Stalin’s dominance.

Rapallo Treaty (1922)

The USSR normalized relations with Germany, breaking diplomatic isolation and supporting economic recovery.

New Economic Policy (NEP, 1921–1928)

Lenin allowed private trade and replaced grain requisitions with a tax, stabilizing the economy and restoring support.

Socialism in One Country (1924)

Stalin proposed building socialism in the USSR alone, unifying party ideology and justifying industrialization.

1920s Power Struggle (1924–1929)

Stalin outmaneuvered rivals, becoming leader by 1929 through party control and alliances, shaping the USSR’s trajectory.

Trotsky’s Exile (1929)

Trotsky was exiled, removing a major rival and consolidating Stalin’s control.

First Five-Year Plan (1928–1932)

Stalin launched rapid industrialization, creating an industrial base but causing harsh worker conditions.

Collectivization (1929–1933)

Stalin forced peasants into collective farms, securing grain but causing disruption and famine.

Kulak Liquidation (1929–1933)

Kulaks were deported and executed for resisting collectivization, crushing rural opposition.

1932–1933 Holodomor Famine (1932–1933)

Collectivization caused a famine, weakening peasant resistance but alienating rural populations.

Industrialization (1928–1930s)

Five-Year Plans created urban workers and built infrastructure but imposed harsh conditions.

Purge of Intellectuals and Artists (1930s)

Stalin censored writers and enforced socialist realism, aligning culture with authoritarian goals and stifling dissent.

Stalin’s Cult of Personality (1929–1930s)

Posters and films glorified Stalin, building public loyalty and legitimizing his rule.

Stakhanovite Movement (1935)

Worker Alexei Stakhanov was celebrated for exceeding quotas, increasing output but pressuring workers.

1936 Abortion Ban (1936)

Stalin banned abortion to boost population growth, reversing women’s reproductive rights.

Great Purge (1936–1938)

The NKVD executed and imprisoned “enemies,” eliminating opposition and ensuring Stalin’s control.

Purge of Deviationists (1936–1938)

Targeting “Trotskyists” and “Rightists” enforced ideological conformity, ensuring Marxist-Leninist loyalty.

Great Purge Military Purges (1937–1938)

Officers were executed, ensuring military loyalty but compromising readiness.

Non-Aggression Pacts (1930s, e.g., 1939)

Stalin signed pacts, avoiding external threats and focusing on internal purges.