Change and Continuity in the USSR

Romanovs and the Russian Revolution

Duration of Rule: The Romanov dynasty ruled Russia for over 300 years, beginning with Ivan IV, also known as Ivan the Terrible (1547-1584). The dynasty ended with Nicholas II, who reigned from 1894 until the abdication in 1917.

Revolutions of 1917:

• February Revolution:
  • Date: February 23 to March 3, 1917 (Old Style: March 8 to 12, 1917).
  • Result: The abdication of Nicholas II and the formation of the Provisional Government, headed by Alexander Kerensky.
• October Revolution:
  • Date: October 24-25, 1917 (Old Style: November 6-7, 1917).
  • Result: The Bolshevik takeover, led by Lenin, which established a socialist government.

Fate of the Romanov Family:

• Date: July 17, 1918.
• The czar Nicholas II and his family were assassinated by Bolsheviks in Yekaterinburg, marking a definitive end to the Romanov rule.

The Rise of Lenin and Civil War

Civil War:

• Time period: 1917-1922.
• Factions: Reds (Bolshevik supporters) vs. Whites (anti-Bolshevik forces).
• Result: Significant destruction and food shortages in Russia, leading to economic turmoil.
• NEP (New Economic Policy):
  • Date: Introduced in 1921 by Lenin to address the economic crisis.
  • Purpose: Reintroduce limited capitalistic measures, allowing some private business.
  • Impact: Created divisions within the Bolshevik party regarding the future of communism in Russia.

Stalin's Rise to Power

Stalin's Ascendance:

• Year: 1924, after Lenin’s death.
• Strategy: Capitalized on divisions within the party through political maneuvering to secure favor.

Trotsky vs. Stalin:

• Leon Trotsky advocated for internationalism, seeking to spread communism worldwide.
• Stalin focused on socialism in one country, believing that reforms must occur within the Soviet Union first.

Five-Year Plans:

• Year: First plan implemented in 1928.
• Purpose: Aim for rapid industrialization and agricultural stability to recover from the civil war.
• Result: Revocation of the NEP and promotion of forced collectivization.

Structural Changes Under Stalin

Collectivization:

• Time Period: Initiated in 1928.
• Process: Merging individual farms into large, state-controlled enterprises.
• Consequences: Resistance from peasants resulted in widespread famine, particularly the Holodomor in Ukraine (1932-1933).

Gulag System:

• Utilization of labor camps for political prisoners and dissenters, with millions imprisoned throughout Stalin’s reign.

Cult of Personality:

• Stalin fostered an image as a father figure and the architect of Soviet successes, using propaganda extensively.

Post-Stalin Era and Khrushchev

Khrushchev's Leadership:

• Year: Became the leader after Stalin's death in 1953.
• Actions: Undertook a program of de-Stalinization, which included reducing the powers of the secret police and allowing more freedom of expression.
• Key Events: Denounced Stalin’s methods and policies in the 1956 Secret Speech.
• Cuban Missile Crisis (1962):
  • Context: Escalation of Cold War tensions due to the USSR’s deployment of nuclear missiles in Cuba.
  • Result: A US blockade and negotiation that brought the world close to nuclear war.

Brezhnev and Stagnation

Stagnation:

• Era: Under Leonid Brezhnev, who ruled from 1964 to 1982.
• Characteristics: Economic growth slowed down, censorship returned, and a focus remained on heavy industry and military spending rather than consumer goods.

Proxy Conflicts:

• Actions: Continued support for communist governments and proxy wars, notably in Vietnam and Afghanistan, impacting international relations significantly.

Gorbachev’s Reforms and the Collapse of the Soviet Union

Gorbachev's Leadership (1985-1991):

• Context: Came to power as the Soviet Union was declining.
• Reforms:
  • Perestroika: Economic reforms allowing limited capitalism to revive the economy.
  • Glasnost: Relaxation of censorship and increase in transparency in government operations.
  • Democratization: Introduced elections with multiple parties.

1991 Coup Attempt:

• Date: August 19-21, 1991.
• Result: Hardliners attempted to overthrow Gorbachev, demonstrating tensions within the Communist party.

Collapse of the Soviet Union:

• Date: December 26, 1991.
• Causes: Unsuccessful reforms, economic decline, and rising nationalism led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, ending the Cold War and leading to the independence