Russian Revolution

Joseph Stalin Leader of U.S.S.R. 1922-1952

Tsarist Russia entered World War I as an absolute monarchy with sharp class divisions between the nobility and the peasants. The tsar did little to address the grievances of workers and landless peasants, who had little support for the country's leaders.

Russia's defeat in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905 was an embarrassment to Russia and showed how ill-prepared its troops were to defend the country against modern armies. When Russia entered World War I, the army suffered major military defeats and high casualties. Tsar Nicholas II's incompetence at handling the war and the government led others in the government to force him to abdicate the throne in February 1917.

A provisional government took over and ruled until October of 1917 when the Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, overthrew the government in a revolution. Not everyone in Russia supported the Bolsheviks, leading to civil war between the Reds and the Whites. Ultimately, the Bolsheviks won and created the communist state that became the U.S.S.R.

At first, the country experienced severe economic shortages. Lenin's New Economic Policy was an attempt to blend some elements of capitalism in order to improve industrial and food production. The policy allowed some private ownership of businesses while the government owned most of the major industries. As a result, life and the standard of living did improve for most Russians.

After Lenin’s death, a struggle ensued between Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin. Joseph Stalin eventually succeeded as Lenin’s successor and immensely increased the power of the Soviet Union with respect to the rest of the world.