In 1917-1918, many major changes took place on the world political map. The abdication of the throne by Nicholas II and the October Revolution that followed a few months later led to the collapse of the Russian Empire and the formation of national states on its ruins. Also at this time, Austria-Hungary was divided. The First World War had such disastrous results that the collapse of large multinational states is the easiest of its consequences.
Soviet Russia: years of existence
Periodization of the historical stages of development of the territories that formed after the collapse of the Russian Empire has always caused controversy. For example, let's take the well-known term "Soviet Russia". The years of the existence of such a state or territorial-geographical association are distinguished by separate groups of historians in different ways.
Some believe that a state called Soviet Russia existed from October 1917 to December 1922. What is their reasoning? Until October 1917, the Provisional Government operated in the country, then a revolution took place and the Bolsheviks came to power. The five-year period until 1922 is the timeformation of a new large state. On December 30, 1922, the existence of the USSR was legally formalized through the adoption of the Constitution.
The second group of historians expresses the opinion that Russia during the years of Soviet power is a concept that covers the entire historical period from the time of the Revolution to the collapse of the USSR in 1991. Why? It is believed that Soviet Russia, whose years of existence are still disputed by historians, is the same monarchy that gathered ethnically alien territories around itself.
The political situation in Russia from 1917 to 1922
This time can be called one of the most troubled in the history of the East Slavic region. In political terms, there is complete uncertainty, because the civil war has continued all these years. Supporters of different political ideas participated in the confrontation: "Reds" (communists, the proletarian movement, an army unit of the Red Army), "White Guards" (supporters of the monarchist reaction, the army of General Denikin and other military leaders), "anarchists" (Nestor Makhno's movement). Of course, the Makhnovists fought more on the territory of present-day Ukraine, but the influence of their ideas extended to Russia itself. The political confrontation was accompanied by serious military clashes that destroyed human resources and destroyed the economy of the state.
Soviet Russia in the 20s: economic situation
The development of the economy, or rather, its complete absence, was directly related to the militaryperiod. After the collapse of the monarchy and the ensuing war, many businesses were destroyed. In addition, since 1919, members of the CPSU have been implementing the policy of war communism and food requisitions. What did it mean? The complete liquidation of commodity-money relations, the nationalization of industrial facilities, and the expropriation of grain reserves from the peasants were carried out. For non-delivery of grain, units of the regular army could be brought into the village. It is clear how this threatened civilians…
USSR as a public entity
Soviet Russia - what years? Historians have not come to a consensus on this issue, but it could be called a developing state only after the formation of the USSR. Then the first five-year plans were held, a new economic policy was introduced. Of course, it cannot be said that the well-being of the population has noticeably increased, but the main thing is that the war has ended, and stability has finally reigned in the country.
USSR was formed as an allied power. An agreement was signed between the founding states of the Union, the participants of which were the RSFSR, Ukraine, Belarus and the Transcaucasian Socialist Republic. In public administration, the principle of combining power (the absence of its division into legislative and executive) was visually implemented.
Governments of Soviet Russia
In the first years of Soviet power, a completely new type of government was formed. Collegiate institutions became the main ones - the Soviets, which existed both in the center and in the regions. The Councils included representatives of major publicorganizations - trade unions, factory committees. The All-Russian Congress of Soviets was the main in the hierarchy of governing bodies. Of course, he did not work all the time. At a time when there were no congresses, its functions were assigned to the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. The Council of People's Commissars (government) became the personification of such power with the right to initiate legislation.
After 1922, gradual changes take place in the system of power, because party organs come to the fore. Although officially Soviet Russia, whose heyday was yet to come, remained a country of Soviets, but in reality, the CPSU (b) became the head of all political and public life during this period.
Foreign policy of Soviet Russia in the 1920s
The Bolsheviks considered their main task in the international arena to be the export of the socialist revolution around the world. In this field, in 1918, some success was achieved (revolution in Germany).
In the first years of the existence of Soviet Russia, three directions of foreign policy can be distinguished:
- signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk;
- fight against armed intervention on the territory of the country of Germany and representatives of the Entente;
- Rappal Treaty of 1924.
Conclusion
The end of the 1910s-1920s turned out to be very difficult for the state. It was necessary to overcome the post-war devastation and start building a new socialsociety. But even this cannot serve as an excuse for the excesses that were allowed by the government in the period from 1918 to 1921 (war communism and surplus appropriation). With the final formation of the new union state in 1922, life slowly began to improve, which led to some easing of pressure on the population.
