-
Period: to
Change and Continuity in Russia
Though Russia retained several of its traditions, its political structure, social order, and economic systems all experienced major changes during the 20th century under the Communists. -
End of Tsarist Rule
During February of 1917,Tsar Nicholas II was overthrown and the tsarist government toppled. A provisionary government was briefly established as a replacement. This marks a definite change, as the tsarist government had ruled Russia for centuries prior to the revolution. -
The Communists Come to Power
The Red Army stormed the place where the provisional government was ruling and claimed full political power over Russia. This event is also change, due to the fact that most prior Russian governments were extremely conservative, when this movement was very liberal. -
Formation of the Soviet Union
In December 1922, Russia, Ukraine, and several other East European nations approved the Treaty of Creation of the USSR. This is continuity, because Russia dominated the USSR politically and in a way this was their means of continuing expansion, which they had been doing since the time of Catherine the Great. -
First Five-Year Plan
In 1928, Stalin introduced the first of his five-year plans for the industrialiuzation of the economy. Though the agricultural collectivization failed miserably, the indsutrialization was a success and Russia's industrial production and economic growth increased greatly. This is a change, as before in Russia there had been only limited indsutrial activity. -
The Great Purge
Josef Stalin, by this point the undisputed leader of the Soviet Union, began his purge of Communist government officials, Red Army leadership, and even the peasant masses. He had anyone who was even remotely suspected of being disloyal killed or put in work camps. This is continuity, as Russia has had strong, authoritarian leaders for much of its history. -
Warsaw Pact
In 1955, the Soviet Union signed the Warsaw Pact with many Eastern European nations. They did this largely in response to the Western nations signing their NATO agreement for defense. This is continuity, as Russia signed the Warsaw Pact to help consolidate its hold on Eastern Europe. -
Khrushchev and de-Stalinization
By 1956, Nikita Khrushchev ruled the Soviet Union. He denoounced Stalin's strict and repressive political regime and tried to make Russian socity more open. Police repression eased some, and this is a change as it is a break from Russia's traditions of political repression. -
Sputnik 1
On October 4, 1057, the Soviet Union launched the first man-made satellite into a low Earth orbit. This is a change, as Russia had long been scientifically and technologically behind the West. With the launch of Sputnik 1, they showed that Russia had not only caught up with the West but possibly surpassed it. -
Brezhnev and the Era of Stagnation
In the early 1970s, Brezhnev became the leader of the Soviet Union. During his rule, the Soviet Union experienced a period of inactivity and did not make significant changes. This is contiuity from pre-revolutionary Russia, in which few significant reforms were made. -
Gorbachev's Perestroika
Once Gorbachev rose to power, he initiated reforms to try and save the failing Soviet economy. His perestroika focused on economic restructuring and revitalization. This is a change from Brezhnev and the period of inactivity under him. -
Gorbachev's Glasnost
In addition to perestroika, Gorbachev introduced glasnost, which meant that political repression would be eased and citizens would have freer access to information. This is definitely a change, as Russia had long had a tradition of political repression and these controls were now being eased. -
Fall of the Soviet Union
After Gorbachev's resignation as the President of the Soviet Union, the Supreme Soviet was dissolved and the collapse of the Soviet Union made final. This is a change from the decades of Soviet rule prior to the 1990s.