When the civil war ended, who was in control of the Russian government? And what actions related to social and religious issues were taken by that government in the 1920's and 1930's
After the Russian Civil War, which formally ended in 1922, the Communist Party, led by Vladimir Lenin, emerged victorious and took control of the Russian government. Lenin's faction, known as the Bolsheviks, established the Soviet Union (USSR) and transformed the country into a socialist state.
In the 1920s and 1930s, the Soviet government under Lenin and later Joseph Stalin implemented various measures related to social and religious issues. Here are some key actions taken during that period:
1. Social Issues:
- The New Economic Policy (NEP): Introduced in the 1920s, this policy temporarily brought back limited forms of capitalism to rebuild the war-torn economy. Peasants were allowed to sell their surplus crops for profit, and private businesses re-emerged. However, the NEP was abandoned in the late 1920s.
- Collectivization: Starting in the late 1920s, the Soviet government initiated forced collectivization, which involved merging privately owned farms (peasants' land) into collective farms (kolkhozes). This aimed to increase agricultural productivity, but resulted in significant resistance and hardships among peasants.
- Industrialization: The government pursued rapid industrialization during the 1930s, establishing a command economy. Large-scale state-owned industries were created, primarily in heavy industries like steel, coal, and machinery. This industrialization drive aimed to modernize the country's economy.
2. Religious Issues:
- Atheist Campaign: As a communist state, the Soviet government was officially atheist and viewed religion as superstition. In the 1920s and 1930s, a series of anti-religious campaigns were launched to promote atheism and suppress religious practices. Religious institutions faced strict regulations, and many religious leaders were persecuted or executed.
- The League of Militant Atheists: Established in 1925, this organization actively promoted atheism through propaganda, lectures, and campaigns. Their aim was to eradicate religion and replace it with the scientific and atheist worldview.
It is important to note that these measures had significant social, economic, and political consequences in Soviet Russia, shaping the country's trajectory for decades to come.