Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
The Soviet Union (Russian: Советский Союз, Sovyetskiy Soyuz), formally the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) (Russian: Союз Советских Социалистических Республик, Soyuz Sovietskykh Sotsialisticheskykh Respublik, abbreviated СССР) was one of the most powerful established socialist states in history.
Founding
The USSR, the primary member of which was Russia, was established by Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (Russian: Владимир Ильич Улянов) in 1922 following the overthrow of the tsarist Russian Empire in the Russian Revolution, and the ensuing Russian Civil War. It allowed one central government under Lenin to control many republics, including the original members of Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and the republics of the Trans-Caucasian region. The Soviet Union became a multi-national entity that eventually included 15 republics: Russia (the RSFSR), Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Moldova.
Rise of Stalin and Collapse
Upon Lenin's death, a power struggle ensued between Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin, two influential officials during Lenin's tenure. Stalin eventually gained the upper hand in the fight, and ostracised Trotsky to Mexico. The USSR became infamous for Joseph Stalin's violations of human rights during the Great Purge, in which he disposed of all followers of Lenin and Trotsky. The Soviet Union eventually imploded after a series of economic and political reforms known as Glasnost and perestroika introduced by the last Chairman of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), Mikhail Gorbachov, in the 1980s. The USSR was formally dissolved in 1991 by Boris Yeltsin. The successor states to the Soviet Union are the Russian Federation, and the other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
