Russian SFSR

Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Российская Советская Федеративная Социалистическая Республика (РСФСР)
1917–1991
Status	Largest republic within the Soviet Union
Capital	Moscow
Common languages	Russian
Religion	State atheism
Government	Socialist republic
General Secretary
• 1917–1924	Vladimir Lenin
• 1990–1991	Boris Yeltsin
Historical era	Cold War
• Bolshevik Revolution	November 7 1917
• Dissolution of the Soviet Union	December 25 1991
Currency	Soviet ruble
Preceded by Succeeded by Russian Republic Russia

The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) was the largest and most populous of the constituent republics of the Soviet Union. Established in the aftermath of the October Revolution in 1917, it existed until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The RSFSR was known for its significant role in the political, economic, and cultural life of the Soviet Union and was the birthplace of many of the Union's policies and developments.

History

The RSFSR was founded following the overthrow of the Russian Provisional Government by the Bolsheviks on November 7, 1917. Initially, it was a revolutionary government committed to implementing Marxism-Leninism and the ideals of the Russian Revolution. During its early years, the RSFSR was embroiled in the Russian Civil War, which saw the Red Army battling various anti-Bolshevik forces across the former Russian Empire.

In 1922, the RSFSR became the largest founding member of the Soviet Union, a federal union of multiple Soviet republics. The RSFSR retained its own government and party structure, although its sovereignty was limited by the overarching authority of Soviet-wide institutions.

Throughout the Soviet era, the RSFSR was at the forefront of the Union's economic planning and industrialization efforts, which included significant developments in heavy industry and the collectivization of agriculture. Moscow, the capital of the RSFSR, also served as the capital of the Soviet Union, making it the center of political power.

Politics

The political system of the RSFSR was based on the principles of a single-party state governed by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU). The highest legislative body was the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR, which was nominally elected by the citizens but in practice controlled by the CPSU.

Dissolution

The RSFSR began to lose its cohesive structure in the late 1980s during the period of Perestroika and Glasnost, initiated by then-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. These reforms led to the weakening of central control and the rise of nationalist and separatist movements within the republic. In June 1990, the RSFSR declared its sovereignty over its own territory, leading to a significant constitutional crisis within the Soviet Union.

On December 25, 1991, following the resignation of Gorbachev and the official dissolution of the Soviet Union, the RSFSR was renamed the Russian Federation, marking the end of the Soviet era.

Legacy

The legacy of the RSFSR is complex, characterized by its pivotal role in both the establishment and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Its history is marked by significant achievements in science, technology, and culture, as well as periods of political repression, economic hardship, and social upheaval.