The war had left the Russian economy in ruins. Agricultural output had fallen by half, and industrial production was down by two-thirds. The transportation system had been severely damaged, and there were widespread shortages of food and fuel.
Social unrest:
The economic disruption and loss of life caused by the war led to widespread social unrest. Workers and peasants were particularly hard-hit, and there were frequent strikes and riots. The Bolshevik Party, which was led by Vladimir Lenin, took advantage of the chaos to gain power in November 1917.
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk:
In March 1918, the Bolshevik government signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which ended Russia's participation in World War I. The treaty gave Germany a large amount of territory in Eastern Europe, including Poland, Finland, and the Baltics. This caused further resentment among the Russian people.
Russian Civil War:
The Bolshevik government was not immediately in control of all of Russia. There were several factions opposed to the Bolsheviks, including the White Army, which was supported by the Allies. The Russian Civil War lasted from 1918 to 1921, and it resulted in the victory of the Bolsheviks.
Creation of the Soviet Union:
In December 1922, the Bolshevik government created the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The USSR was a communist state that was ruled by the Communist Party. The USSR became one of the most powerful countries in the world, and it played a major role in World War II and the Cold War.