1923-1929: The Development of the Union
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was formally proclaimed in 1922, but it was not clear what the relationship between its constituent members would be. In his Testament, Lenin spoke harshly of the possibility of "Russo-centrism" of the Soviet state, and this laid the foundations for the so-called "weak federalism" that would develop over the coming years.
The USSR itself would be a strong body. That much was inevitable; the Bolsheviks could not build their planned economy on a weak state. But on the other hand, the national aspirations of the peoples of the Soviet Union were to be respected: they were independent, at least locally. While the federal bureaucracy was multinational with an emphasis on Russians, the local administrative officials were largely selected from local ethnic groups (Ukrainians in the Ukrainian SSR, Georgians in the Georgian SSR, et cetera). In a way, the early Soviet Union encouraged nationalism, rather than (as the Tsars had done) attempt to destroy it. The 1924 Soviet Constitution ensured that this would be the way of things for the indefinite future, and blocked Russification.
The Russian SFSR was, by its very nature, bound to be the nexus of the Soviet Union. It comprised over two-thirds the population of the Union (101 million of 147 million total), it was the origin of the entire state, and, of course, it was the inheritor of the legacy of the Russian Empire. But what Lenin had wanted was to be achieved; the national aspirations of the non-Russian peoples were to be respected. The strength of the RSFSR, in dominating the domestic affairs of the constituent republics, was weak, though it always took the forefront internationally.
The Ukrainian SSR was the second largest member of the Soviet Union, and adopted its own constitution in 1925. One anomoly was its retention of the spirit (though not the precise wording) of the Declaration of Rights of the Toiling and Exploited People, which was no longer retained by the RSFSR that had pioneered it. The relatively lax position of the Soviet Union towards constituent states at this time, however, allowed them to adopt the constitution in spite of this peculiarity.
Inside the RSFSR were a number of Autonomous Soviet Republics. The RSFSR, in its May 1925 constitution, allowed these ASSRs to adopt constitutions that would be confirmed by the TsIK and the congress of Soviets of the RSFSR. However, with Lenin's Testament's strong derision of Russo-centrism, many of these ASSRs rapidly gained constitutions; even the Volga German ASSR, whose constitution downplayed its loyalty to the RSFSR and played up its loyalty to the USSR, was allowed to have its own.
In general, the new constitutions of these states, while they all generally fell in line with the constitution of their superior states (e.g. the constitution of the Abkhazian ASSR was in line with the constitutions of the USSR, the Transcaucasian SFSR and the Georgian SSR), were a hodge-podge, with unpredictable emphasis and strange reflections of their own importance.
Except for the reorganization of the Turkestan and Kazakhstan (then Kyrgyzstan) ASSRs in the early 30s into its own various SSRs (and, by extension, their removal from the RSFSR), the borders that had been drawn would remain, with no ASSRs becoming independent SSRs.
The "independent" SSRs of the Soviet Union in both 1924 and 1929 were the Russian SFSR, the Ukrainian SSR, the Byelorussian SSR and the Transcaucasian SFSR (which was comprised of the Azerbaijan SSR, the Georgian SSR and the Armenian SSR).
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was formally proclaimed in 1922, but it was not clear what the relationship between its constituent members would be. In his Testament, Lenin spoke harshly of the possibility of "Russo-centrism" of the Soviet state, and this laid the foundations for the so-called "weak federalism" that would develop over the coming years.
The USSR itself would be a strong body. That much was inevitable; the Bolsheviks could not build their planned economy on a weak state. But on the other hand, the national aspirations of the peoples of the Soviet Union were to be respected: they were independent, at least locally. While the federal bureaucracy was multinational with an emphasis on Russians, the local administrative officials were largely selected from local ethnic groups (Ukrainians in the Ukrainian SSR, Georgians in the Georgian SSR, et cetera). In a way, the early Soviet Union encouraged nationalism, rather than (as the Tsars had done) attempt to destroy it. The 1924 Soviet Constitution ensured that this would be the way of things for the indefinite future, and blocked Russification.
The Russian SFSR was, by its very nature, bound to be the nexus of the Soviet Union. It comprised over two-thirds the population of the Union (101 million of 147 million total), it was the origin of the entire state, and, of course, it was the inheritor of the legacy of the Russian Empire. But what Lenin had wanted was to be achieved; the national aspirations of the non-Russian peoples were to be respected. The strength of the RSFSR, in dominating the domestic affairs of the constituent republics, was weak, though it always took the forefront internationally.
The Ukrainian SSR was the second largest member of the Soviet Union, and adopted its own constitution in 1925. One anomoly was its retention of the spirit (though not the precise wording) of the Declaration of Rights of the Toiling and Exploited People, which was no longer retained by the RSFSR that had pioneered it. The relatively lax position of the Soviet Union towards constituent states at this time, however, allowed them to adopt the constitution in spite of this peculiarity.
Inside the RSFSR were a number of Autonomous Soviet Republics. The RSFSR, in its May 1925 constitution, allowed these ASSRs to adopt constitutions that would be confirmed by the TsIK and the congress of Soviets of the RSFSR. However, with Lenin's Testament's strong derision of Russo-centrism, many of these ASSRs rapidly gained constitutions; even the Volga German ASSR, whose constitution downplayed its loyalty to the RSFSR and played up its loyalty to the USSR, was allowed to have its own.
In general, the new constitutions of these states, while they all generally fell in line with the constitution of their superior states (e.g. the constitution of the Abkhazian ASSR was in line with the constitutions of the USSR, the Transcaucasian SFSR and the Georgian SSR), were a hodge-podge, with unpredictable emphasis and strange reflections of their own importance.
Except for the reorganization of the Turkestan and Kazakhstan (then Kyrgyzstan) ASSRs in the early 30s into its own various SSRs (and, by extension, their removal from the RSFSR), the borders that had been drawn would remain, with no ASSRs becoming independent SSRs.
The "independent" SSRs of the Soviet Union in both 1924 and 1929 were the Russian SFSR, the Ukrainian SSR, the Byelorussian SSR and the Transcaucasian SFSR (which was comprised of the Azerbaijan SSR, the Georgian SSR and the Armenian SSR).