Ukrainian Socialist-Revolutionary Party (russian: Украинская партия социалистов-революционеров uk, Українська Партія Соціалістів-Революціонерів) was a
political party
A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular country's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific ideological or p ...
in
Ukraine
Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inva ...
and the
Russian Republic
The Russian Republic,. referred to as the Russian Democratic Federal Republic. in the 1918 Constitution, was a short-lived state which controlled, ''de jure'', the territory of the former Russian Empire after its proclamation by the Rus ...
founded in April 1917,
[Ukrainian Party of Socialist Revolutionaries](_blank)
Handbook on the History of Ukraine based on separate groups and circles of SRs that existed on the territory of Ukraine since 1905.
The left faction of the party dissolved it in 1918 forming a new party, while the Ukrainian Socialist-Revolutionary Party was recreated in January 1919 by its moderate faction members.
General outlook
It was one of the most influential political parties in Ukraine as it was representing the interest of the major social class of Ukraine - peasants and in some extent soldiers.
It closely cooperated with the All-Ukrainian Peasants Society (Spilka) on which the party relied its activities among farmworkers.
The party's program was based on unifying principles of national interests and ideas of liberal populism.
The determining issue of revolutionary change, it considered the national question, and its ultimate goal was to build an sovereign Ukrainian independent state.
In November 1917 the Ukrainian Socialist-Revolutionary Party consisted of 75,000 members.
Ideas and principles
*
National personal autonomy for minorities
* Classless
Ukrainian
Ukrainian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Ukraine
* Something relating to Ukrainians, an East Slavic people from Eastern Europe
* Something relating to demographics of Ukraine in terms of demography and population of Ukraine
* So ...
nation
*
Communization
Communization (or communisation in British English) mainly refers to a contemporary communist theory in which there is a mixing-up of insurrectionist anarchism, the communist ultra-left, post-autonomists, anti-political currents, groups like ...
of great arable lands
* Promoting principles of
tenant farmers
A tenant farmer is a person ( farmer or farmworker) who resides on land owned by a landlord. Tenant farming is an agricultural production system in which landowners contribute their land and often a measure of operating capital and management ...
and
farmworkers
A farmworker, farmhand or agricultural worker is someone employed for labor in agriculture. In labor law, the term "farmworker" is sometimes used more narrowly, applying only to a hired worker involved in agricultural production, including harv ...
History
In the fall of 1906 the Simferopol circle of the Party established its new affiliations in
Volyn
Volhynia (also spelled Volynia) ( ; uk, Воли́нь, Volyn' pl, Wołyń, russian: Волы́нь, Volýnʹ, ), is a historic region in Central and Eastern Europe, between south-eastern Poland, south-western Belarus, and western Ukraine. The ...
and
Podolie. The first organizations of the party appeared in the eastern region of the modern
Ukraine
Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inva ...
:
Kiev Governorate
Kiev Governorate, r=Kievskaya guberniya; uk, Київська губернія, Kyivska huberniia (, ) was an administrative division of the Russian Empire from 1796 to 1919 and the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1919 to 1925. It wa ...
,
Chernigov Governorate
The Chernigov Governorate (russian: Черниговская губерния; translit.: ''Chernigovskaya guberniya''; ), also known as the Government of Chernigov, was a guberniya in the historical Left-bank Ukraine region of the Russian ...
,
Odessa Governorate
Odesa Governorate (), was a territorial division of the Ukrainian SSR (Ukraine) that was created in January 1920 by a decision of the All-Ukrainian Revolutionary Committee (Soviet regime). The new governorate was initially created from the wester ...
,
Poltava Governorate
The Poltava Governorate (russian: Полтавская губерния, Poltavskaya guberniya; ua, Полтавська Губернія, translit=Poltavska huberniia) or Poltavshchyna was a gubernia (also called a province or government) in t ...
, and others.
The First Party Conference took place in
Kiev
Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the seventh-most populous city in Europe.
Ky ...
(February 1907) where the Party Central Committee (CC) was elected. However, already in August 1907 numerous of the Party's members were arrested and the CC was liquidated. The one who managed to escape prosecution has moved to
Lviv
Lviv ( uk, Львів) is the largest city in Western Ukraine, western Ukraine, and the List of cities in Ukraine, seventh-largest in Ukraine, with a population of . It serves as the administrative centre of Lviv Oblast and Lviv Raion, and is o ...
(autonomous region of
Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria
The Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria,, ; pl, Królestwo Galicji i Lodomerii, ; uk, Королівство Галичини та Володимирії, Korolivstvo Halychyny ta Volodymyrii; la, Rēgnum Galiciae et Lodomeriae also known as ...
). In 1910-1911 there were attempts to reestablish the organization in
Kiev
Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the seventh-most populous city in Europe.
Ky ...
and
Kharkiv
Kharkiv ( uk, Ха́рків, ), also known as Kharkov (russian: Харькoв, ), is the second-largest city and municipality in Ukraine. . Although it was not until the 1913 when some of the Party underground organization have reappeared in Ukraine. Around 1914 the Kievan group of the Party published its program in the magazine ''Borotba'' (the Fight).
First steps
The Party officially was established on April 17, 1917 in
Kiev
Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the seventh-most populous city in Europe.
Ky ...
. The first Party Constituent Congress took place on May 4, 1917 in Kiev as well where the party became officially the All-national. The second Party Congress took place on July 15–16, 1917 when the Party program and statutes were accepted. According to their rivals from the
Ukrainian Social-Democratic Labor Party, the Party has rewritten its program from their colleagues the
Socialist Revolutionary Party
The Socialist Revolutionary Party, or the Party of Socialist-Revolutionaries (the SRs, , or Esers, russian: эсеры, translit=esery, label=none; russian: Партия социалистов-революционеров, ), was a major politi ...
. The Party press-media became the newspaper ''Narodna Volia'' (The People's Will) and the magazine ''Borotba''. The Party obtain 50% of all votes in Ukraine to the
Russian Constituent Assembly
The All Russian Constituent Assembly (Всероссийское Учредительное собрание, Vserossiyskoye Uchreditelnoye sobraniye) was a constituent assembly convened in Russia after the October Revolution of 1917. It met fo ...
.
The Party had several of its ministers in the
General Secretariat of Ukraine
The General Secretariat of Ukraine ( uk, Генеральний секретаріат УЦР—УНР) was the autonomous Ukrainian executive government of the Russian Republic from June 28, 1917 to January 22, 1918. For most of its existence ...
, but after the IV Universal on January 30, 1918 the Party became in charge of the government splitting only couple of other ministries with SDeks. Already in June 1917 several radical leaders of the Party held a conference at the
Left-bank Ukraine
Left-bank Ukraine ( uk, Лівобережна Україна, translit=Livoberezhna Ukrayina; russian: Левобережная Украина, translit=Levoberezhnaya Ukraina; pl, Lewobrzeżna Ukraina) is a historic name of the part of Ukrain ...
where they declared their disagreement with the Party's ''center course''. After the
October Revolution
The October Revolution,. officially known as the Great October Socialist Revolution. in the Soviet Union, also known as the Bolshevik Revolution, was a revolution in Russia led by the Bolshevik Party of Vladimir Lenin that was a key mom ...
, the party's taken energetic measures not to allow strengthening of Soviets in Ukraine.
Since the establishment of the
Central Council of Ukraine
The Central Council of Ukraine ( uk, Українська Центральна Рада, ) (also called the Tsentralna Rada or the Central Rada) was the All-Ukrainian council (soviet) that united deputies of soldiers, workers, and peasants deputie ...
(Rada), the party received majority in the parliament, while number of its member participated in the government of Ukraine.
It was not until January 1918 when the Ukrainian Socialist Revolutionary Party became the nation's ruling party.
Parliamentary life
A crisis arose in December 1917 during one of the sessions of the
Central Rada
The Central Council of Ukraine ( uk, Українська Центральна Рада, ) (also called the Tsentralna Rada or the Central Rada) was the All-Ukrainian council (soviet) that united deputies of soldiers, workers, and peasants deputie ...
(7th and 8th (December 1917)) where the parliamentarians could not agree on the agrarian question. The majority of agrarian deputies were absolutely against the conservative agrarian law projects of the social-federalists K.Matskevich and SDPist
Borys Martos
Borys Mykolayovych Martos ( Ukrainian: Борис Миколайович Мартос) (May 20, 1879 – September 19, 1977) was a Ukrainian politician, pedagogue, and economist.
Biography
Martos was born in Hradyzk, Poltava Governorate, R ...
who were supported by part of SRs.
At the 3rd Party Congress in December 1917 the left SRs with the support of deputies from the military political organizations requested from the
Central Rada
The Central Council of Ukraine ( uk, Українська Центральна Рада, ) (also called the Tsentralna Rada or the Central Rada) was the All-Ukrainian council (soviet) that united deputies of soldiers, workers, and peasants deputie ...
promptly to issue laws about the liquidation of private property and estates in particular, communization of series of various industries, and several other reforms that were part of the Party's program. Soon 12 members of the Party CC composed the nucleus of the ''left opposition'' in the Rada.
After the Declaration of Independence a SR-government was formed (the Council of People's Ministers) headed by
Vsevolod Holubovych
Vsevolod Oleksandrovych Holubovych ( uk, Всеволод Олександрович Голубович; February 1885 – 16 May 1939) was the Prime Minister of the Ukrainian People's Republic from January to March 1918.
Early period
Holubov ...
. On January 18, 1918 under the influence of the Left-wing of the Party headed by O.Shumsky the
Central Rada
The Central Council of Ukraine ( uk, Українська Центральна Рада, ) (also called the Tsentralna Rada or the Central Rada) was the All-Ukrainian council (soviet) that united deputies of soldiers, workers, and peasants deputie ...
finally accepted a provisional decree about the socialization of estates. However, on January 26, 1918 Kiev was taken by the army of
Mikhail Muravyov and the members of the Rada relocated to
Zhytomyr
Zhytomyr ( uk, Жито́мир, translit=Zhytomyr ; russian: Жито́мир, Zhitomir ; pl, Żytomierz ; yi, זשיטאָמיר, Zhitomir; german: Schytomyr ) is a city in the north of the western half of Ukraine. It is the administrative ...
.
There the Ukrainian left SRs were publishing their newspaper ''Molot'' (Hammer). With the support of the Germany Ukraine was liberated from the Russian occupation by March 1918. However, on April 29 the German military administration dispersed the Rada and arrested the
Prime Minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is ...
of Ukraine
Vsevolod Holubovych
Vsevolod Oleksandrovych Holubovych ( uk, Всеволод Олександрович Голубович; February 1885 – 16 May 1939) was the Prime Minister of the Ukrainian People's Republic from January to March 1918.
Early period
Holubov ...
accusing him in setting up a conspiracy by kidnapping a financial official on April 25, 1918.
Split
At the 4th Party Congress on May 13–16, 1918 the party split into a left faction (Borbysts) and a right faction.
The Right SR considered that the revolution was concluded and advocated for conducting a legal opposition to the government of
Pavlo Skoropadsky
Pavlo Petrovych Skoropadskyi ( uk, Павло Петрович Скоропадський, Pavlo Petrovych Skoropadskyi; – 26 April 1945) was a Ukrainian aristocrat, military and state leader, decorated Imperial Russian Army and Ukrainian Arm ...
.
The Left SR propagated the Soviet form of power, demanded cooperation with
Bolsheviks
The Bolsheviks (russian: Большевики́, from большинство́ ''bol'shinstvó'', 'majority'),; derived from ''bol'shinstvó'' (большинство́), "majority", literally meaning "one of the majority". also known in English ...
, advocated for the organization of underground resistance and preparation to an armed revolt against the
Hetman of Ukraine
Hetman of Ukraine ( uk, Гетьман України) is a former historic government office and political institution of Ukraine that is equivalent to a head of state or a monarch.
Brief history
As a head of state the position was establi ...
.
The Borbysts split away from the party and formed the
Ukrainian Party of Left Socialist-Revolutionaries , which allied with the Bolsheviks.
In May 1918 another left-wing faction of the party (Borotbists) also split away, forming the
Ukrainian Communist Party.
Exile
The party supported the
Ukrainian People's Republic
The Ukrainian People's Republic (UPR), or Ukrainian National Republic (UNR), was a country in Eastern Europe that existed between 1917 and 1920. It was declared following the February Revolution in Russia by the First Universal. In March 1 ...
during the
Ukrainian War of Independence
The Ukrainian War of Independence was a series of conflicts involving many adversaries that lasted from 1917 to 1921 and resulted in the establishment and development of a Ukrainian republic, most of which was later absorbed into the Soviet U ...
. After the Bolshevik victory and the establishment of the
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic ( uk, Украї́нська Радя́нська Соціалісти́чна Респу́бліка, ; russian: Украи́нская Сове́тская Социалисти́ческая Респ ...
, most of its members went into exile in
Vienna
en, Viennese
, iso_code = AT-9
, registration_plate = W
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code =
, timezone = CET
, utc_offset = +1
, timezone_DST ...
and then
Prague
Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 million people. The city has a temperate ...
, where they published the newspaper ''Trudova Ukraina''. In 1948, it took part in the establishment of the
National Rada in Exile.
On 26 March 1950 it merged with the
Ukrainian Social Democratic Labour Party and the
Ukrainian Radical Socialist Party to form the Ukrainian Socialist Party.
Notable members
;Left faction (
Borbysts)
*
Mykhailo Hrushevsky
Mykhailo Serhiiovych Hrushevsky ( uk, Михайло Сергійович Грушевський, Chełm, – Kislovodsk, 24 November 1934) was a Ukrainian academician, politician, historian and statesman who was one of the most important figure ...
, chairman of the
Central Rada
The Central Council of Ukraine ( uk, Українська Центральна Рада, ) (also called the Tsentralna Rada or the Central Rada) was the All-Ukrainian council (soviet) that united deputies of soldiers, workers, and peasants deputie ...
, member of the
Mala Rada and the CC of the UPSR.
*
Vsevolod Holubovych
Vsevolod Oleksandrovych Holubovych ( uk, Всеволод Олександрович Голубович; February 1885 – 16 May 1939) was the Prime Minister of the Ukrainian People's Republic from January to March 1918.
Early period
Holubov ...
*
Pavlo Khrystiuk
Pavlo Khrystiuk ( ua, Павло Оникійович Христюк; 1880 – September 19, 1941) was a Ukrainian cooperator, historian, journalist, political activist, and statesman.
Biography
Khrystiuk was born in the Kuban Oblast. He ...
*
Mykyta Shapoval Mykyta ( uk, Мики́та ) is a Ukrainian given name, cognate of Belarusian '' Mikita'' and Russian ''Nikita'', all originally borrowed from Greek '' Nicetas''.
Notable persons with the name Mykyta include:
* Mykyta Burda (born 1995), Ukrainia ...
*
Fedir Shvets
;Right faction (
Borotbists
The Borotbists (Fighters) (1918–1920) was a left-nationalist political party in Ukraine. It is not be associated with its Russian affiliated counterparts - the Ukrainian Party of Left Socialist-Revolutionaries (Borbysts) and the Ukrainian Comm ...
)
*
Oleksandr Shumsky
*
Hryhoriy Hrynko
*
Vasyl Blakytnyy
References
{{Authority control
1917 establishments in Ukraine
1918 disestablishments in Ukraine
1919 establishments in Ukraine
1930 disestablishments in Ukraine
Agrarian parties in Ukraine
Defunct socialist parties in Ukraine
Political parties disestablished in 1918
Political parties disestablished in 1930
Political parties established in 1917
Political parties established in 1919
Political parties of the Russian Revolution
Pro-independence parties in the Soviet Union
Socialist parties in the Soviet Union
Socialist Revolutionary Party
Ukrainian political parties in Imperial Russia