Figure 6. Republic of Finland, 1917-40
Source: Based on information from Eino Jutikkala and Kauko Pirinen, A History of Finland, New York, 1962, 152.
More than a century of Russian rule in Finland ended in 1917. The Finns, however, experienced no easy transition to independence, but rather endured a bloody civil war between their own leftist Reds and rightist Whites. Finally, a leftist takeover was averted; Finland's independence was secured; and a parliamentary democracy emerged (see fig. 6).
Data as of December 1988