Bolshevik Consolidation of Power and the Civil War Flashcards
What were the 5 Initial Policies of the Bolsheviks?
- Passed Decrees
- Control of Army
- Cheka
- End the Constituent Assembly
- Other Decrees
In the Initial Policies, Passed Decrees.
- Land and Peace Decrees Oct 26, 1917
- Workers Control Decree Nov 1917, gave workers control of the factories
- Rights of the People of Russia Decree Nov 1917, self-determination
In the Initial Policies, Control of the Army.
- Generals were mostly anti-Bolshevik, however, troops were increasingly more loyal to the Bolsheviks as soldiers wanted peace
In the Initial Policies, Cheka.
‘Counter-Revolution and Sabotage’
- Bolsheviks were determined to stop opposition
- Oct 1917, Decree to ban opposition press
In the Initial Policies, End the Constituent Assembly.
- Lenin had only 24% of the vote and had the assembly shut down by armed Red Guards
- Argued it was an “expression of the old regime when the authority belonged to the bourgeoisie.”
In the Initial Polices, Other Decrees.
- Max 8hr work day and social insurance
- Abolition of class and the justice system
- Equality for women
- Nationalization of banks and industry
- Nationalization of Church; marriage and divorce now controlled by the state.
What were the 5 reasons the Civil War began?
- Disintegration of the Empire
- Brest-Litovsk
- Political Opposition
- Foreign Intervention
- Economic Crisis
Reason for Civil War, Disintegration of the Empire.
Many states declared themselves independent from the RSFSR, due to decrees and treaties. In addition, by June 1918 there were 33 sovereign governments.
Reasons for Civil War, Brest-Litvosk.
Patriots were horrified by the losses of Lithuania, Livonia, and Estonia. Ukraine, Belarus and Georgia were now semi-independent states. 1/6 of the population was lost, 27% of farmland (Ukraine’s ‘Grain basket’), 26% of railways and 74% of coal.
Reasons for Civil War, Political Opposition.
Lenin was subjected to 2 assassination attempts in July and August of 1918, the latter almost succeeded.
Reasons for Civil War, Foreign Intervention.
Brest-Litovsk was an armistice with Germany, now Germany could move its forces all to the west. Great Britain and France were desperate for allies against the Russians, and France had invested millions in Russia. Japan sent troops with the aim of territory gain and the USA sent troops to prevent this.
Reasons for Civil War, Economic Crisis.
The loss of Ukrainian wheat led to hunger in 1918. Lenin sent out requisition units to reclaim grain and encouraged peasants to take it from their wealthy neighbours. Greens formed to defend their own assets, however, no two groups could work together.
