Bolshevik consolidation of power, including the significance of the 1917 Decrees, Flashcards
What was Lenin doing after a succesful takeover of Petrograd
setting up his government “Sovnakom where he was chairman, trotsky commisar for war. He kept his promise of giving land to the peasants and ending the war, and food to the cities.
What decrees did Sovnakom make in the first few months of power
November
-8 hour workign day and 48 hour week declared for factory workers
- employment insurance for workers
- all non bolshevik papers banned
women were equal to men
Decemeber
- banning of the liberal party
- all factories under control of worker’s committtee
- all banks taken over by government
- divcorce made easier
Who benefited from Lenins decrees from November to December
Women, industrial workers, soldiers, and Bolsheviks, peasants
Who would have issues with Lenin’s decrees from November to December
Non bolshevik supporters, factory owners, and former nobles.
What were some unpopular decrees
In november he passed a decree to take all the land from the tsar to be divide ebtween peasants this land was from tsar and old land lords which were unhappy
Since he also promised food to cities, when peasants weren’t selling produce he would send out his secret police similar to tsar nichcholas to tkae it from them.
What was Lenins secret forces name
The cheka
What did the cheka do
arrested people who were considered dangerous, they became more violet after a failed assasination attempt on lenin. Launching red terror where even those who might oppose the tsar or spoke against the Sovnakom were shot without trial
What was a new feature of Lenins regime
Using the cheka to control people or opposition similar to the tsars
Was Lenin happy to create the consistuent assembly
No he was practically forced into it with railway workers saying they would shut down the railway delivering the food to cities if he didn’t
Why was the consistuent assmebly such a threat to lenin
It could create a new government where bolsheviks stood at a minority.
When the bolsheviks turned out to be a minority in the consistuent assembly what did Lenin do
He sent soldiers to shut it down
What did Lenin do in 1918 for the bolsheviks
Changed the party name to communists
What important role did Trotsky play in 1918
He was sent by lenin to meet the germans to negotiate a peace treaty. He walked out after the outrageous conditions he waS convinced by Lenin to go back in resulting in the treaty of brest litovsk.
What did the treaty of brest litovsk entail
27% of russia best farm land
74% of iron ore and coal
a sixth of their population
