Chapter 2 - (1) The establishment of government and power Flashcards
What were the key bodies in power after the October Revolution?
- The Sovnarkom
2. The Central Committee
How did democratic centralism leave lenin/ the central committee unchallenged?
It insisted that bolshevik leaders policies should remain undisputed as they were the only ones who understood the true science of revolution
Where did the Central Committee get their authority from?
From the All-Russian Congress of Soviets, who followed the principle of democratic centralism
What was state capitalism?
The system, during the 1st year of Bolshevik rule, wherre the Bolsheviks continued using existing capitalist structures and officials until a transition had been complete
Why werent the Bolsheviks able to introduce revolutionary policy immediately?
- They only had complete control of Moscow and Petrograd
2. The government inherited food shortages, a crippled transport system and communication system, and financial collapse
What three decrees did Lenin introduce and why?
A decree on peace, land and workers control
- To define his approach to national policy and to win support of the people
What was the decree on peace and what was its aim ?
A decree that stated that Russia would enter into talks for a peace-treaty with Germany
- to rid Russia of the burden of war and to win the support of the Russian people
What was the decree on land and what was its aim?
A decree that recognised peasant-land seizures as perfectly legitimate
- to win the support of the peasants
What was the decree on workers control and what was its aim?
A decree that accepted workers’ takeover of factories, but at the same time, requested that workers ‘committees maintained the strictest order and discipline
- To win the support of the workers, but also increase industrial output
What was Vesenkha and why was it important?
Vesenkha was a council set up to establish state direction of the economy, in Dec 1917. It:
- Nationalised banks and railways
- Cancelled foreign debts
- Improved the transport system
It was important as it suggested how effective centralised control might become, should the Bolsheviks gain complete power
What event made Lenin want to dissolve the constituent assembly in Jan 1918?
The SR’s gaining 370 votes to the constituent assembly, compared to the Bolsheviks 175
Why was there little resistance during the dissolution of the constituent assembly?
It was dissolved at GUNPOINT by Red Guards
How did Lenin justify the dissolution?
He argued that:
- There was no need for a constituent assembly as there already was a soviet govermnent that would meet the needs of the people
- The elections had been rigged by the SR’s and Kadets
What can the dissolution of the constituent assembly symbolise?
The end to democracy for the next 70 years
What did Lenin do, after the dissolution of the constituent assembly, to affirm his rule of dictatorship?
He banned all other parties that werent Bolshevik
