Consolidating Power

Question 1

What did the Bolshevik Revolution cause across Russia, and what was the problem with this?

Answer 1

• Soviets seized control all over Russia
• Not all Soviets were ran by Bolsheviks
• Peasants tended to support the SRs

Question 2

How was the government organised now?

Answer 2

• The government Lenin set up to run the country in November 1917 was called ‘Sovnarkom’
• Lenin was its chairman

Question 3

When did the Bolsheviks begin introducing their reforms, and why?

Answer 3

• November and December 1917
• Lenin had to keep his promises in the April Theses

Question 4

Describe the decree on land.

Answer 4

• 540 million acres were taken off of the nobility
• Peasant committees split this up fairly

Question 5

Describe the decree on peace.

Answer 5

• Plans were put in place to take Russia out of WW1

Question 6

Describe the decree on work.

Answer 6

• Working overtime was restricted
• Holiday entitlement was introduced
• 8 hour working day, 40 hour working week

Question 7

Describe the decree on titles.

Answer 7

• Titles and class distinctions were abolished
• Women were proclaimed to be equal to men

Question 8

Describe the decree on press.

Answer 8

• Only Bolshevik newspapers were allowed

Question 9

Describe the decree on banking.

Answer 9

• All banks were under the control of Sovnarkom

Question 10

Describe the decree on marriage.

Answer 10

• It was easier to obtain a divorce
• Marriages no longer had to be religious

Question 11

Describe the decree on political parties.

Answer 11

• The Cadets (the main Liberals) were banned

Question 12

Describe the decree on secret police.

Answer 12

• The Cheka was set up

Question 13

Describe the decree on unemployment insurance.

Answer 13

• Workers were insured in case of unemployment, injury or illness

Question 14

Describe the decree on workers’ control.

Answer 14

• Factories were now ran by elected committees of workers

Question 15

When were the first free elections held? What were the results?

Answer 15

• November 1917
• They decided who got seats in the Constituent Assembly
• The SRs won 370 out of a total of 707 seats (more than every other party combined)
• The Bolsheviks got 175 (just under 25%)
• The Mensheviks won 17
• Subject nationality parties won 87

Question 16

What did Lenin decide to do about the Constituent Assembly and why?

Answer 16

• At first the Bolsheviks and left-wing SRs voted to limit the assembly’s power
• The assembly voted against that
• Lenin shut it down on 19/01/1918 within 24 hours of its first meeting
• More than 100 demonstrators were killed/ wounded as a result (2 Cadet leaders even ended up in hospital)

Question 17

Who was sent to hold peace talks with Germany and when?

Answer 17

• Trotsky
• 3rd December 1917

Question 18

What was Russia’s treaty with Germany known as?

Answer 18

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Question 19

What were 5 ridiculous terms of the treaty and why did Lenin agree to them?

Answer 19

• 3 billion roubles
• 50 million people
• 1 million square km (including Ukraine, Russia’s main source of grain)
• 74% of iron and coal
• 26% of railways
• Lenin had predicted that the Allies would win and any losses would only be temporary

Question 20

What impacts did the treaty have?

Answer 20

• It was heavily criticised due to the huge impact on the economy
• Lenin and Trotsky seemed to be sacrificing national interest
• Even Bolsheviks criticised Lenin