Consolidating power (Oct 1917-Mar 1918) Flashcards
Identify 3 laws passed by the Bolsheviks in 1917 and explain how they helped gain popular support.
- Peasants were allowed to seize and redistribute land as they see fit (27 Oct 1917)
- 8-hour work day (29 Oct 1917)
- Right to self-determination of minorities (2 Nov 1917)
Explain how Lenin overcame political resistance from the Kadets.
A Press Decree issued on 27 Oct banned the publication of newspapers from ‘bourgeoisie’ political groups (Kadets)
Explain how the dismissal of the Constituent Assembly helped consolidate Sovnarkom’s control over Russia
The Bolsheviks seized power by force, forcing the Constituent Assembly to dissolve. This led to the Bolsheviks, or Sovnarkom, to have complete control over Russia. The dissolution of the Constituent Assmbly was met with relative apathy, as the population were more concerned with reforms in everyday life than with the ruling power in charge.
Explain how the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk helped consolidate Sovnarkom’s rule
Germany surrendered on 11 Nov 1918, and Lenin’s insistence on accepting the treaty paid off, with his image as the patry’s wise and imminent leader grew.
Why were wine pogroms a problem?
- Violence and disorder in the street
- Lynching and vigilante justice
- Looters drinking themselves to death
Explain the problems created by the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
- 34% of the European population in Russia was taken out of Soviet control (62 Mil)
- Russia gave up 32% of its farmland, including Ukraine, which was known as ‘Russia’s bread basket’
- German forces gained control over Poland and the baltic areas of Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia
- Germany was paid 3 billion roubles
- Russia lost 89% of its iron and coal reserves, 54% of its industrial enterprises, and 26% of its railways
This national humiliation was a setback for the Bolsheviks, and opposing parties, such as the Kadets. Trotsky refused to sign the treaty and reigned as commissar of foreign affairs.
Find a least 1 historian’s view of why the Bolsheviks were able to consolidate their control over Russia after they seized power.
Michael Lynch- “In October 1917, the Bolsheviks were pushing against an already open door.”
3 immediate challenges that were faced by the Sovnarkom
- Russian civil servants went on strike over the coup
- Keys to offices and safes were hidden, records were destroyed, desks and cupboards emptied
- Employees at the State Bank refused to hand money over to the Bolsheviks
Which union tried to pressure the Bolsheviks into forming a coalition government?
The Union of Russian Railroad Workers (Vikzhel)
What was ‘dualism’ in the early days of the regime?
Both Authoritarian and Libertarian
- Strong centralized gov.
- Masses were encouraged to be a part of the revolutionary process (loot the looters)
Which challenges faced by the new regime influenced the creation of the Cheka?
Social disorder and workers (State Bank and civil servants) undermining the new government
It was created to investigate ‘counter-revolutionary and ‘criminal’ activity.
What was the initial power and size of the Cheka?
-Power was modest, publication of lists of enemies of the people, and confiscation of ration tickets were the most severe punishments suggested
-Initially only 23 people
Who was appointed as head of the Cheka and why?
Felix Dzerzhinsky
- Known for his toughness and inscrutability (Iron Felix)
- Previous member of the Military Revolutionary Committee (trustworthy)
- Head of security for the Bolsheviks at the Smolny institute
What factors influenced the expansion of the Cheka in early 1918?
Due to rising opposition and perceived political danger:
- Jan 1918, attempted assassination on Lenin
- Bomb scares at Smolny
-Threat of German invasion and breakdown of Brest-Litvosk
Main features of State Capitalism
- Government has tight control over key industries
- Gov. has a monopoly on trade
- Financial policy is regulated by a state bank
