Consolidation of Power Flashcards
What was the Sovnarkom?
The cabinet, made of key government ministers- 15-20- who between them would run the country as they decided on policies- exclusively Bolsheviks
Who was chairman of Sovnarkom?
Lenin
Trotsky role in Sovnarkom?
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Who was the female Commissar in Sovarkom?
Aleksandra Kollantai
Attitude of Lenin to PS?
Sidelined it- ironic as this is where the Bolsheviks claimed their name to act
Nature of Sovnarkom?
Ruled by decree without seeking Soviet’s approval e.g. in peace talks with Germany
Met once or twice a day- more frequently that Soviet
Role of first Sovnarkom?
Distinguish the new officials from the old bourgeois ministers as they would be known as People’s Commissars
Example that initially the Bolshevik position was far from secure?
Civil servants refused to serve
Bankers refused to finance- took 10 days for State Bank to hand over its reserves- only after threat of armed intervention
Threat of Kerensky?
He had set up new headquarters at Gatchina and had rallied an army compromising of 18 cossack regiments and a small force of SR’s cadets and officers
Lenin’s troops had dispersed home after revolution- had no methods of contacting them- his army was smaller- position appeared weak
Oct 29th rising?
An army cadet rising against Bolsheviks was defeated quickly by Red Army - Lenin ignored Executive Committee of Railwaymen who demanded United socialist government’ and protests fizzled out
When were Kerensky’s forces defeated?
2nd November
Who left the party on 3rd November?
Kamenev, Zinoviev and Rykov
When did Lenin declare the victory of the revolution?
5th Nov
Lenin’s attempt to power share?
He reluctantly allowed seven left wing SR’s to join the Sovnarkom in the wake of protests against a purely Bolshevik state
Worker’s decree?
October- established 8 hour day
Land decree?
October- abolished private ownership of land and legitimised peasant seizures without compensation to landlords- reduced peasant support for SR’s- gave Bolsheviks breathing space
Land was given to those who wished to cultivate for community prosperity rather than personal profit
Nationality decree?
November- Promised self determination to the people’s of the former Russian empire
Decree on peace?
Oct- promised an end to war without annexation and indemnities
Lenin’s attitude to new state?
Would be long term transition- first stage being state capitalism
Veshenka?
Established December 1917- supervise and control economic development
Early months actions to combat opposition?
Propaganda campaign mounted against class enemies
Anti-Bolshevik newspapers were closed down
Purge of civil service
Cheka established in December
Justification of Cheka? n
Lenin’s conviction that ‘dictatorship of proletariat’ would require the active repression of ‘counter revolutionary’ enemies
When were constituent Assembly elections?
November 1917
Outcome of elections?
Bolsheviks suffered defeat to SR’s- 53>24%
What is justification for Bolsheviks defeat and therefore Lenin’s decision to dissolve the assembly?
Held in crisis atmosphere- many of those who voted were away from Moscow and Petrograd so had little idea of what was happening in the capital
Nature of Assembly meeting on 5th Jan?
Kadets had already been outlawed
Bolsheviks had been overruled by right wing SR majority who refused meeting to be chaired by Spiradovna and instead elected Chernov
Demonstration to closure of assembly?
Protesters were fired on and 12 killed
Decrees of Press impact?
Reduced influence of other political powers- could not publish their own newspapers
Decline of bourgeois rights?
Lost their rights to vote in July 1918
When were all other political parties banned?
1921
Formation of Red Army?
In 1918 Red Guards were demobilised and Red army of workers and peasants was established to protect the regime- Trotsky was placed at the head
Issue of capital?
March 1918 capital was moved from Petrograd to Moscow so that it would be more centralised
Religion changes?
Church and state were separated as Russia became a secular church as the government would no longer support the secular church
Religious printing presses were closed down and clergy were disenfranchised
Function of 1918 constitution?
Stated that supreme power rested with the All Russian Congress of Soviets - Central executive committee was also to be supreme organ of power
Limitations of 1918 constitution?
Vote was reserved for toiling masses- members of former exploiting classes could not vote
Workers vote weighted as 5 to 1 against peasant vote
Sovnarkom was arguably chosen by Bolshevik CC
Executive authority remained in hands of Sov
What was the Politburo?
7-9 members from CC that were responsible for the decision making within the party and met almost daily
