Key Topic 2 - Bolsheviks Take-over And Consolidation, 1917-24 Flashcards
What were the events leading up to the October Revolution?
In 1917, Trotsky became the leader of the Military Committee of the Petrograd Soviet. The Bolsheviks were now the largest party in the Petrograd Soviet.
Lenin returned from hiding in disguise and encouraged the Bolshevik Revolution, convincing people that they should cease power and that this was their best opportunity.
Also, the Provisional Government were unable to control the violence within the cities and German troops were closing in on Petrograd. Kerensky did nothing about the possible Bolshevik Revolution as he assumed that since it had become public they would be forced to give up.
Describe the events of The October Revolution, 1917.
Kerensky shuts down the Bolshevik newspaper offices and orders the arrest of the Military Revolutionary Committee. However, the MRC wins control of the offices and main bridges over the rivers and canals in the city, the military headquarters and telegraph station.
October 24 - The Bolsheviks attack the Winter Palace. Kerensky is sending repeated messages for support, however only minor troops are sent to the rescue (consisting of women, crippled soldiers and some students)
October 25 - Arguments occur in the Congress of Soviets - those who object the Bolshevik takeover leave. The MRC gains control of main railway stations, post offices, the state bank etc.
October 26 - Winter Palace is taken and the a Provisional Government are arrested. The Bolshevik Government is announced.
Why did the Bolsheviks win?
- Kerensky had no support in Russia - Petrograd troops stood idly by and refused to come to Kerensky’s aid - they believed the Bolsheviks would end the war with Germany
- The Provisional Government failed to disarm the Red Guard from Kornilov’s Revolt
- The Provisional Government didn’t act against the Bolsheviks in time. They misjudged the danger
- Trotsky planned and organized the Red Guard, army, navy & factory volunteers to work together
- They cut telephone wires, seized control of post offices, railway stations etc to make it hard for the Provisional Government to communicate for help
What were the results of the October Revolution?
Lenin announced the election for the Constituent Assembly would take place, but the Council of People’s Commissars would rule in the meantime - everyone on it was a Bolshevik. The Central Executive Committee had to check on the CPC, but they too were Bolshevik.
The Bolsheviks were now in charge of Russia. Trotsky had planned the revolution to occur when the Congress of Soviets were meeting so that those opposing the Bolsheviks would leave.
What decrees were passed by Lenin straight after the October Revolution?
The Peace Decree:
All nations were to negotiate for peace - ended the war with Germany
The Land Decree:
All land owned by the Tsar, Church and other landowners was distributed to the peasants - made the Bolsheviks popular with the peasants
The Workers’ Decree:
Gave the workers control over the factories and introduced an 8-hour working day
How did Russia leave the War?
Trotsky negotiated with Germany. The Germans set a high price due to their knowledge of Lenin’s desperation. Trotsky argued against this, but Lenin was desperately and insisted they accepted.
In Dec 1917, they signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ending the war with Germany.
What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
Russia lost 25% of its population, 25% of its iron and wheat, 80% of coal mines and 50% industry to Germany. This made many Russians angry.
Why did Lenin sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
- He feared a civil war and didn’t want to fight both Germany and a civil war
- He believed that Germany would soon be defeated in the war and the last distributed back to Russia
- He had to keep his promise to leave the war - this had failed the Provisional Government before
Describe what happened during the November election for the Constituent Assembly in 1917.
How did this lead to Lenin’s actions in January 1918?
It was won by the Socialist Revolutionaries - Trotsky wanted to work with them but Lenin wanted complete control.
Lenin set up the CHEKA in December. When the Constituent Assembly met in January 1918 Lenin shut down the meeting - those in the CA had been critical of the Decrees and wouldn’t pass them as laws. Lenin now ruled as a dictator and had made many enemies.
How was the state of the Civil War at the beginning?
A group called the ‘Whites’ formed, comprised of:
Kerensky and his troops
Kornilov, Denikin and their voluntary army - they wanted the Tsar back
Russia’s allies from the war (Britain, France, Japan, USA) who were angry at their withdrawal
Kolchak - organized attacks from Siberia
The Czech Legion - 40,000 soldiers
At first the Whites were successful - they had more troops, money and supplies, and could attack from all sides. This pushed the Bolshevik Red Army back.
Why did the Bolsheviks win the Civil War?
- Trotsky began conscripting soldiers and used officers that had served the Tsar to train the soldiers - he held families hostage to ensure the officers’ loyalty.
- Most of their army units had a political commissar to educate them on Bolshevik ideas to ensure they knew what they were fighting for. Also, any disloyalty was reported.
- The Whites were divided as they weren’t fighting for the same purpose - many of the troops weren’t treated well so deserted to join the Red Army, the Allies left in 1919 as they knew the Whites couldn’t win.
- The White Army only had 250,000 soldiers, whereas the Bolsheviks has 2,000,000
- The Bolsheviks controlled the centre, so could move men faster than the White Army, and railway network. They could supply the Red Army more effectively - the whites were spread thinly over a large area with fewer men by Nov 1919.
- Trotsky was a good organizer - he travelled around the battlefields encouraging the Red Army to fight. He wanted to be where the most danger was to inspire people and provide the soldiers with entertainment and luxuries to motivate them.
- Lenin introduced War Communism and clamped down on the Cheka response to political opposition.
They had won by 1920.
What was War Communism?
It began in May 1918. It prioritized the needs of the army to the needs of the people. The aim was to abolish private trading and have the state control all distribution, as well as nationalize all industry, control the banks, and cut back on the people’s rights.
Peasants could no longer sell their own crops and all surplus grain became property of the state - only a small amount was left for them by the state. Food brigades would search for anyone storing crops and shoot them immediately if suspected.
Anything produced was taken by the State and after being given to the Army was rationed between the workers. Workers were also prevented from moving between jobs without permission.
What were the effects of War Communism?
- Major famine - 5,000,000 people died. Peasants refused to hand in food and destroyed it instead.
- 50,000 people were murdered by the Cheka from 1918-21
- Bolsheviks lost support - they hadn’t brought Peace, Land or. Bread as promised back in July 1917
- The Kronstadt Mutiny - turning point to Lenin to show it wasn’t working
What were the effects of the Civil War?
- Land, property, road and rail links, telephone lines were damaged
- Civilian casualties
- Skilled workers and professionals left to live someone safer
- By 1920, the effects of war alongside the reduced planting and loss of land in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk meant that crop production was at 37% - money was almost worthless
- The Bolsheviks created the Communist Party in 1918. Russia became the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, and then the Soviet Union in 1922.
Describe the details of the new government and society.
The Constitution of July 1918 set out a new government system - all workers could vote but those that earned from others work couldn’t (e.g. landlords, employers etc). The Congress of Soviets decided on the Central Executive Committee (CEC), which chose the Council of People’s Commissars (CPC). The CPC made the laws but had to be approved by the others - this was abolished in 1920.
The new constitution said all land and businesses with over 10 workers belonged to the state and must be run to benefit people. It gave freedom of speech and press. Also, it promised free medical care and education.
This was just how it supposed to work, it wasn’t executed this way. Executions were used to control the country, despite them opposing capital punishment. Also, the Cheka oppressively controlled any opposition, despite the freedom of speech.
