Lenin's new state

Question 1

Lenin’s justification for a new state

What did he claim to be seizing power on behalf of?
What did he argue should be the basis of Russian gov?

Answer 1

• He claimed to be seizing power on behalf of the Soviets (small councils that formed in every town after the February revolution
• He argued that all Russian Congress of Soviets should be the basis of the Russian government

Question 2

The structure of Lenin’s new state

Who sent representatives to the all-Russian soviet congress?
What was set up because congress was too big to regularly meet?

Answer 2

• Local Soviet councils from every town sent representatives to the all-Russian Soviet Congress
• The congress was too big to meet regularly so a cabinet of 13 commissars was formed to make Sovnarkom

Question 3

How powerful was Lenin’s state 1917-18

What was the only city Lenin initially had power over?
Who still had power?
Who went on strike denying Lenin’s gov funds?
Were there other parties? Who were they?

Answer 3

• at first, he had little power, Lenin only had control of Petrograd (the capital)
• Senior members of the previous government still had power
• Russian state treasury and bank went on strike denying Lenin’s government required funds
• there were still other parties like Mensheviks and social revolutionaries

Question 4

Democratic aspects

Who were decrees made in the interest of?
Who held hope of a coalition government?
What did the Bolsheviks claim about democracy and why?

Answer 4

• Lenin’s system of government involved the people
• decrees were made in the interest of the people
• Multiple parties for the first years like Mensheviks and social revolutionaries, there was hope of a coalition gov
• Bolsheviks claimed Russia was more democratic than Britain as the working class contributed daily

Question 5

Non-democratic aspects

Why did many SR’s and Men’s resigned in protest?
How much real control did sovnarkom have in 1917?
What unpopular treaty lost Bolsheviks seats?

Answer 5

• Lenin’s gov mostly considered his vision sidelining other parties many SRs and Menshviks resigned in protest
• In 1917 Sovnarkom only had real control of Petrograd old leaders still controlled other areas and many did not acknowledge Bolshevik power
• Unpopular treaty of brest-litovsk lost Russia a lot of land, Bolsheviks lost seats which Lenin refused to acknowledge and expelled many SRs and Mens

Question 6

Popular decrees
What did the decree on land do ?
What did the decree of ___ do?
What did the workers decree do?

Answer 6

Decree on land - peasants can seize land from nobles/ the church

Decree of peace - committed to leaving WW2

Workers decree - establish minimum wage, 8 hour working day

Question 7

Sovnarkom

Answer 7

• 13 commissars elected by congress because congress was too large to meet regularly
• Lenin was the chairman

Question 8

All-Russian congress of soviets

Answer 8

• representatives from local soviets, discuses the future of Russia

Question 9

Local soviets

Answer 9

• Local councils from each town that emerged just before revolution.
• Elected by the people to represent them