Lenin's Role in the Consolidation of Power

Question 1

What instrument of repression did Lenin instigate and support? Who did he appoint as its leader? “We have an extreme war situation. We must encourage energy and ….”

Answer 1

Cheka
Felix Dzerzhinsky
“We must encourage energy and widespread terror against the counter revolutionaries”

Question 2

How did Lenin give the Bolsheviks legitimacy from the start?

Answer 2

By framing Sovnarkom in the name of the Soviet. He also used Democratic Centralism and the December Thesis to justify rule by this body.

Question 3

How did Lenin deal with the CA?

Answer 3

He agreed to let elections to the CA take place and for the CA to meet, before he would then close them down through force.

Question 4

What policy did Lenin adopt for the Civil War? Why was this important for Bolshevik victory in the Civil War?

Answer 4

War Communism - this allowed enough food to be requisitioned for the soldiers and workers, for the economy to be orientated to war interests and for urban disintegration to be slowed down enough to keep production going. Likewise, it reassured his supporters because it was a communist policy.

Question 5

What did Lenin increase to bring the arts into line?

Answer 5

Censorship e.g. the introduction of Glavlit in 1921

Question 6

Who did he continually support during the Civil War despite opposition from other party members and resignation attempts?

Answer 6

Trotsky

Question 7

What ban did Lenin introduce at the 10th PC to stabilise the party? Who did he also condemn?

Answer 7

The Ban on Factionalism

Condemned the Workers’ Opposition

Question 8

What pragmatic policy response did Lenin introduce to the food crisis and growing unrest following the Civil War? How did he sell this to his comrades?

Answer 8

The NEP

Sold it as only a temporary policy to ensure Russia and the party’s surivival.

Question 9

What did Lenin threaten to resign over if it were not signed? Why was this an effective move for Bolshevik survival?

Answer 9

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Since it fulfilled a Bolshevik promise of peace which brought the party support. Likewise, it reduced the socio-economic problems which were exacerbated by the war.

Question 10

What did Lenin encourage to gain control of the banks in November 1917?

Answer 10

The Use of Force

Question 11

What popular decrees did Lenin introduce following the seizure of power?

Answer 11

The Decree on Land and the Decree on Workers’ Control
(Also- The Right to National Self-Determination, the Democratisation of the Army, the Freedom to Choose One’s Religion, Gender Equality)

Question 12

What does Figes claim there was at the announcement of Lenin’s death at the 11th PC 1924? He also claims “The public showed signs of …..”

Answer 12

“screams and sobbing noises”. “the public showed signs of genuine grief”

Question 13

How many people queued to see Lenin’s bier over the 3 days it was there?

Answer 13

500,000

Question 14

How did the Civil War make the Bolshevik party more centralised?

Answer 14

• Party was purged of undesirables in 1919
• New recruits joined to improve life chances and were therefore more obedient
• Party lost proletariat base in the party
• There was less need for debate and discussion; decisions had to be made quickly
• Politburo (7-9 members) took over decision making from the Central Committee (40 members)
• Civil War had instilled military discipline in soldiers and workers who accepted taking orders and thrived off camaraderie

Question 15

What was party membership in 1917? 1924? 1925? 1929?

Answer 15

1917 = 10,000
1924 = 472,000
1925 = 801,804
1929 = 1,535,362