The Bolsheviks in Power, 1917–1924

Question 1

What committment did the Bolsheviks make as a socialist state?

Answer 1

• The Russian Revolution (term used for the February and October Revolutions of 1917).
• Success of the Bolsheviks saw the creation of the world’s first socialist state.
• Committment to social equality including equality between men and women.

Question 2

How did Bolsheviks treat the support and efforts of women?

Answer 2

• During the 1917 Revolutions, the Bolsheviks welcomed the support and efforts of women.
• Many women joined (Elena Stasova and Yevgenia Bosch) held important roles within the Party.
• Stasova was a Bolshevik Central Committee memeber and secretary in Petrograd. Bosch was a successful miitary leader.

Question 3

How did women benefit from Zhenotdel?

Answer 3

• Women also benefited as the Bolsheviks established the Zhenotdel.
• Department of the Communist Party was focused upon women’s affairs led by Alexandra Kollantai.
• Spread news of the revolution amongst women.
• Provided basic education for women in industry and for those who were members of the peasantry.

Question 4

What did the changes in attitudes of women mean?

Answer 4

• Allowed the creation of the First International Conference of Communist Women.
• It was chaired by Inessa Armand.
• She launched the journal Kommunistika, addressing the need for greater changes in the roles of women.

Question 5

What was the problem despite women being given senior posts.

Answer 5

• Lacked authority
• Kollontai was Appointed by the Party to various diplomatic positions from the early 1920s onwards
• Kept her from playing a leading role in the politics of women’s affairs in the country.

Question 6

What did women think about Lenin’s call for changes to the traditional roles of women?

Answer 6

• During the Civil War, women continued to support the Bolsheviks.
• Many women were attracted by Lenin’s call for changes to the traditional roles of women. More involvement in society
• It is estimated that they made up around 2% of the Red army.

Question 7

Where was the Bolsheviks message to women best received?

Answer 7

• Tried to appeal to both urban and rural women.
• Best received by those living in towns.
• Peasant women were mainly unaffected because their lifestyle was very traditional and centred on the village, agriculture and their families.

Question 8

When were the first significant social changes for families?

Answer 8

• Introduced in October 1918 through the Family Code.
• Laws connected to family life were relaxed and liberalised.

Question 9

What did changes to marriage law mean?

Answer 9

• Changes to marriage law meant that both men and women now had property rights.
• Children born out of wedlock were given the same rights as those born within marriage.
• It was made legal to cohabit out of wedlock.
• Divorce was accepted.
• In 1920, abortion was made legal.

Question 10

What other social changes benefited other sections of the population?

Answer 10

• The Bolsheviks abolished laws against homosexuality.

Question 11

What did Bolsheviks think about religion?

Answer 11

• The Bolsheviks were atheistic, and sought to shift from a religious community to a scientific one.
• In 1918, they issued a decree that formally separated the State from religion. Orthodox Church quickly lost its status and wealth.

Question 12

What role did Lenin play in transforming the Bolshevik party and the creation of the USSR?

Answer 12

• Between 1917 and 1924, he firmly established control over Russia. He removed any chances of democracy and installed a one party state.
• By the time of his death in 1924, he created a highly centralised and authoritarian organisation, not fulfilling his promise he made in 1917 of a communist country.

Question 13

What was Lenin’s power over decisions in the Bolshevik Party?

Answer 13

• Many referred to Lenin as leader of the Communist party but he refuted this, instead claiming of a collective leadership, where many governed in unity. He also ensured the Party’s structure and internal organisations replaced the state equivalents.
• In reality, Lenin held significant power and authority over all aspects of the Party. Leadership often defaulted to him.

Question 14

When did the Party form the Politburo and Ogburo?

Answer 14

• In 1919, the Party formed the Politburo and Ogburo, replacing the Sovnarkom (official instrument of government.) A small leadership group was created, whose power quickly grew.

Question 15

What were the Politburo?

Answer 15

• Temporary decision making body during the Civil War.
• Replaced Bolshevik Central Committee, which was deemed too large to react quickly to suddden news and changes.
• Unwilling to let go of their power at the end of the civil war, as a consequence, it continued as a decision making body.
• By 1924, it was the central political power for the Party and the country.

Question 16

What was the USSR?

Answer 16

• In 1922, the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) was formally established.
• The Party introduced the Soviet Constitution of 1924, it was an important move by the Communist Party to centralise its power.
• Brought outlying Party organisations under control of Moscow and central Party structure.

Question 17

Who held power over all of the USSR after Lenin’s death in January 1924?

Answer 17

• Communist Party held power over all of the USSR. It crushed its opposition during the Civil War and dealt with internal threats through The Decree of Party Unity.
• This banned formal political factions from being created. The Party was growing and its members were supportive of its moves.

Question 18

Why was it essential that the Bolsheviks consolidated power as soon as possible?

Answer 18

• The Bolsheviks seized power during the October Revolution of 1917.
• They faced little opposition during the revolt but their position was far from secure because the Russian people were indifferent and lacked enthusiasm for the Provisional Government.

Question 19

Why couldn’t Lenin act fast to ensure the Bolsheviks consolidatedd power?

Answer 19

• Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the Bolshevik Party, was aware he needed to act fast but he was restricted by his past promises and his criticism of the Provisional Government.
• He repeatedly attacked the government for being undemocratic and needed to form a. Constituent Assembly and allow an election.

Question 20

What did Lenin do to consolidate power after failing to hold an election?

Answer 20

• Swiftly established Soviets or councils to further consolidate Bolshevik power.
• By May 1918, he had expelled opposition parties from the Central Executive Committee. This was the highest legislative and administrative body in Russia.
• Lenin’s calculated actions prevented the opposition from mounting a successful attack against him.

Question 21

What was Lenin obliged to do as a result of his past promises?

Answer 21

• In his appeal for support in 1917, Lenin had used the slogan “peace, bread and land”. Now that he was in power it was essential that he delivered upon these demands.
• He wanted to unite these demands with his desire for a communist country, where resources were owned and shared by the state and passed a number of decrees.

Question 22

What was the system of social insurance Lenin had introduced?

Answer 22

• System of social insurance was started.
• It covered issues like sickness, old age and unemployment.
• Working day was reduced to 8 hours.
• Nationalisation programme was implemented.

Question 23

What was the decree of self determination?

Answer 23

• Allowed each nationality to opt in or out of Russian control.
• Sovnarkom (People’s Commisar) was established, it was a governmental institution involved in the running of the country. Through it, a Bolshevik council was established to create and pass legislation led by Lenin and Trotsky as Commisar of Foreign Affairs.

Question 24

What did many of Lenin’s decree help and struggle to solve?

Answer 24

• Decrees helped to deal with issues surrounding bread and land.
• Issue of war remained, this was harder to resolve because it involved many countries (the Allies and the Germans).
• Lenin began to address this issue by creating a decree calling for ‘democratic peace’. This was followed by negotiations with Germans, willing to sign. However, the conditions specified in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk were very harsh.

Question 25

When was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk signed?

Answer 25

1918

Question 26

What were the terms imposed on Russia at the Treat of Brest-Litovsk?

Answer 26

• Terms imposed at the Treat of Brest-Litovsk were humiliating.
• Vast reduction of military and the loss of many resources, including coal. However, it brought the war to an end and showed the people that Lenin was committed to his promises.