The new regime Flashcards
How did Leon Trotsky and Alexandra Kollontai face difficulties after they gained power?
Civil servants went on strike, walk out, records destroyed, keys hidden. State Bank employees refuse to hand over money to Sovnarkom officials.
When did Bolsheviks gain access to money from the Stat Bank with the help of the Red Guards?
20 November 1917
What issues did the Bolsheviks face in consolidating power?
Bolsheviks had little experience in administrative matters. Much looting occurred, ‘drink pogroms’ were common, mobs raid the cellars of rich people, fighting breaks out, alcohol poisoning occurs. Members of the bourgeoisie murdered.
When was the Cheka formed?
7 December 1917
What was the initial goal of Cheka?
Temporary and investigative (non-judicial) measure for political suspects; confiscation of ration cards is the most severe punishment. Authorised to conduct search and make inquiries.
What caused an expansion of the political police in January 1918?
Assassination attempt on Lenin
What was passed on 27 October 1917?
Land Decree: Decree allowing peasants to seize the land of the gentry and distribute it themselves (This had already been occurring).
When was the Decree on the Eight-Hour Working Day released?
11 November 1917
What was the Workers’ Control Decree and when was it released?
14 November 1917. Gave industrial labourers the right to apply to the government to form self-management committees in their factories.
What was released on 2 November 1917?
Decree promising the right to self-determination for various ethnic groups.
When did Finland declare independence?
17 November 1917
When was the Decree on Peace?
8 November 1917
What was reformed on 24 November 1917? In what way?
Old judiciary courts were scrapped and replaced by People’s courts.
Women were guaranteed equal property rights, marriage made a civil and not a church affair.
Economic: Nationalisation of all banks, stock companies, and financial institutions.
Russian alphabet reformed.
When was an armistice with Germany signed as a prelude to a peace treaty?
December 1917
How was the army reformed?
Democratisation; officers elected by troops.
16 December 1917: Formal ranks and saluting abolished.
When was State Capitalism proposed and by whom?
April 1918, Lenin
What were the capitalist and socialist elements of state capitalism?
Capitalist: Businesses and industries retain old managers, bosses are ‘bourgeois experts’ structures and technique of free market remains.
Socialist: Government control and ownership of some industries, centralised banking, economy overseen by economic department (Vesenkha), Workers control supervised management.
What occurred on 2 December 1917?
Vesenkha (Supreme Council of the National Economy) is set up to coordinate economic activity, manage workers committees and company management boards.
What did the Bolsheviks hope State Capitalism would drive workers to do?
Encourage supervision of their own production, learn to manage economic affairs as well as capitalist factory owners so they can take over.
When was the Constituent Assembly opened?
5 January 1918
What did the Left SRs do on 12 December?
Agree to support Bolsheviks and join Sovnarkom government. Bolsheviks argue some SR votes belong to them.
What occurred on 5 January 1918?
Martial law is declared in Petrograd and Sovnarkom authorities issue ban on large public gatherings. Pro-Bolshevik troops brought into the city.
Why did Lenin dissolve the Constituent Assembly?
Saw it as illogical to relent to the pressure of a non-representative election after he had already taken power.
