Topic 4: Bolshevik Consolidation of Power Flashcards
Lenin forms a government of how many Bolsehviks?
15
What was Lenin’s new government called?
Council of People’s Commissars (Sovnarkom)
Who was the Chairman of the Sovnarkom?
Lenin
Who was the Commissar for War in the Sovnarkom?
Trotsky
Where were the four Soviet Socialist Republics?
Russia
Ukraine
Belorussia
Transcaucaus
In 1922, what was Russia renamed to?
USSR
What was Lenin’s secret police called?
Cheka
Where did the Cheka have their headquarters?
Lubyanka prison
In 1918 alone, how many opponents of Bolshevism had been executed?
50,000
What were the 5 promises of the Bolsheviks?
- Elections to a Constituent Assembly
- Peace
- Land
- Bread
- All Power to the Soviets
What did Lenin proclaim on the 26th October 1917?
He proclaimed Russia a Republic of Soviets
Who did Lenin want to oppress?
The bourgeoisie class
What was the Decree on Peace?
- All countries should seek peace
- Called for an immediate armistice without loss of territory or money (unrealistic)
What was the Decree on Land?
- Private ownership of rural land was illegal in November 1917
- In December this was extended to the Church
- Took 500m acres of land and gave it to the peasants
What was the Decree on Nationalities?
- Ended Russification
- They would have their own choice of government
What was the Decree on Workers’ Rights?
Decree on Work: 8 hour work day and 48 hour work week
Decree on Unemployment: Insurance for injuries, illness and unemployment.
Pensions introduced
Decree on Workers’ Control: All factories under control of workers’ soviets.
How did Lenin try to solve the problem of food?
Priority was put on getting food to the cities
Cheka and police took food that was not handed over
How did Lenin want to control the economy?
Lenin wanted to end the capitalist system
What was taken over by the government in aid of the economy?
The banks and factories
They were put under the control of elected workers’ councils
How was religion viewed by the Communists?
As a way of controlling people
What did the Decree on Freedom of Conscience do?
Took away the priviledged status of the Church
What did the Church lose?
All land
Publications were outlawed
Religious education outside of the home was banned
What religions were the Bolsheviks more cautious with?
Non-Christian cultures e.g. Islamic traditions were left alone
Women were declared ____ to men
Equal
