Bolshevik rule and Civil war

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When did the Bolsheviks size power

November 1917

What were Lenins problems after the October revolution

Getting the new govt working, Land ownership, Runing industry and ending the war

How did he deal with govt

SOVNARKOM( the council of peoples comissars) formed, exclusively bolshvik which deals with opposition. Cheka can also deal with them and other socialists.

How did he deal with land ownership and running industry

Land- Decree on land- quick win

Industry- Oct max 8 hour days set up. Nov worker commitees control factories

How did he deal with the war

Oct decree on peace- hoped for an immediate truce with ‘no annexations, no indemnties’

Nov start negociations

Dec- one month armistise signed

Jan trotsky policy ‘neither war or peace’ accepted by Bol Central commitee

March- Brest Litovsk signed

Terms of Brest Litvosk

Finland kept independenc

Ethiopia, Latvia and Lithuania become independent republics

62 million peoople losy

27 percent of farm land

74 percent of iron ore and coal reserves

In what ways were these immediate reforms ideological

Decree on land and 8 hour days improve workers right

Industry nationalised

War ending was a priority

Rights of the people of Russia decree- Nm’s right of self determination

In what ways were these immediate forms pragmatic

Rights of the pople of russia deree just on paper- said to gain popularity

Opposition press close

CHEKA arrest other socialist leaders

Ignore election results

Land and industry done for quick support

The war physically could not continue

Causes of the Russian Civil war

Other socialist parties alienated, Bolsh one party state

Libs and conservatives unhappy

Class tension

National M’s want independence

Who fought in the war

Reds- Bolsh, workers and peasants

Whites-Broad libs, Tsarists, Nationalists, seperatists, moderate socialists,SR.

Greens- Peasant armies- made of deserters from other armies

What factors gave the Reds the advantage over the Whites

More united- clearer and goal and long term plan. Generals of white armies faced mutual suspicion

Geographically Reds held more heavily populated areas and railway hubs in Petrograd and Moscow

Leadership was tougher with the Bolsh- death penalty- brutal but efficitent and Trotsky took his troops iwth him proving him to be a superb leader. In contrast white army leaders cruel- reminded of worst parts of Tsarists Russia

Support from reds came from many who wanted to protect 1917 gains, peasents like land decree and workers lole running factoris, whle whites lost nationalist groups suppoert in Ukraine and Georgia as they wanted to restore Russias empire.

How owuld this war impact Russian foreign policy

V unpopular with waritme allies Britain and France- who sent roppps for the whites. Brit sent £100 million to whites

What was war communism

Lenins 1918-1921 policies

What were the key features of war commmunism

Rationing

Labour discipline

Grain Requisitioning

Natiinalismation of industry

Banning of private trade

How did rationing change

Class based- Red army and labur force given priority, then civil servents and professionals like doctors, Smallest rations to Burzhui. Class warfafre tool

Pragmatic choice

Labour discipline

Fines for lateness and absence

Internal passports stop people leavng

Workbook needed for rations

Piece work rates brought back

Pragmatic choice

Grain Requisitioning

Done by red army guards and soldiers

Peasents resist- killed a soldies and cut open his stomach to stuff it with grain

May 1918 food supplies dictatorship set up to forcefully requisition grain- needed for cities where people were starving

Prag plus ideo

Nationalisation

Administered by Veshenka

Old bourgoise managers bacl

Commitees poorly run