Lenin's Politics

Give three problems faced by the Provisional Government.

WW1 continued; Economic shortages and inflation; Unelected and temporary government; Rival power of soviets

Give four early decrees passed by the Bolsheviks.

Decree on Land; Decree on Peace; Decree on Illiteracy; Decree on Workers’ Control; Decree on the Press

How did these early decrees help Lenin establish control?

Won popularity

When was the Cheka established?

December 1917

Who was the head of the Cheka?

Felix Dzerzhinsky

Give two ways centralisation increased during the civil war.

Greater state control of economy; Politburo dominance; Increased bureaucracy; Centralised Red Army

What three policy changes did Lenin make in 1921?

Ban on other parties; Ban on factions; NEP

Give four reasons the Bolsheviks won the civil war.

Mass support and propaganda; Terror and discipline; Numerical superiority; Use of tsarist officers; Geographic advantages; War Communism

What was the official government called and how was it chosen?

Sovnarkom elected by the soviets

What did the Decree on Workers’ Control do?

Allowed workers to elect factory committees

What anti-democratic action did Lenin take in January 1918 and why?

Dissolved the Constituent Assembly after losing to SRs

Give two ways government changed during the civil war.

Increased centralisation; Party dominance over state

What was the communist party bureaucracy called?

Nomenklatura

Give three ways the Bolsheviks prevented political opposition.

Banned parties; Arrests and show trials; Red Terror; Closed opposition newspapers

What two rebellions did the Bolsheviks face in 1921?

Kronstadt; Tambov

Explain the structure of the communist party.

Party Congress elected Central Committee which approved Politburo