Russian Revolution and Civil War: Bolshevik Policies and Impact

Initial Sovnarkom Problem (Oct 1917)

Sovnarkom was established as the Bolshevik government, bypassing the Soviets. Lenin ruled by decree to rapidly implement policies.

Significance of Initial Sovnarkom Problem

Centralised authority, allowing Bolsheviks to act quickly.

Impact of Initial Sovnarkom Problem

Consolidated regime by sidelining rival bodies.

Quote on Initial Sovnarkom Problem

Lenin - "We shall now proceed to construct the socialist order."

Constituent Assembly (Jan 1918)

Bolsheviks lost majority and dissolved the Assembly by force after one day.

Significance of Constituent Assembly

Ended multi-party democracy; marked beginning of one-party rule.

Impact of Constituent Assembly

Opposed Bolsheviks but consolidated dictatorship.

Quote on Constituent Assembly

Richard Pipes - "The machine-gun became... the principle instrument of political persuasion."

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (Mar 1918)

Peace treaty with Germany; Russia lost 34% population, 32% farmland, 89% coal.

Significance of Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Secured Bolshevik survival but widely seen as humiliating.

Impact of Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Consolidated power strategically but alienated opposition.

Quote on Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Trotsky - "Neither war nor peace."

Russian Civil War (1918-21)

Conflict between Reds and Whites, with foreign intervention. ~10m deaths, mostly from famine/disease.

Significance of Russian Civil War

Decisive Bolshevik victory but devastated Russia.

Impact of Russian Civil War

Strengthened regime militarily; justified centralisation.

Red Terror (1918-22)

Cheka-led mass executions and arrests targeting counter-revolutionaries; ~200,000 killed.

Significance of Red Terror

Created fear, enforced one-party state.

Impact of Red Terror

Consolidated regime through terror.

Quote on Red Terror

Dzerzhinsky - "We stand for organised terror."

White Terror

Violence by anti-Bolshevik forces; pogroms and massacres.

Significance of White Terror

Allowed Bolsheviks to justify repression.

Impact of White Terror

Opposed regime but strengthened Bolshevik propaganda.

Quote on White Terror

Orlando Figes - "Both sides practised terror."

State Capitalism (1917-18)

Nationalised banks/industry, allowed limited private trade.

Significance of State Capitalism

Stabilised economy temporarily.

Impact of State Capitalism

Consolidated regime by prioritising survival.

Quote on State Capitalism

Lenin - "We must learn to use the old bourgeois specialists."

War Communism (1918-21)

Grain requisitioning, forced labour, full nationalisation.

Significance of War Communism

Fed Red Army, won Civil War but caused famine (5m deaths).

Impact of War Communism

Opposed regime; peasants rebelled, but regime survived.

Kronstadt Revolt (Mar 1921)

Naval rebellion demanding civil rights and "Soviets without Bolsheviks"; crushed by Red Army.

Significance of Kronstadt Revolt

Showed disillusionment among workers and sailors; led to NEP.

Impact of Kronstadt Revolt

Opposed regime, forcing policy change.

Quote on Kronstadt Revolt

"We stand for genuine Soviet power, not the dictatorship of a party."

Cheka's role (1917-22)

Secret police established to crush counter-revolution.

Significance of Cheka

Main tool of Bolshevik terror and surveillance.

Impact of Cheka

Consolidated regime through fear.

Quote on Cheka

Dzerzhinsky - "We represent organised terror."

Bolsheviks' first decrees (1917)

Decrees on Land, Peace, Workers' Control; legalised worker and peasant demands.

Significance of Bolsheviks' first decrees

Secured popular support.

Impact of Bolsheviks' first decrees

Consolidated regime by legitimising Bolsheviks.

1921 famine causes

War Communism policies and drought caused ~5m deaths. ARA fed 10m.

Significance of 1921 famine

Undermined Bolshevik legitimacy.

Impact of 1921 famine

Opposed regime; forced Lenin to adopt NEP.

Tenth Party Congress (1921)

NEP introduced, Party factions banned.

Significance of Tenth Party Congress

Economic retreat; increased political discipline.

Impact of Tenth Party Congress

Consolidated regime politically.

Quote on Tenth Party Congress

Lenin - "We must learn to trade."

Effects of NEP (1921-28)

Private trade restored; economy revived; grain rose from 37.6m tonnes (1921) to 56.6m (1923).

Significance of NEP effects

Stabilised economy but contradicted communist ideals.

Impact of NEP effects

Consolidated regime economically.

Artistic movements in 1920s

Constructivism, Proletkult, agitprop posters; cultural revolution.

Significance of artistic movements

Propaganda tool; promoted Bolshevik ideology.

Impact of artistic movements

Consolidated regime ideologically.

Quote on artistic movements

Mayakovsky - "Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge."

Women's rights reforms

Zhenotdel, divorce/abortion legalised, equal pay.

Significance of women's rights reforms

Progressive, challenged traditions.

Impact of women's rights reforms

Consolidated regime as modernising.

Quote on women's rights reforms

Fitzpatrick - "1920s were a time of sexual liberation."

Education reforms

Mass literacy campaigns; literacy rose to ~87% (1939).

Significance of education reforms

Built skilled, ideologically loyal workforce.

Impact of education reforms

Consolidated regime through education.

Quote on education reforms

1917 literacy ~40%; 1939 ~87%.