History A-level Edexcel - Russia, 1917-1991: from Lenin to Yeltsin - Theme 1: 1a

Background of Bolshevik Revolution

- Tsar Nicholas II was Emperor (1894-1917) - very repressive and powerful

- weak economy as little modern industry

- 2 main opposition parties by 1900: Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party and Social Revolutionaries

- Bolshevik party established in 1903

- 1905 revolution - autocracy became constitutional monarchy

Background to Bolshevik Revolution (WW1)

- Russia entered in 1914

- incapable of providing necessary food and equipment

- Tsar incompetent wartime leader

- caused economic chaos, military defeat and political mismanagement which led to February revolution(1917)

Causes of February Revolution (1917)

- economic issues (food shortages)

- inequality

- labour unrest - harsh conditions, long hours, low wages

- Nicholas II weak leadership

- political repression

- Rasputin damaging credibility of monarchy

- WW1

Events of February Revolution (1917)

- 18th February: A strike at Putilov Steel works began

- 23rd February: International women's day, marched in protest of bread shortages, a million people marched the streets

- 25th February: Nicholas ordered police and soldiers to end the unrest in Petrograd

- 26th February: Mutiny in the pavlosky regiment, rebelled against orders from their officers

- 27th February: Nicholas II wanted to take troops to the capital to gain control of Petrograd, wasn't successful, mutiny became larger, soldiers are shocked as they are being ordered to open fire on unarmed soldiers

- 2nd March: Nicholas II abdicated from the throne, Provisional government ruled

Consequences of February Revolution (1917)

- end of Romanov dynasty and tsarist authority

- provisional government established

- dual power : soviets and provisional government

The Provisional Government

- Set up after Tsar was overthrown in February revolution

- liberal system replaced tsar's despotism

- freedom of expression, assembly and religion

- democratic elections

Causes of October Revolution (1917)

- discontent with provisional government - still involved in WW1, no land reform, still food shortages, weak leadership - 'Peace, Land and Bread'

- economic crisis - food shortages, inflation

- growth of soviet power

- Soviet strong leadership

Events of October Revolution (1917)

- October 25-26: Bolsheviks seized government institutions in Petrograd

- Winter Palace stormed

Consequences of October Revolution (1917)

- provisional government overthrown

- bolshevik rule established

- Treaty of Brest Litovsk (1918)

- Civil War (1917-22)

- social and economic reforms

- spread of communism

Lenin's ideology

- global revolution needed to replace capitalism and imperialism with socialism

- new social system allowing all people to actually be free and equal

- Marxist

- help process of capitalist to communist along

- power should be taken from bourgeoisie and given to Bolsheviks who would act as dictatorship of proletariat

Marxist Ideology

- workers would rise and destroy capitalism in revolution

- theory of history: Primitive communism, classical slavery, feudalism, capitalism

- sometimes contradictory

- workers should be in control of means of production

Bolshevik Opposition

- other left wing groups e.g. SR's and Mensheviks (wanted share in government)

- right wing groups e.g. Tsarist supporters, rich and middle class

- nationalist groups e.g. Ukranians, Poles, Finns

Constituent Assembly (January 1918)

- democratically elected

- Bolsheviks did not get the most votes so Lenin dissolved Assembly after one meeting and used All-Russian Congress of soviets instead

Destruction of other political parties

- removed vote from bourgeois classes

- restrictions on Mensheviks and SRs

- left wing SRs exited government

- Bolshevik party renamed communist party in 1918 and effectively banned all other parties by 1921

- SRs and Mensheviks arrested

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918)

- Lenin approved treaty in March 1918 giving Russian territory to Central Powers to end Russian involvement in WW1

- Whites encouraged because treaty offered promise of foreign help to ensure Russia rejoined fight

- Treaty unpopular so Bolsheviks lost elections in May 1918 but Lenin refused to recognise result (Menshevik and SRs expelled from soviets)

Causes of Russian Civil War (1917-22)

October Revolution

people discontent with Bolshevik policies

white army formed

white army gained foreign support from other countries

Socialist rivalry within Russia

The Russian Civil War (1917-22)

- battle between communist reds and reactionary whites

- opposition consisted of those who wanted to reestablish tsarist rule/ military dictatorship/ democratic system/ SRs and Mensheviks/ anarchists/ national minorities

- Whites received aid from Allies in WW1

- began in January 1918 when General Kornilov organised anti-Bolshevik army

- Bolsheviks won due to better organisation and united aim (helped by Trotsky)

Consequences of Russian Civil War (1917-22)

- Bolsheviks consolidated power

- loss of life

- end of white movement and foreign intervention

- rise of soviet union

Effect of Russian Civil War on government

- became increasingly centralised (economy, nomenklatura, Red Army became more authoritarian)

- communist party became increasingly powerful

- use of terror increased against political opponents

The Tenth Party Congress (1921)

- Lenin banned factions within party (faced opposition from The Workers' opposition and the Democratic Centralists)

Government structure

Sovnarkom

Central Executive Committee

All-Russian Congress of Soviets

Provincial and city soviets

Sovnarkom

- Council of People's commissars

-new Russian cabinet

- about 20 members, elected by Central Executive Committee

- met on a daily basis during civil war

-Lenin as chairman

-revolutionaries

Central Executive Committee

- larger group elected by the Congress of Soviets

- oversaw work of government and its administration

All-Russian Congress of Soviets

- law-making body

- approved all laws issues by Sovnarkom

- representative body, in theory but more ceremonial

Politburo

- 7-9 members chosen by People's Central Committee

- mat daily under Lenin

- more important than Sovnarkom

Central Committee

- 30-40 members chosen by Party

Congress

- supposed to make policy decisions but Politburo took over

Party Congress

- representatives of local power branches - discussed general program of party

- met yearly under Lenin 1917-24

Communist Party Structure

Politburo

Central Committee

The Secretariat

Party Congress

local Party branches

Democratic Centralism

- Bolsheviks claimed party based on this

- claimed decisions made in interest of people and that government was democratic

Lenin's first government decrees

Decree on Land issued October 1917 - gave peasants right to seize land from nobility and church

Decree of Peace issued October 1917 - withdrew from WW1 to seek peace

Workers decrees issued November 1917 - 8 hour max working day and minimum wage

Decree of Workers control issued April 1918 - workers could elect committees and run factories

Problems with Sovnarkom

- Little Power: October Revolution had occurred in Petrograd so Lenin didn't have control over Russia's other major cities at first

- Senior figures from former government still had power

- Disorganised: People's commissars didn't have proper equipment

The emergence of a 'party-state'

Lenin relied on Politburo rather than Sovnarkom during Civil War

Terror usage

- Cheka created in Dec 1917 by Lenin to defend revolution

- Cheka willing to imprison/torture/kill threats

- Cheka led by Felix Dzerzhinsky

- Red Terror (1921-22)

- 1922, Cheka replaced by OCPU - terror became more discrete and focused on inside the party

- Chistka in 1918

Popular unrest in 1921

- Civil war had ruined Russia's economy

- Droughts in 1920 and 1921

- Uprising in Tambov against grain requisitioning

- Strikes against policies in major cities

- Uprising at Kronstadt naval base - 'Soviets without communism'

The growth of bureaucracy and nomenklatura

- nomenklatura system developed to ensure more committed communist bureaucracy

- nomenklatura encouraged loyalty to party leaders in order to gain power

The Soviet Constitution (1924)

- step in centralisation of power in the Soviet State which tightened authority in Moscow

Ways Russia was not completely centralised

- central control not always in remote areas

- chaotic government - local mafia and black marketeers

- Kamenev and Zinoviev opposed Lenin's decision to launch October Revolution

- debate over Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

- NEP introduction caused factions within party

- debated role of trade unions

Lenin's main aims for governance of Russia

- consolidate and sustain revolution

- gradually transition to socialism

- centralise control of economy

- international revolution

- party unity