Lennin

HOW DID LENIN IMPOSE COMMUNIST CONTROL IN RUSSIA? (1917 – 1924)

A SERIES OF REVOLUTIONS

  • The Tsar, Nicholas II, was largely unpopular with the Russian populace.

    • The feudal system was becoming antiquated as societal conditions evolved.

    • Bloody Sunday (1905): A small tactical error on Nicholas II's part spurred discontent amongst the people.

  • February 1917: Alexander Kerensky gains power following a soldiers' mutiny, resulting in Nicholas II's abdication.

    • This left a power void that Kerensky’s government filled, which aimed for liberal democracy.

  • Lenin criticized Kerensky's government as weak, predicting that it would not successfully impose communism.

  • October 1917: Lenin leads an armed uprising against the Provisional Government.

    • The objective was to seize control of Russia and transform it into a communist state.

    • Lenin declared, "The Workers Have Nothing to Lose but Their Chains."

LENIN’S SPEECH

  • Lenin's rallying cry to the Russian people included: "PEACE, LAND, and BREAD!"

    • Additionally, he humorously referenced potato liquor.

KEY FACTORS IN LENIN'S CONTROL

  • Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918)

  • Dissolution of the Constituent Assembly

  • Formation of the Cheka (Secret Police)

  • Civil War (1918-1921)

  • Success of the New Economic Policy (N.E.P.)

  • Execution of Tsar Nicholas II

  • Kronstadt Revolt (1921)

STEP ONE: DISSOLVE THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY

  • Immediately following the October Revolution (1917), Lenin promised elections for a Parliament, termed the Constituent Assembly.

  • In elections, the Bolsheviks (Communists) won only 175 out of 700 seats, insufficient for a majority.

    • Lenin anticipated a larger majority to mandate his political agenda.

  • As a resolution, Lenin dissolved the Constituent Assembly after merely one day.

    • This act symbolized the beginning of a Communist dictatorship and eliminated political choice in Russia, a crucial element of dictatorship.

STEP TWO: CREATE THE CHEKA (SECRET POLICE)

  • Established by Lenin in December 1917, the Cheka became agents of terror and repression.

  • Anyone suspected of being anti-Communist faced potential arrest, torture, and execution without a trial.

  • Following an assassination attempt on Lenin in 1918, he initiated the Red Terror campaign against perceived enemies.

    • It is reported that approximately 50,000 individuals were arrested or executed during this period.

STEP THREE: SIGN THE TREATY OF BREST-LITOVSK

  • Lenin recognized the necessity of returning soldiers home to secure popular support.

  • His initial refusal of Germany's first treaty overture was due to its punitive nature.

  • As Germany continued to advance, Lenin re-evaluated his position and requested peace.

  • The second treaty proved substantially more punitive, leading Lenin to consent.

    • Treaty Details: Ceded approximately 1/6th of Russia’s population (60 million people), three-quarters of its iron and coal reserves, and over one-quarter of its agricultural land.

    • This treaty epitomized Lenin's promise of "peace, land, and bread."

    • But then, all ceded Russian territories were reclaimed by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

STEP FOUR: WIN A CIVIL WAR

  • The Russian Civil War transpired between the Reds (Bolshevik supporters) and Whites (anti-Communists: democrats, monarchists, and Western anti-communists).

  • The Whites received backing from anti-communist Western democracies, including America, Canada, France, and Britain, who were left unsettled after Russia’s exit from WWI.

  • A newly formed Red Army played a crucial role in defeating the Whites.

  • The existence of a common enemy helped strengthen the Reds, whereas disorganization was the primary reason for the Whites' defeat.

  • Management: The Reds were well organized under Leon Trotsky.

RUSSIAN CIVIL WAR (1917 – 1922)

  • Initiated quickly after the Bolsheviks assumed power, as various factions opposed communism.

  • Casualties: Estimated 1.2 million Reds and over 1.5 million Whites.

  • The Reds ultimately triumphed, cementing Bolshevik power and marking a bloody era in Russian history.

STEP FIVE: IMPLEMENT WAR COMMUNISM

  • Economic and political system used by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War

  • Goal: keep the Red Army supplied and win the Civil War

Key Features:

  1. Nationalization of industries – factories and businesses were taken over by the state

  2. Grain requisitioning – peasants had to give surplus crops to the government

  3. Centralized control – government decided what was produced and distributed

  4. Ban on private trade – markets were mostly closed

  5. Strict discipline – harsh measures against those who resisted

🌸 Significance

  • Helped support the Red Army, but caused famine and unrest

  • Later replaced by the New Economic Policy (NEP), which allowed some private trade

STEP SIX: TSAR MUST DIE FOR THE REVOLUTION TO LIVE

  • Nicholas II abdicated during Russia’s poorly progressing wartime efforts.

  • Initially, the Tsar and his family were detained near St. Petersburg but were later moved to Ekaterinburg.

  • As White forces, notably a Czech squadron, approached, execution was determined necessary to avoid rescue.

STEP SEVEN: NEW ECONOMIC POLICY (N.E.P.) (1921)

  • War Communism had led to increasing unrest, particularly among the Kulaks (wealthy peasants).

  • Lenin acknowledged that it alienated potential supporters of the Communist Party.

  • The N.E.P. targeted reversing the extremes of War Communism:

    • Small industries were returned to private ownership while larger ones remained state-controlled.

    • Peasants were permitted to sell surplus grain on the open market for profit.

    • This shift was controversial, regarded by some as a betrayal of communist ideology; however, it proved successful in regaining public support for Lenin's policies.

STEP EIGHT: FORM THE SOVIET UNION

  • By the time Lenin died in 1924, he had successfully imposed a communist dictatorship across Russia.

  • His regime had quelled all opposition and set a robust communist government structure.

  • Former Tsarist territories were reorganized into socialist republics, culminating in the establishment of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) by 1922.

LENIN’S DEATH: THE END OF THE BEGINNING

  • Date: January 21, 1924

  • Circumstances: Lenin passed away due to complications following three strokes, at the age of 53.

  • His legacy as the “Architect of the October Revolution” and “Leader of the World’s Proletariat” continued to resonate, which was emphasized by the emergence of the "Cult of Lenin">

“POSITIVES” IMPACTS OF LENIN

  • Notable societal changes included:

    • Redistribution of land taken from the wealthy to peasants.

    • Factories were handed over to workers, granting them decision-making power regarding wages and conditions.

    • Promotion of gender equality: both men and women were viewed as equally valuable to society.

    • A flourishing of art and music, with decreased restrictions on creativity.

IMAGES OF LENIN

  • The Red Army Choir expressed enduring loyalty with the slogan, "Lenin was, Lenin is, Lenin will live!" in Russian, which symbolizes the perseverance of Lenin's ideals.

NOW WHAT?

  • Following Lenin's death, there was no clear succession strategy for party leadership.

    • Two prominent figures contended for power:

    • Leon Trotsky (commander of the Red Army).

    • Josef Stalin (Commissar of Nationalities).

    • Trotsky ultimately faced execution through an ice axe in exile, with Stalin emerging victorious in the power struggle.

Lenin's rise to power began amidst the unpopularity of Tsar Nicholas II and the subsequent abdication of the Tsar in February 1917, which led to Alexander Kerensky's weak Provisional Government. In October 1917, Lenin led an armed uprising, seizing control with the promise of "PEACE, LAND, and BREAD!"

He solidified communist control through several key actions:

  1. Dissolution of the Constituent Assembly (1918): After his Bolsheviks failed to win a majority, Lenin dissolved the assembly, signaling the start of a dictatorship.

  2. Creation of the Cheka (Secret Police) (1917): This force used terror and repression, initiating the "Red Terror" campaign after an assassination attempt on Lenin, leading to mass arrests and executions.

  3. Signing the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918): Lenin accepted a punitive peace treaty with Germany, ceding significant territory, population, and resources to bring soldiers home and gain popular support.

  4. Winning the Civil War (1918-1921): The Red Army, led by Leon Trotsky, defeated the anti-communist White forces, who were backed by Western democracies. This victory was aided by the Red's organization and War Communism policies which nationalized industry and agriculture.

  5. Execution of Tsar Nicholas II: The Tsar and his family were executed to prevent their rescue by White forces.

  6. Implementation of the New Economic Policy (N.E.P.) (1921): Reversing the harshness of War Communism, the N.E.P. allowed some private ownership and market trade, regaining public support.

  7. Formation of the Soviet Union (1922): Lenin reorganized former Tsarist territories into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

Upon Lenin's death in January 1924, a power struggle ensued between Leon Trotsky and Josef Stalin, with Stalin ultimately emerging victorious. Lenin's legacy included land redistribution, factory control by workers, and promotion of gender equality, despite the brutal methods used to establish his regime.