AS FP1 : Establishment of Bolshevik Authority Flashcards
(11 cards)
What was the ‘All-Russian Congress of Soviets’?
The All-Russian Congress of Soviets convened on the night of the revolution. 500/670 delegates voted in favour of a socialist government, however Mensheviks and SRs were dismayed to find out that the majority of seats for Sovnarkom when to Bolsheviks and left-wing SRs.
Zinoviev and Kamenev spoke out against the coup, and Tsereteli, Menshevik leader, predicted that Bolshevik power would last 3 weeks. In protest moderates walked out of the Congress, leaving a coalition of Bolsheviks and SRs in control.
What was Sovnarkom?
Sovnarkom was compromised exclusively of Bolshevils, Lenin had no intention of power sharing. It ruled by decree without seeking the soviet’s approval and met twice a day.
Through Sovnarkom, Lenin deliberately sidelined the Petrograd Soviet as it was brought into a Bolshevik-dominated power structure ; effectively undermining its power.
How did the Bolsheviks consolidate their authority?
On October 29 an Army Cadet rising against the Bolsheviks was suppressed by the Red Guard ; on November 2nd, Kerensky’s opposition forces were defeated and nationalities were given the right to break away from the empire. On November 3rd, the Kremlin in Moscow was taken and on November 5th Lenin proclaimed the victory of the revolution, SRs were allowed to join sovnarkom but on the condition that they followed Bolshevik authority entirely.
Conceptual Awareness
Why did Bolshevik Authority appear weak?
It had taken ten days to persaude the State Bank to hand over its resources but only after the threat of armed intervnetion. The Bolshevik position appeared weak as Keresnky had set up an opposition in Gatchina and Lenin had no direct contact with the military.
What was the state of Bolshevik authority by the end of 1917?
Bolsheviks dominated major towns and railways although large areas of countryside would remain out of their control until after the Civil War.
Decrees and actions to December
What was the Worker’s Decree, the Social Insurance Decree, and the Decree on Worker’s control of Factories?
The Worker’s decree, October, set an eight-hour maximum working day.
The Social Insurance Decree, October, provided old age, health and unemployment benefits.
The Decree on Worker’s control of factories, November, gave workers the right to supervise management.
Decrees and actions to December
What was the Decree on the Rights of the People of Russia, Nationalities Decree, and the Bank Decree?
The Rights of the People of Russia Decree, November, abolished titles and class ranks. The nationalities decree, November ,gave self-determination to minorities.
And the Bank Decree, December, nationalised banks.
Decrees and actions to December
What were the Decrees on Peace and Land?
The Decree on Peace, October, brought an immediate end to war without annexation or indemnities. And the Decree on Land, abolished private ownership of land and legitimised peasant siezures without compensation for landowners.
Decrees and actions to December
What were the decress on press and decree to suppress counter revolution?
The Decree on Press, October, banned the opposition press and the Decree to Suppress Counter Revolution, December, established the Cheka.
What were Lenin’s movements before the end of 1917?
He spoke out against the danger of moving towards socialism too quickly. In December, the Veshenka was set up to supervise and control economic development.
In order to combat opposition he started a propaganda campaign against political and class enemies, anti-bolshevik newspapers were shut down, there was a purge of the civil service and the Cheka were established.
What were the warning signs of the impending dictatorship by the end of 1917?
By the end of 1917 Lenin had made it clear that he had no wish to power share. The establishment of the Cheka reflected his belief that the dictatorship of the Proletariat would require active repression of counter-revolution.
