The Bolshevik The Bolshevik Consolidation of Consolidation of

PowerPower

How did the Bolsheviks How did the Bolsheviks survive the first few months in survive the first few months in

power?power?

Some reactions to Bolshevik Some reactions to Bolshevik power:power:

““The insane attempt of the Bolsheviks is on the eve of The insane attempt of the Bolsheviks is on the eve of collapse…thecollapse…the Bolsheviks are alone” (soldier section of Bolsheviks are alone” (soldier section of SR party, October 1917).SR party, October 1917).

““The Bolshevik party will last no more than a few days” The Bolshevik party will last no more than a few days” (SR leader November 1917)(SR leader November 1917)

““A revolution is a rising of the people.. But what have A revolution is a rising of the people.. But what have we here? Nothing but a handful of poor fools deceived we here? Nothing but a handful of poor fools deceived by Lenin and Trotsky…Their decrees and their appeals by Lenin and Trotsky…Their decrees and their appeals will simply add to the museum of historical curiosities.” will simply add to the museum of historical curiosities.” (Petrograd Newspaper, October 1917).(Petrograd Newspaper, October 1917).

““Trotsky was greeted with ironic laughter when he Trotsky was greeted with ironic laughter when he arrived at the Ministry of foreign affairs and introduced arrived at the Ministry of foreign affairs and introduced himself as the new minister; when he ordered them himself as the new minister; when he ordered them back to work, they left the building in protest.” back to work, they left the building in protest.” (Orlando Figes, A People’s Tragedy, 1997)(Orlando Figes, A People’s Tragedy, 1997)

Lenin’s decisions

Problem 1: Forming a Problem 1: Forming a governmentgovernment

Background: Background: Lenin had proclaimed power through the Soviet. Lenin had proclaimed power through the Soviet. The October Revolution was presented to the The October Revolution was presented to the Russian people as a rising of the Petrograd Soviet Russian people as a rising of the Petrograd Soviet in which many parties were represented, in which many parties were represented, including Mensheviks and Socialist including Mensheviks and Socialist Revolutionaries. Revolutionaries.

In addition, there were also upcoming elections In addition, there were also upcoming elections to the to the Constituent AssemblyConstituent Assembly. The Bolsheviks . The Bolsheviks had criticized the Provisional Government for had criticized the Provisional Government for delaying elections to a Constituent Assembly. delaying elections to a Constituent Assembly. However, would the election results be However, would the election results be favourable to the Bolshevik party?favourable to the Bolshevik party?

Lenin’s decision Lenin’s decision

Instead of exercising power through the Instead of exercising power through the Soviet, Lenin formed a new body: the Soviet, Lenin formed a new body: the SOVNARKOMSOVNARKOM. It was exclusively made . It was exclusively made up of Bolsheviks. up of Bolsheviks.

Lenin allowed the elections to the Lenin allowed the elections to the Constituent Assembly to go ahead in Constituent Assembly to go ahead in November 1917. However, the November 1917. However, the Bolsheviks won only 175 seats against Bolsheviks won only 175 seats against 410 for the Socialist Revolutionaries.410 for the Socialist Revolutionaries.

Lenin declared that Lenin declared that hishis form of form of government represented a higher government represented a higher stage of democracy than an elected stage of democracy than an elected assembly. assembly.

The Assembly was allowed to meet for The Assembly was allowed to meet for one day – 5 January 1918 – then it was one day – 5 January 1918 – then it was closed down and the deputies told to closed down and the deputies told to go home. go home.

A

Problem 2: PressProblem 2: PressBackground:

Lenin and the Bolsheviks were aware of how important political press was. The Bolsheviks had pumped enormous amounts of money into their own papers and periodicals before and during 1917.

By banning other opposition papers, they may prompt significant protests especially from other Socialist parties. However, they may face an even greater threat by allowing it to continue….

Lenin’s decisionLenin’s decision

Lenin decided that he Lenin decided that he could not allow could not allow opposition press to opposition press to continue to be continue to be published. published.

It was banned in It was banned in October 1917, firstly the October 1917, firstly the newspapers of the newspapers of the centre and right, and centre and right, and later the socialist press.later the socialist press.

A

Problem 3: Political partiesProblem 3: Political partiesBackground:Background:Lenin and the Bolsheviks were aware that Lenin and the Bolsheviks were aware that other political parties enjoyed considerable other political parties enjoyed considerable support, especially the Kadet party and the support, especially the Kadet party and the Socialist Revolutionary Party (both of whom Socialist Revolutionary Party (both of whom had done well in the elections to the had done well in the elections to the Constituent Assembly). Constituent Assembly).

By banning other political parties, the By banning other political parties, the Bolsheviks risked sparking a civil war. Bolsheviks risked sparking a civil war. However, if they remained, they posed a However, if they remained, they posed a continued threat to the newly formed continued threat to the newly formed Sovnarkom.Sovnarkom.

Lenin’s Lenin’s decision decision

The Kadet party was outlawed. The Kadet party was outlawed. Leading Kadets were arrested Leading Kadets were arrested and two were brutally put to and two were brutally put to death by Bolshevik sailors. death by Bolshevik sailors.

They were soon followed into They were soon followed into prison by leading right-wing prison by leading right-wing Socialist Revolutionaries and Socialist Revolutionaries and Mensheviks – all this before Mensheviks – all this before the end of 1917. the end of 1917.

At this stage, however, other At this stage, however, other socialist parties were not socialist parties were not banned outright although their banned outright although their future was very uncertain.future was very uncertain.

C

Problem 4: Role of other socialist Problem 4: Role of other socialist parties in governmentparties in government

Background: Background: there was enormous pressure on the Bolsheviks to there was enormous pressure on the Bolsheviks to form a democratic government representing all the form a democratic government representing all the socialist parties. Hundreds of petitions flooded in socialist parties. Hundreds of petitions flooded in from factory committees and army units from factory committees and army units demanding that there be cooperation between demanding that there be cooperation between parties to avoid civil war. parties to avoid civil war.

The railwaymen’s union, backed by the post and The railwaymen’s union, backed by the post and telegraph union, threatened to cut off telegraph union, threatened to cut off communications if the party did not hold talks with communications if the party did not hold talks with other parties. other parties.

Quite a few of the leading Bolsheviks, including Quite a few of the leading Bolsheviks, including Kamenev and Zinoviev were in favour of a coalition Kamenev and Zinoviev were in favour of a coalition with other socialist parties.with other socialist parties.

Lenin had no intention of seriously including other parties. He was not prepared to see his vision diluted by other socialist parties.

Also he feared that he may be sidelined in a coalition government. So, he deliberately made sure that talks with other socialist parties collapsed. He wanted the Bolsheviks to rule alone.

However, he did make an alliance with the left Socialist Revolutionaries and brought them in as junior partners in the Sovnarkom.

He saw this as useful because, with them on board, he could claim to represent the interests of the peasantry.

Lenin’s Lenin’s decisiondecision

A/C

Problem 5: Land OwnershipProblem 5: Land OwnershipBackground: Background:

Lenin had built up Bolshevik support by promising land to the Lenin had built up Bolshevik support by promising land to the peasants. peasants.

He was aware of the tide of popular opposition that had He was aware of the tide of popular opposition that had undermined Kerensky and the Provisional Government. undermined Kerensky and the Provisional Government.

But handing land over to the peasants immediately could lead to But handing land over to the peasants immediately could lead to an economic crisis, violence and lawlessness in the countryside. an economic crisis, violence and lawlessness in the countryside. How would Lenin square his socialist vision with economic How would Lenin square his socialist vision with economic reality?reality?

Lenin’s Lenin’s decisiondecision

In October 1917, the Sovnarkom In October 1917, the Sovnarkom passed the ‘decree on land’. This passed the ‘decree on land’. This gave peasants the right to take gave peasants the right to take over the estates of the gentry, over the estates of the gentry, without compensation, and to without compensation, and to decide for themselves the best decide for themselves the best way to divide it up. way to divide it up.

Land could no longer be bought, Land could no longer be bought, sold or rented, it belonged to the sold or rented, it belonged to the ‘entire people’. Privately owned ‘entire people’. Privately owned land was not part of the land was not part of the Bolshevik’s socialist vision.Bolshevik’s socialist vision.

B

Problem 6: running industryProblem 6: running industry

Lenin and the Bolsheviks believed firmly in Lenin and the Bolsheviks believed firmly in the principle of power being passed to the the principle of power being passed to the ‘workers of the world’. But they ran the risk ‘workers of the world’. But they ran the risk of inefficient production, disputes and of inefficient production, disputes and violence and economic disaster. violence and economic disaster.

There had been a great deal of unrest in the There had been a great deal of unrest in the factories with factory committees demanding factories with factory committees demanding an eight-hour day, better working conditions an eight-hour day, better working conditions and better pay.and better pay.

Lenin’s Lenin’s decision decision

In November 1917, the Bolsheviks In November 1917, the Bolsheviks passed the ‘Workers Control passed the ‘Workers Control Decree’. Factory committees were Decree’. Factory committees were given the right to control given the right to control production and to ‘supervise’ production and to ‘supervise’ management. management.

In October 1917, the Bolsheviks In October 1917, the Bolsheviks also agreed to a maximum eight-also agreed to a maximum eight-hour day for workers as well as hour day for workers as well as social insurance (unemployment social insurance (unemployment and sickness benefits).and sickness benefits).

B

Problem 7 – Nationalities Problem 7 – Nationalities questionquestion

Background: The collapse of the Romanov dynasty Background: The collapse of the Romanov dynasty had prompted many national groups to present had prompted many national groups to present demands for more self government (independence). demands for more self government (independence). The Finns and the Ukrainians were the first to do this. The Finns and the Ukrainians were the first to do this.

Was the future of the empire at stake?Was the future of the empire at stake?

Lenin’s Lenin’s decisiondecision

‘‘The Rights of the People of Russia’ The Rights of the People of Russia’ decree gave the right of self-decree gave the right of self-determination to the national determination to the national minorities in the former Russian minorities in the former Russian Empire. Empire.

Of course, the Bolsheviks did not Of course, the Bolsheviks did not have control of the areas in which have control of the areas in which most of the people lived, so this most of the people lived, so this was nothing more than a ‘paper was nothing more than a ‘paper measure’.measure’.

A

Problem 8 – War and PeaceProblem 8 – War and Peace

Background: Background: The promise that had brought so many people to The promise that had brought so many people to the Bolshevik banner was the pledge to end war. the Bolshevik banner was the pledge to end war. Lenin was convinced that revolutions in Europe Lenin was convinced that revolutions in Europe would ensure that equal peace settlements would ensure that equal peace settlements would be reached. But the reality proved more would be reached. But the reality proved more problematic. problematic.

At the peace-negotiations held at Brest-Litovsk, At the peace-negotiations held at Brest-Litovsk, the German demands were excessive. Any peace the German demands were excessive. Any peace treaty would result in the loss of a quarter of treaty would result in the loss of a quarter of Russia’s farm land and three-quarters of her iron Russia’s farm land and three-quarters of her iron and coal reserves as well as 62 million people and coal reserves as well as 62 million people within its population. Trotsky refused to even within its population. Trotsky refused to even consider such a cost. What should Lenin do?consider such a cost. What should Lenin do?

Lenin’s Lenin’s decisiondecision

Lenin adopted a position of Lenin adopted a position of ‘peace at any price’ and so ‘peace at any price’ and so accepted the terms of Brest-accepted the terms of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918. Litovsk in March 1918.

Russia pulled out of World Russia pulled out of World War I. But the consequences War I. But the consequences of the treaty caused deep of the treaty caused deep discontent amongst those discontent amongst those who saw it as a shameful who saw it as a shameful peace.peace.

B

Summary: What methods did Lenin use to retain control?

Terror – use of Cheka, secret police

Central political control - Sovnarkom

Legal system abolished and replaced with ‘revolutionary justice.’

Incentives for Russian workers and peasants ‘peace, bread and land’ in order to build up support

‘class warfare’ – state sanctioned violence against the burzhui (bourgeoisie or middle class).

Opposition parties banned