Bolshevik Consolidation of Power

What was the Bolshevik consolidation of power?

The Bolshevik consolidation of power was a period of time in which the Bolsheviks increased their control from just Moscow and Petrograd to most of Russia.

When did the Bolshevik consolidation of power happen?

The Bolshevik consolidation of power was between 1917 and 1921.

How did the Bolsheviks consolidate their growth in power?

There were 6 main actions that the Bolsheviks took to consolidate their power:

• ❖ They issued several decrees between October and December 1917, including the Decree On Peace, the Decree on Land, the Decree on Nationalities and the Decree on Workers' Rights.
• ❖ The Bolsheviks shut down the Constituent Assembly in January 1918.
• ❖ In March 1918, they signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk which ended the war with Germany.
• ❖ They fought and won the civil war against the Whites and the Greens between 1918 and 1921.
• ❖ They began the Red Terror by rounding up and executing thousands of their opponents.
• ❖ They brought in censorship and by 1921 had closed down all other political parties.

How did the Decree on Land help with the consolidation of the Bolsheviks' power?

The Bolsheviks issued the Decree on Land in October 1917, which abolished private ownership, including land owned by the tsar, the Church and private landowners. It was given to the peasants in the hope they would support the Bolsheviks.

How did the Decree on Peace help with the consolidation of Bolshevik power?

The Decree on Peace of October 1917, called for peace to be negotiated between all countries at war. Pulling Russia out of the war would mean the Bolsheviks could concentrate on establishing a government and consolidating their power.

How did the Decrees on Workers' Rights help with the consolidation of Bolshevik power?

The Decrees on Workers' Rights, issued in November 1917, focused on improvements to working conditions such as pay and unemployment benefits, and put the factories under the control of the workers in the hope the workers would support them.

How did the Decree on Nationalities help with the consolidation of the Bolsheviks' growth in power?

The Decree on Nationalities issued in October 1917, stated that the different nationalities could govern themselves. This was issued in the hope that they would not use the collapse of the tsarist government to gain their independence.

How did closing the Constituent Assembly help with the consolidation of Bolshevik power?

By closing down the Constituent Assembly on 6th January, 1918, Lenin prevented it being a source of opposition to the Bolsheviks. He was able to ban all political parties.

How did the consolidation of Bolshevik power affect the course of the First World War in Russia?

The period of Bolshevik consolidation from 1917-1921 had a significant effect on the outcome of the First World War for 5 main reasons:

• ❖ Lenin had time to crush the 'White' opposition in Russia and turn the former tsarist army into a revolutionary 'Red' army. This army would fight Russia's former allies during the Russian Civil War, 1918-1921.
• ❖ The Allies had now lost their most important ally, Russia. They offered to support the Bolshevik government if they committed to preserving the Triple Entente, and continuing the war.
• ❖ Germany had proven that by supporting subversive groups you could win a war by destroying the home front.
• ❖ Events would backfire on Germany. Returning German prisoners of war brought back radical ideas of socialism and Marxism. It would take less than a year for these ideas to start the German revolution that would depose the kaiser.
• ❖ When the Russian revolution began, all of Russia's former allies sent troops to support the 'Whites.' An argument can be made that the First World War did not end in 1919 with the Treaty of Versailles, but in 1921 with the end of the Russian Civil War.