ISSUE 3CONSOLIDATION OF POWER

(In Russia’s case: lack of)

Consolidate= to unite/combine/merge for power

FEB REVOLUTIONsum up

• This revolution was spontaneous.• Women protesting about bread shortages went

to the Winter Palace, guards did not shoot but joined in, factory workers also joined in.

• The protest became strong that the Duma sent a msg to the Tsar to return

• In a rail car outside the capital, the Tsar was presented with an abdication by the Duma Reps and he Resigned. Russia became a Republic.

• As news spread about the Revolution peasants began to take over their Landlords land.

The start of the Russian Revolution, International Women's Day, 8 March 1917.

THEREFORE:

• We can conclude that the Russian people had no aim to revolt, except to;

-End Russia’s involvement in WWI-Acquire more food for the townspeople

• Deep problems had existed for some time to unite people together such as;

- Members of the Duma were dissatisfied with the autocracy

- There was a need to redistribute the land- Working and living conditions were poor.

The revolution achieved:

- The Tsar had been deposed and a Republic had been established

- Some peasants were getting access to land (illegally)

- Establishment of the Soviets group gave hope to the workers and soldiers for a better future

• What the revolution failed to achieve:

- End of WWI- Alleviate food shortages- Improve poor living and working conditions.

OCTOBER REVOLUTIONBy November 1917 the Provisional Government was in complete collapse. In the meantime, the Bolshevik party, helped by German money, had built up an efficient party organisation, a brilliant propaganda machine, and a powerful private army (the Red Guards). When Lenin moved to take over, the Provisional Government was unable to stop him, and the 'November Revolution' was less of a revolution than a coup d'état.

Bolsheviks

Liberal

Moderate

Conservative

Reactionary

Duma Tsar

Radical

Why were the Bolsheviks able to seize power?

• They had a strong political and economic centre in the Petrograd Soviet.

• They had their own armed forces, the ‘Red Guards’.• They were organised and disciplined and had clear planned

strategies.• They were realistic, practical and clever in setting their

short term goals.• The Provisional Government was weak and ineffective.• Lenin was an inspiring leader with vision, clarity and ability.(Why did the Bolshevik Revolution succeed?)(Lenin vs Trotsky)(6 Red months in Russia)(Sources)

LENIN ESTABLISHES A COMMUNIST SOCIETY

• After take over of the PG, Lenin set up a Council of People’s Commissars as the new temporary Government.

• Lenin’s new government ruled by Decree (meaning laws are passed without using Parliament)

• He aimed to carry out reforms, show his control of opposition and state he was in charge.

THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY• Elections were held in November 1917 for a Constituent

Assembly (a body to create a Russian constitution/new democratic government )

• Lenin agreed to the election, however the Bolsheviks did not receive the majority (see 419)

• In Jan 1918 when the Assembly met, Lenin refused to hand power over to the right winged Social Revolutionist. The Assembly then had to disbanded

• The next day the Bolsheviks and the Left SR’s met and declared themselves the government.

• In 1918 The Bolsheviks changed their name to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union

Handmade oil painting reproduction of The only session of the All-Russian

Constituent Assembly held in Petrograd on 18th January 1918, a painting by Boris

Zvorykine.

THE DECREES • Next Lenin issued a decree (law) that there be immediate

peace with a Germany. He enacted this to fulfil an election promise and to obtain support from the common people. He also needed the people’s support against counter revolutionaries (people who opposed the revolution) All in order to help the consolidation of power.

• The Bolsheviks wanted to keep fighting the war, to assist a communist regime to come to power in Germany, but Lenin predicted defeats, so went against them. The left SR’s were forced out of government, because they opposed Lenin

Was this a consolidation of the Revolution?According to Lenin……YES

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk• Lenin sent Trotsky to sue for peace• On March 3rd, 1918; Lenin signed a treaty/peace

negotiation with Germany that allowed for Russia’s exit from World War I in exchange for huge parcels of land (27% of arable land, 33% of coal fields and 26% of population); this was due to the fact that Lenin realised he could not balance the development and tackle the problems in Russia alongside the expense and effort of foreign war at the same time. Also because his government was not strong enough.

(Treaty of Brest- Litovsk)

LAND DISTRIBUTIONCommunist Society

• Lenin made a decree to confiscate all the land held by the Tsar, nobles and the Church and other landlords. The land was put under State control for redistribution by the local soviets to the peasants. This fulfilled the promise he made before he came to power

INDUSTRIES Communist Society

• Lenin made decrees to place all banks under the control of a state bank, and nationalise industries

• All factories were put under the control of elected committees of the workers

FOOD ALLOCATION Communist Society

• Food was allocated to the townspeople. This was obtained from the Kulaks (peasant farmers who owned their own land), who were forced to sell food at a fixed price to the state. The Kulaks lost all excess land, agricultural implements and draught horses.

CONTROL Communist Society

• All non Bolshevik newspapers were banned. A new secret police the CHEKA, was set up to deal with opponents of the Bolsheviks.

• Government censorship to silence foreign views.

• Propaganda to teach the Marxists philosophy.

SOCIAL CHANGES Communist Society

• Education: literacy campaigns enabled more people to read and write, Science was encouraged and History and ancient languages were banned= useless

• Religion: religious worship was suppressed, monks and priests were persecuted, RE was banned.

• Workers: improvements in 1922, 8 hr working day, 2 weeks paid holidays, sick pay, pension.

Accurate depiction of a communist society?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qra0hlO6hZk• (communism)• (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6PdecBn2no&feature=related)• (laws of the land)• (communist laws)

• In 1923 Lenin issued decrees giving self determination to non Russian People (countries in Russian empire were allowed independence if they chose a government friendly to Russia)

• They all compiled together and became the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialists Republics) this became the new name for Russia

USSR

The hammer and sickle is a symbol of the communist movement. The hammer stands for the industrial working class while the sickle represents the agricultural workers; together the hammer and sickle represents the unity of these two groups.It is also speculated that the hammer represents power, while the sickle represents efficiency: "Power and Efficiency."

CONSOLIDATION????• By 1921 Russia had become a one party state. The

leaders of the Mensheviks, Social Revolutionaries and cadets were arrested the parties banned. The Communist party controlled government at every level. Many/ALL of the aims of the Revolution and revolutionary theory had been met. Therefore the revolution had been consolidated!This seems pretty easy…..were there any threats to the consolidation?

COUNTER REVOLUTION

• Soon after the October Revolution, there was a counter-revolution which resulted in civil war. This threatened the Revolution’s consolidation.

CIVIL WAR

Opponents to the Bolsheviks were known as the ‘whites’

SOCIAL REVOLUTIONARIES

LANDOWNERS

SUPPORTERS OF THE TSAR

FACTORY OWNERS

NATIONAL GROUPS GENERALS

They won the election, but denied power

Factories taken away

Land taken away

Want the Tsar restored to power

Humiliated by the peace terms of Brest-Litovsk

Want independence of Russia FOREIGN TROOPS

France, Britain, Australia, USA, America, Japanese, Czechs – angry that peace was made with Germany

THE CIVIL WAR

• The Bolsheviks' enemies – called 'the 'Whites' – joined together to try to bring down the Revolution.

• However, the disunity of the 'Whites, and the ruthlessness of the Bolsheviks ('the Reds') meant that the Revolution survived

• (civil war)• (source analysis)• (causes of the civil war)• (pg 426-427)• (http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=ESnj17NwJTU&feature=related

““We will not We will not surrender” to surrender” to the Tsarist the Tsarist forces.forces.

Why The Bolsheviks Won The War • Whites

were disunited and thousands of miles apart, so Trotsky could fight them one by one.

• Trotsky

was a brilliant war leader and strategist, so the Red Army had good tactics. • Belief

Many Russians were Communists, who believed they were fighting for a better world. Others fought for them because they hated foreign (British, American and French) armies invading Russia. This made the Bolshevik soldiers fervent and enthusiastic.

• War CommunismThe Bolsheviks nationalised the factories, and introduced military discipline. Strikes were made illegal. Food was rationed. Peasants were forced to give food to the government. This gave the Bolshevik armies the supplies they needed. This was known as War Communism (pg430)

• TerrorThe Cheka murdered any Whites they found – more than 7000 people were executed, and Red Army generals were kept loyal by taking their families hostage – so the Bolsheviks were united.

• Wherewithal The Bolsheviks had control of the main cities of Moscow and Petrograd (with their factories), control of the railways (vital), an army of 300,000 men, very strict army discipline, and internal lines of communication – giving them the advantage in the war.

AFTER THE WAR…

• After civil war there were political and economical problems. Russia was in chaos.

ECONOMIC PROBLEMS• After the Civil war Russia experienced:• Famine• Industry strikes• Inflation and shortages of raw food materials• Industrial production was at a standstill as

factories were destroyed and transport was virtually non existent

• Little food and disease was rife • Approx 20 million people died

1921 Volga famine poster

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRXWZl7LMIs

KRONSTADT REVOLT

• The massive discontent caused by War Communism led to the Kronstadt mutiny

• (Kronstadt revolt)• (pg 432)• (http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=Y2gT_WM_Ntc)

NEW ECONOMIC POLICY

• The Kronstadt Revolt convinced Lenin that he had pursued the aims of communism too quickly, instead he had to consolidate what had been achieved, so he introduced the New Economic Policy (NEP)

• The NEP allowed people to buy their own farms, buy and sell goods on open market. They paid Tax but was allowed to keep the rest

• The aim was to get back to the Bourgeois stage of economic development and consolidate that phase before moving onto the Communist phase.

CONCLUSION: CONSOLIDATION?

• Some people believe Lenin betrayed aims to stay in power, others agree that he had betrayed the Revolution but was forced to do so under the circumstances.

• By 1924 others argue that the revolution had been consolidated through his actions.

ESSAY

‘Revolutionary governments resorted to extreme measures to consolidate power’?

How valid is this statement?