Bolsheviks PDF

After the abdication of the tsar the provisional government took charge.The provisional government was made up of many political parties. However, not everyone in Russia accepted this government. Many workers and people in the army prefered the Petrograd Soviet, which also claimed to be the legitim...

After the abdication of the tsar the provisional government took charge.The provisional government was made up of many political parties. However, not everyone in Russia accepted this government. Many workers and people in the army prefered the Petrograd Soviet, which also claimed to be the legitimate government. so, there was a situation of "dual power", with two groups claiming to be the real government. People weren't sure who to support, and many waited to see which of these groups would be best for them. Some politicians belonged to both sides, such as Kerensky. All this created a very confusing situation, with various groups fighting to gain the support of the people. The provisional government, march to october 1917 The success for the provisional government would depend on how they would handle these key points. - To gave the land to the peasants or to tell them that they had to wait until election had been held - to stay in war or how or make peace - how to feed the starving workers in the cities. Plans: Continue with the war, ask peasants to wait until elections before taking any land, organizing free elections. Petrograd Soviet had the support of key workers. controlled the resources in the country. more radical than the Provisional Government. socialist revolutionaries who supported the idea of a new constituent assembly. Lenin and the rise of the bolsheviks Lenin, leader of the Bolsheviks, wanted to take the revolution in Russia even further after the March 1917 revolution. He returned to Russia with the help of the Germans, who hoped Lenin would cause more chaos in the country. Once in Petrograd, he presented his ideas, known as the April Theses, where he explained that he wanted to get Russia out of the war, distribute land among the peasants and have the state control the banks. Lenin used slogans such as "Peace, land and bread" and "All power to the soviets" to win support. His message was much more radical than that of the Provisional Government. Over time, the Bolsheviks gained more followers, especially in the army and among the workers. By October, they already had a lot of influence in the soviets and in russian politics. Fall of the Provisional Government War effort was failing and soldiers were deserting, after a German counter attack the russian forces were practically over. In the July days 1917, peasants began taking control of the countryside and bolsheviks protested. Kerensky produced evidence about Lenin being supported by Germany and that made Lenin lose support. Kerensky became minister for war and tried to crush the opposition but this only led to more strikes, with Kerensky being unable to restore order. An army general called Kornilov tried to take over, his army was too powerful so Kerensky had no choice but to ask the bolsheviks for help, who formed the red army, Kornilov’s soldiers refused to attack soviet troops so Kornilov´s plan failed. By this point, Kerensky had lost all support while the Bolsheviks were offering all what the people wanted and were the ones to remove Kornilov’s threat. By the end of September 1917 the bolsheviks controlled the petrograd soviet and Trotsky became its chairman. THE BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION By October 1917, Lenin thought it was time for the Bolsheviks to take over. In November the Red Army and Trotsky started taking over post offices, bridges, and banks. They had no opposition so they continued. They stormed the winter palace and arrested provisional government ministers. After that, it was announced that the provisional government had been overthrown. Why did they succeed? The provisional government was very unpopular. Bolsheviks were disciplined and dedicated to revolution. Had 800.000 members and supporters on the right places (army, sailors) Mayor industries were pro bolshevik Had outstanding figures as leaders (Lenin, Trotsky) LENIN IN POWER Lenin and the Bolsheviks had promised the people bread, peace and land, it was compulsory to accomplish his promise. He set up the council of people’s commissars saying that russia was asking for peace with germany. He also handed out the noble’s land to the peasants and put factories in the hands of the workers. He limited the working day and made insurances. The Bolshevik Dictatorship Lenin promised free elections and democracy. As Lenin had feared, he lost because the socialist party gained the majority of votes. Lenin did not like this, he sent the red guards to close down the assembly, and after that, the assembly was forgotten. At the end of the day, Lenin's plans of government were dictatorship and to keep the revolution standing. The next promise made by Lenin was for peace with germany. He put in charge trotsky to set a peace treaty to leave the war. Lenin hoped that a socialist revolution would break down in germany as it did in russia. After some time, there was no revolution and Lenin had no choice but to sign the Treaty. The Treaty was a severe blow to Russia. russia losses included population, agricultural land, industry, railways, coal mines and 300 million gold roubles. many groups of Russia were opposed to sign the Treaty. Make peace Lenin put trotsky in charge of negotiating a peace treaty. He told him to spin out the negotiations as long as possible. He thought that there would be a revolution in germany. By february in 1918 there was no revolution. So they accepted the terms of the treaty of brest-litovsk in march 1918. The treaty ruined russia. losses: - 34% of population - 32% of agriculture land - 54% industry - 26% railways - 89% of coal mines - 300 million gold roubles. opposition and civil war Lenin survived an attempted assesination in August in 1918 ( he was hit three times). In december he created the cheka a secret police to crush his opponents By 1918 a group named The Whites( anti-bolsheviks from outside and inside of russia) was created. By spring 1918 three separated white armies were marching on bolsheviks-controlled western of russia. General Yudenich and Denikin went to moscow and petrograd, while kolchak went to moscow from central southern russia. The reaction of the bolsheviks was ruthless and determined. In an amazing short time, Trotsky created a new red army of 300.000 men. Trotsky ensured its loyalty by holding their families kidnapped and by appointing political commissars to watch over them. The cheka terrorized the people of bolsheviks territories so that nobody co-operated. This was The red terror. In July the whites went to the place where the tsar was and the bolsheviks commander ordered to take of the tsar and his family. Lenin didn't want the tsar to be rescued and returned as leader of the whites. Why did the bolsheviks win the civil war? - Compared to the whites, the red army was more disciplined and united. - It was brilliantly led by trotsky - the red terror imposed strict control - they made sure that the towns and armies were fed - took over factories of moscow and petrograd - used propaganda to raise fears that would benefit them and spread communism Economic policy war communism War communism was the harsh economic measures the bolsheviks get during the civil war to survive. It had two aims: - to put communism theories into practice by sharing the wealth between russian people. - Help the civil war by keeping the red army and the towns with food and weapons. all large factories were taken by the government. production was planned and organised by the new government agency “vesenkha” Discipline for workers was strict and strikes could be shot peasants had to give surplus food to the government, if they didnt they could be shot. food was rationed free enterprises became illegal- all production and trade was state- controlled The consequences of this were that the peasants were refused to work because the government took 90% of their production and because of that, a huge famine between 1920 and 1921 killed 7 million russians. Kronstadt mutiny: Sailors were originally strong bolshevik supporters but they were concerned for ordinary russians. They made a petition for bolsheviks to change their policies in which they made 15 demands, including elections, freedom of speech, equal rations, etc. This was a threat to Lenin because of how powerful the sailors were. Lenin demanded the rebels to surrender but when they refused he abandoned war communism and drew up a new economic plan. The NEP ( New Economic Policy) in march 1921, lenin announced the NEP. Peasants were allowed to sell surplus grain for profits and they would pay tax on what they produced rather than giving some of it to the government. In the towns, small factories were delivered back into private ownership and private trading of small goods was allowed. The NEP men were the beneficiaries. Lenin said that the NEP was temporary and that the vital heavy industries (coal, iron, oil, etc.) would remain in state hands. Many bolsheviks thought that the nep was a betrayal of communism but as always Lenin won and from 1921 onwards the NEP went into operation. By 1925 it seems that it works, food production in particular rose steeply. However, increases in production did not necessarily improve the situation of industrial workers. The death of lenin and the creation of the USSR He suffered several strokes in 1922-1923 which left him paralyzed and led to death in January 1924.He was a remarkable man by any standards.