Russia Under Lenin

Vladimir Ilyich LeninLenins brother was killed for attempting to kill Alexander III.Lenin hated the Czarist governmentGermany helped Lenin return to RussiaWorking class to rise up and overthrow government

LeninLenin adapts Marxist ideas to Russian conditionsMarxists - Those who followed the orthodox theory as laid out in the Communist Manifesto; called for violent overthrow of the government, international workers' union, and a focus on the urban centers of society.Set up elite group to lead Revolution. dictatorship of the proletariat

Bolsheviks November RevolutionOverthrew provisional governmentNew symbol of government Red flag with entwined hammer and sickle symbolized union between peasants and workersBolsheviks renamed communists

How did Lenin impose Communist control in Russia between 1917-1924?

Factors that helped Lenin impose Communist control inRussia 1917-1924.The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk1918The Civil War 1918-1921The execution of Tsar Nicholas II 1918Success of the New Economic PolicyThe ChekaThe abandonment of the Constituent AssemblyThe Kronstadt Revolt 1921War Communism

The abandonment of the Constituent Assembly 1917Lenin promised to hold elections for a Parliament to be known as the Constituent Assembly.Renamed the Bolshevik Party as the Communist Party in order to win wider support. They won 175 seats out of 700, not enough for a majority.Lenin shut down the Constituent Assembly after only one day!Lenin was not prepared to share power with anyone.This was the first step in setting up a Communist dictatorship.

The Cheka (Secret Police)

Set up in December 1917Cheka agents spied on the Russia people in factories and villages.Anyone suspected of being anti-Communist could be arrested, tortured and executed without a trial.When opponents tried to assassinate Lenin in 1918, he launched the Red Terror campaign against his enemies.It is said that 50,000 people were arrested and executed in this period.

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 1918To successfully impose Communist control in Russia, he would have to bring Russia out of the First World War.Lenin knew he could not defeat Germany and his opponents in Russia at the same time.In March 1918 Russia signed a humiliating peace treaty with Germany. It came at a high price for RussiaRussia lost a huge amount of land in the West. This included about one-sixth of the population (60 million people)three-quarters of its iron and coalover a quarter of the best farmland in Russia.

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 1918GermanyRussia.Brest-LitovskUkraineEstoniaLatviaLithuaniaRussian territory ceded to Germany

Civil WarThe opponents of the Reds, Lenin and the Communists, were known as the Whites.The Whites were a mixture of aristocrats, royalists, churchmen, army officers and many others.The Whites were led by Admiral Kolchak and Generals Deniken and Wrangel.War lasted for 3 years

Civil WarSome groups that made up the WhitesWhites counterrevolutionaries loyal to CzarGreens anarchists who favored socialism without strong central governmentNational groups Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania able to break freeMany were supported by by Britain, France, Japan and the USA, countries that were alarmed at the possible spread of communism

Civil War- Why the Communist won?The Whites were divided, while the Reds controlled the key cities, industrial centres and communication links. Trotskys tough leadership of the new Red Army proved decisive in the victory over the Whites.

Allied armiesWhite Russian armiesPolish armiesJapanese armiesFinnsCommunist Russia besieged during the Civil War 1918-1921 Moscow PetrogradCzechs (ex-prisoners of war)

The Russian Civil War, 1918-1922What is the cartoonist trying to say about the Russian Civil War?"The dogs of the Entente: Denikin, Kolchak,Yudenich"

The execution of Tsar Nicholas II July 1918After his abdication in March 1917, Tsar Nicholas II and his family were arrested and sent to Siberia.In July 1918, the Romanovs were in Ekaterinburg, with a White army closing in on the town.Local communists were worried that the Tsar might be a rallying point for the Whites. As a result, Tsar Nicholas, his wife, their five children and four attendants were shot and bayoneted.

Every scoundrel who incites anyone to retreat or to desertwill be shot!

Every soldier who throws awayhis rifle will be shot!

Leon Trotsky founder and commander of the Red ArmyEvery scoundrel who incites anyone to retreat or to desert will be shot!

Every soldier who throws away his rifle will be shot!

War Communism Why?To win the Civil WarLenin needed a strong Red Army supplied with weapons and food.

War CommunismPure form of communismGrain RequisitioningCheka seized all surplus grain from the peasants. The peasants hid food or preferred to grow less rather than give it away free to feed the towns.Banning of Private TradeNationalisationThe state took control of the factories and appointed managers to run them. Work was hard and long, food was rationed to only those who worked and trade unions were banned.Labour DisciplinePassports to prevent movement of workersRationingRed Terror used to impose changes

War Communism - EffectsDeeply alienated many including potential supportersInefficient disincentivised workPeasants particularly alienatedDiscontent amongst the peasants led to violence in the cities. Workers went on strike, in spite of the death penalty for striking.Drought and famine hit Russia in 1921 over 4 million people died.Kronstadt MutinySoviets without Communists rallying cry

The Kronstadt Revolt 1921This was most serious opposition to Lenins governmentSailors at the Kronstadt naval base near Petrograd revolted.They accused Lenin of breaking his promise to help the workers.Lenin ordered the Red Army to put down the revolt. This caused 20,000 casualties and the leaders of the revolt were executed. The mutiny was a warning to Lenin that he might have to relax War Communism.

War Communism during the Russian Civil WarWhat is the cartoonist trying to say about the Russian Civil War?

Civil War EndsBy 1921, Communists defeated scattered foesLenin now faced a chaotic nation of famine, millions dead and an economy in ruins

Communist Control of the USSR by 1924 Moscow Leningrad

New Economic Policy (NEP)To regain popular support, Lenin relaxed War Communism with the New Economic Policy (NEP).Lenins pragmatic about turnLenin hoped that NEP would give Russia a breathing space to get back on its feet.Most of the Communist Party saw the need for NEP, but some were against it.Trotsky hostile to deviation from communism

New Economic Policy (NEP)FeaturesGrain Requisitioning abolishedTax in kindCould sell surplusesState maintained control of heavy industryBut some small businesses allowedTo allow products for peasants to buyPrivate Trade allowedRationing abandoned

This was a return to capitalism and competition.

New Economic Policy (NEP)General revival in economySmall businesses recovered faster than Heavy IndustryProduction increased across the boardAlthough unemployment increased in urban areas as profit motive meant that workers could be laid offNepmen the big winnersSpeculators who bought up surpluses and sold them in townsControlled 75% of trade by 1925Corruption bribes to local officials to allow goods to be obtained and sold

New Economic Policy (NEP)On the whole NEP was a success. But it did create some problems.Uneven distribution of successConspicuous displays of wealth by Nepmen speculatorsPeasants did not get the full profit dueUrban workers jealous of peasants, Nepmen and of party workersNew Exploitation of the Proletariat

Some saw NEP as a betrayal of communism and return to the old system.

New Economic Policy 1922-1927What can you infer about the Soviet Union under New Economic Policy?

Lenin An AssessmentHe had been very successful in imposing a communist dictatorship in Russia.He had defeated all of his opponents and established a strong communist government.Each area formerly belonging to the Tsar came under communist control, were turned into socialist republics.In 1923 these became the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).But, Lenin failed to provide a clear successor on his death. This led to four years of bitter struggle.Lenin died in 1924

Who would succeed Lenin?Trotsky Red ArmyCommander and Commissar of ForeignAffairsStalin Commissar forNationalitiesOR