The Civil War and Lenin
The Bolsheviks' failure to win showed significant opposition. Lenin justified disbanding the Assembly by claiming the
October Revolution had already provided the mandate for Bolshevik rule and accused the SR and Kadets of election
rigging. This move faced criticism from within the Bolshevik party and strong opposition from other political groups,
but there was minimal reaction from the general public, who focused on daily life and local soviets.
The Constituent
Assembly
• Made to create a constitution for
Russia post-abdication of Nichola
Lenin's Decrees
The Red Terror
• Campaign of political repression and
violence carried out by the Bolsheviks
during the Russian Civil War.
• Involved mass arrests, executions, and
persecution of perceived enemies of the
Bolsheviks, including political opponents,
former tsarist officials, and anyone thought
of doing counter-revolutionary activities.
• The Bolsheviks launched the Red Terror to
eliminate opposition and secure their hold
on power. As a result, thousands were killed
or imprisoned, creating a climate of fear but
also solidifying Bolshevik control over Russia
The Red Army
Crucial for the Bolshevik victory in the Civil
War. Initially, they barely existed, but it grew
to over 5 million by the war's end.
In contrast, the White opposition had around
500,000 troops. The Red Army, along with the
Cheka, enforced War Communism, ensuring
Bolshevik control and suppressing dissent.
Represented a move towards democracy and involved major political
parties, and extended voting rights to all citizens (men and women)
aged 20 and above, as well as servicemen aged 18 and above—radical
measures at the time.
• Established by the Provisional Government, involving major
political parties, trade unions, and soviets.
Decree on Workers Control
• Granted Workers' Committees authority to manage
factories.
• Empowered workers but often led to inefficiency and
mismanagement, contributing to economic difficulties.
Decree on Land
• Seized and redistributed private landholdings to peasants.
• Gained peasant support for the Bolsheviks by addressing
land hunger, but disrupted agricultural productivity and
led to conflicts over land ownership.
Formation of the Supreme Economic Council
• Centralized management of key industries.
• Nationalized many enterprises
Decree on the Rights of the People of Russia
• Addressed the treatment of various nationalities
promising:
- Equality and sovereignty.
- Abolition of national and religious privileges.
- Free development of national minorities.
• Initially reinforced the Bolsheviks' commitment to
national minorities' rights, which was later reflected in the
first Soviet constitution. However, practical
implementation varied and was often limited by political
realities.
Decree on Peace
• Called for an immediate end to World War I through
negotiations without annexations or indemnities.
• Led to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918, where
Russia ceded significant territory to Germany but left the
war, allowing the Bolsheviks to focus on internal issues.