Lenin's government of Russia 1917-24

What was the view if the distribution of power by the revolutionaries in Russia?

Sovnarkom had been 'appointed', to govern by the Congress of Soviets. This was like a pyramid, with, with Sovnarkom at the top, drawing its authority from the Russian people , who expressed their will through the soviets at the base.

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Why was this view untrue?

Traditional forms of gov. had broken down in 1917, meaning that the Bolsheviks could now make up their own rules. Therefore, this notion of deriving power from the will of the people was just a cover.

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Why was the key of the Bolsheviks holding power within Soviet authority?

The Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party, under organisation by Lenin, which provided members of the gov. Thus essentially making the Sovarkom a wing of the Bolshevik party.

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What was democratic centralism?

A formula that guaranteed that that power was exercised from the top down, rather than the bottom up.

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How was democratic centralism exercised in terms of the Central Committee?

Supposedly derived its power from the All-Russian Congress, but in practise, the Congress/ local parties just did as they were told.

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What was 'state capitalism'?

Pragmatic approach to eventually achieving a fully fledged socialist system. whereby before this, the Bolshevik gov. would continue to use the existing structures until the transition to a proletarian economy has been completed.

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What were the four issues which the war against Germany and Austria had brought?

1)Shortage of raw materials// 2)Inflation// 3)Fractured transport system// 4)Hunger in large areas (grain supplies over 13 million tones short)

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Why did food shortages worsen just a few months after the Oct revolution?

Germany's movement into the Ukraine had compromised Russia's richest grain producing region.

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What was the Decree on Peace?

More of an appeal to warring nations to enter into talks for 'a democratic peace without annexations'. This came about from Lenin's understanding that for his gov. to survive, he had to give the people what they wanted and withdraw from WW1.

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When was the Decree on Peace?

October 1917

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What was the Decree on Land?

Gave Bolshevik approval to the reality of what had been happening in the countryside since the Feb revolution, allowing peasants to continue occupying overthrown landlord territory.

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When was the Decree on Land?

November 1917

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What was the Decree on Workers Control?

Accepted the workers take over of the factories following the Feb revolution, but at the same time, instructed the workers committees to maintain 'the strictest order and discipline' in the work place.

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Lenin's government of Russia 1917-24

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