Early (Initial) Reforms
Political ReformsPolitical RestructuringUpon securing power in Petrograd and Moscow, Lenin seeked to gain legitmacy from the Soviets. In the Second all Russian Congress of Soviets, the Congress approved the Bolsheviks actions. Lenin transferred power the Soviet, but soon after begun to restructure the organisation. The SOVNARKOM repleaced the cabinet, and became the main political decision making body. Although operating within the Government (Soviet) Body - it was made up of 15 leading Bolsheviks, there by ensuring the Bolsheviks effectively ruled the country. The attachment to the right shows the main political bodies of both the Bolsheviks (later renamed Communist Party) and the Government. Dismissal of Constituent Assembly Furthermore, prior to the Revolution, the Provisional Government had established elections to a CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY. The elections were held (and allowed by Lenin) in November. Over 47 million (of 80 million) Russians voted in the elections. As a majority were peasants, the Socialist Revolutionary Party actually attained the largest proportion of the vote (42%). The Bolsheviks secured only 23.6% (however 33.6% of urban votes). Lenin could not foresee and cooperation with the newly elected body, and so at its first meeting held in January at the Tauride Palace, dismissed it at Red Guard Gunpoint. |
Economic ReformsState Capitalism Lenin believed a period of bridled capitalism would be needed to stabilise the Russian economy. Large industry was nationalised, however basic capitalistic policies and ownership were allowed, however were supervised by Workers Councils. This would soon end and be replaced as a result of the Civil War. "Peace Land Bread" Upon securing power, Lenin had to go about fulfilling his earlier promises. Decree on Peace (Treaty of Brest-Litovsk) To solve the issues of the war, Lenin made contact with the German allies. Lenin found it difficult to get support for the treaty, Lenin's passing the decree by a vote of 1 (Lenin had threatened to resign should it not be successful). The Treaty was tough on Russia - it lost 32& of its European land (most importantly Ukraine - the main grain cultivation area of Russia), 89% of its iron and coal reserves, 54% of its industry and 34% of its population, and had to pay 3 billion roubles in war reparations. However Lenin's hope was that Germany would eventually lose the war - later proving true in November 1918, making the treaty null and void. However for the duration of the treaty, it would heavily impact Russia. Decree on Land Solving the issue of Land was one of the easiest to do. The Decree on Land abolished private ownership of land - all land became the property of the people. Village and settlement level determined the usage of the land. Decree on Bread Lenin was unable to solve the issue of bread. A bad harvest, combined with a loss of farmland and poor cooperation with the peasants as a result of war communism, would make this issue the main crisis facing the Bolsheviks in their early years of power. |
Social ReformsA number of other Social Reforms were enacted by the Bolsheviks, including:
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