Lenin: Consolidation of Power & Aims

Main issues Surrounding the Bolsheviks in October 1917:

• Political Opposition - The Whites sought to remove the communist ideas of the Red army. They were the main opposition to the Bolsheviks during the Russian civil war from 1917-1923.
• Whites: The Whites were composed of various groups that had differing loyalties. Some were loyal to Nicholas II, others to Kerensky and some even to their generals. Although they had the common goal of 'anti-Bolshevism' they still lacked unity which would prove fatal in the future.  
• Marxists: Opposed Lenin's authoritarian nature and methods that was used to achieve Marxism in Russia
• Many people were killed for opposing Lenin and the Bolsheviks. Those that belonged to the kulaks, the wealthy peasants, also faced persecution from the bolsheviks 
• Land Overcrowding - Land was still poorly distributed among the peasants, bringing unrest to the people. They wanted more land in order to produce more crops and make more money
• Vastness of Territory - The Russian cities were scattered among the vast landscape. It was often difficult to relate one city with another and even problems such as a common language or culture made it more difficult for the Bolsheviks
• Economic Issue: The Russian economy was not in a good place in 1917. Following the war, inflation had gone up 400%. Factories that were shut down during the war had to be rebuilt. Many men were sent to the war which diminished the work force. 

Lenin's Solution:

• Armistice: As promised, Lenin immediately ended Russia's participation in the war. He signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany which sacrificed large sections of fertile land to the Germans. Those that lived on those pieces of land turned to 'anti-Bolshevism' as a result and the Bolsheviks lost support. By the wars end, the Triple Entente had won and the treaty was annulled. 
• Constituent Assembly: Bolsheviks had won 168 of 703 seats in the government, but Lenin wanted Party rule instead of democratic rule. By March 1918 the Bolsheviks had taken over and named themselves the Communist Party
• Communist Economy: Lenin wanted to create a communist economy by seizing food and supplies from the peasants. Peasants suffered greatly which didn't help when famine hit the Russians in 1921 causing 5 million deaths.

Factors why the Bolsheviks won the Russian Civil War:

• Secret Police: The Cheka, later known as the NKVD, was the Bolshevik secret police. They were the force that tracked down the opponents to Lenin. In many areas where the Bolsheviks were in power, the  secret police was the judge, jury and executioner
• Separation of the Whites: The many groups that made up the Whites had their differences between each other. They lacked the cohesiveness necessary to take down the Red army. Since so many parties participated, they also couldn't find a common leader.
• Polish War: Poland, independent since 1918, invaded Ukraine in 1920. They were unable to defeat Trotsky's Red Army and in turn, Poland was invaded by the Reds. The Polish army issued a counter attack, but Lenin decided to salvage what was left by signing the Treaty of Riga on March 18th, 1921. The treaty left about 10 million Ukrainians and Whites under the control of the Polish and it ended the civil war. 
• Trotsky: Untrained militarily but brilliant as War Commissar. He equipped simple ideas that encouraged success. Those that did well were promoted, those that failed and survived would pay a price. He used ex-tsarists officers with experience to help the Red army. His believed that if the Red Army lost a major battle, the revolution would end and this became his driving factor; one that he tried to instill into the entire army.

Effects of the Victory:

• Support for Communism: With the win, the Bolsheviks were able to fund other communist revolutions in capitalist countries. At home, the people were still starving. Lenin and his Politburo (political bureau) organized Russia into the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). 
• Expansion: In April 1922, Lenin expanded his Politburo which would now hold seven members. These seven members all played important roles especially after Lenin's death. It included Trotsky, the hero of the civil war; Stalin, General Secretary of the Party and Lenin's favourite; Kamenev and Zinoviev, two of Lenin's friends, and NIkolai Bukharin, Alexei Rykov and Mikhail Tomsky. These seven members developed strong rivalries that became more and more important as Lenin suffered from sicknesses and death two years later. 

Lenin's Aims: Wanted to establish a power base before aspiring towards a socialist state and hoped to avoid civil war. 

• Dictatorship of the Proletariat: seizure of power and to establish communism
• Socialism among the workers
• Destruction of non-socialist ideas. Bourgeoisie would be eliminated
• Communist Revolution to spread to the world

Chief Policies:

Short Term: sought to please the people to gain support 

• Land Reform: Peasants allowed to take over estate of the bourgeoisie. They could divide their land the way they seem fit. Eventually, this developed a 'Kulak problem' where certain peasants got richer than others. 
• Workers control: Workers were put in control of factories, with power over production finance and management. This also went against the Bolshevik ideals and ed to sharp decreases in industry as management was poor. 
• Rights for the people: Self-determination among the minorities in Russia although the Bolsheviks didn't even have control over these areas. 

The above aims were consistent with what the people wanted, but it was against the Bolshevik ideology. This helped establish Lenin's regime as the civil war approached. 

• Opposition: Opposition was dealt with by closing down their press. The Bolsheviks knew first hand the effects of propaganda following the 1917 revolution. 

Long Term goals: 

• War Communism: Increased Lenin's control over Russia especially during the civil war. Industry nationalised, grain requisitioning was issued for the peasants as the war was fought. Private trade was banned and labour discipline (basically workers were punished for not working hard enough) was used. 
• Red Terror: This was a method of mass killings, torture and oppression that was used by the Bolsheviks to eliminate any counter-revolutionaries. 
• CHEKA: Secret police used to destroy opposition. They also created concentration camps. They enforced grain requisitioning and arrested those who couldn't come up with the grain. Between 1918-1920, 300,000 people were killed by the CHEKA. This was a large factor towards the Red's victory in the Civil war
• Class Warfare: Method used to intimidate the middle class to submit. An end to the class system. Everyone would be equals and experience the same things.  

New Economic Policy (NEP): After the Kronstadt revolt in March 1921, Lenin decided to turn from War communism and initiated the NEP. The NEP was to some extent a version of capitalism, but it allowed Russia's economy to reignite.

• National freedoms: loosened up on the Russification policies of the past. Muslim cultures were allowed, Ukrainian language was permitted to be used in Ukraine and certain religious cultures were restored
• Experts: Much of the industry remained nationalized, but with the help of an increased number of highly paid experts that helped increase production
• Private Enterprise: small companies were given back to their owners. Nepmen (New traders) would handle private businesses. Instead of grain requisitioning, peasants were allowed to sell their excess grain and pay a tax. Peasants that became rich were known as Kulaks and they were oppressed by the Bolsheviks. 

This helped stabilized the economy and industry. Trade increased between peasants from different villages and the improved conditions brought reduced opposition to the Bolsheviks. Foreign countries even saw it as a step away from communism and started investing in Russia. 

This step away from communism instead looked towards capitalism. It was a backwards step for Lenin's aims towards a socialist society, but it helped accomplish his aim of establishing a Bolshevik regime.