Preview

Bolshevik Policies During The Civil War Essay

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1241 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Bolshevik Policies During The Civil War Essay
"During the civil war the Bolsheviks laid the foundations of a new social order very different from the idealized socialist society they had envisaged before coming to power."
To what extent is this statement accurate in describing Bolshevik policy during the Civil war years?. Had the Bolsheviks abandoned their ideals by the end of the Civil War years and, if so why had this occurred?
The Statement made by David Christian is accurate. During the civil war the Bolsheviks changed their policy in order to remain in power and to win the war. They first outlined their policy and ideals in the April thesis. During the civil war they implemented war communism which laid the foundations of a new social order. The re-introduction of state controlled …show more content…
This was a total contrast from their policies previous to the war.. This changed during the civil war. With the threat of civil war real they built an army, a new police system, a disciplined ruling group and the fiscal machinery necessary to support these structures. The creation of the of the red army had one and only purpose. This was to fight the civil war. The generals appointed into the army were ex-loyalists to the Tsar. Conscription was introduced along with the abolition of soldiers committees. It also saw the introduction of a secret police system better known as the Checka. They were used to repress the people who spoke out against the government and hopefully meant for the Bolsheviks they would stay in power. The main purpose of the was " To defend the revolution and conquer the enemy even if its sword falls occasionally on the heads of the innocent".(Dzerzkinky-leading Bolshevik. The new social order was put in place to make sure the Bolsheviks could win the war. Propaganda was used as a tool for the Bolsheviks to stay in power. By the 28th of October they had banned all counter- revolutionary newspapers and had seized control of all forms of public communication. More and more the new revolutionary government was looking like that of the
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Evaluate the Role of Individuals in Bringing About the Changing Influence of the Russian Communist Party, 1905-1945.
    • 680 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Evaluate the Role of Individuals in Bringing About the Changing Influence of the Russian Communist Party, 1905-1945.

    The most important individual in bringing about the change in influence is Vladimir Lenin, who brought about a sudden sharp rise in the party’s popularity. Following the 1917 October Revolution, Lenin became the leader of the Communist Party and greatly increased the party’s political influence with his ‘one party state’. Lenin’s creation of the Politburo in 1919, which was a group of eight high profile party members who influenced any decision being made, demonstrates the party’s increased political influence by showing their domination of governmental bodies. Public support of the party is obvious in the increase of RCP membership, March 1919 to March 1920, from 250,000 to 612,000. This may have been due mainly to Lenin retaining his power through the 1918 civil war. In 1921, Lenin introduced his New Economic Policy, aimed at gaining peace with the peasant class, which resulted in the ending of armed resistance to the communists. This support increased the Russian Communist Party’s (RCP) public influence greatly, backed in rural areas as well as urban working class districts. Due to all these factors, Lenin is the most important individual in changing the influence of the Russian communist party between 1905 and 1945.…

    • 680 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Who Was The Most Successful Russian Rulers From 1856-1964
    • 1370 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Who Was The Most Successful Russian Rulers From 1856-1964

    The reforms and policies made during the last Tsarist years were not in the interests of the people but were made simply to maintain the power of the Tsar and his nobles. Most people would argue that during the years 1917-1964 there was more political freedom and less repression than in the Tsarist years. The provisional government did not meet the needs of the Russian people. They were an unstable and temporary government, and many people on the furthest parts of the Russian empire did not know about their existence. This provided them with many issues, such as trying to enforce democracy onto people they did not understand what democracy actually was. Many historians believe that at this point the people of Russia did not know themselves what form of government they wanted and due to the lack of education they did not know what form was best for them. In October 1917 came the Bolshevik revolutions. With their leader, Lenin, the Bolsheviks overthrew the provisional government and came into power. The leadership of Lenin was met with great approval from the people. Lenin promised political freedom unknown to them under the Tsars and Provisional government. In his rule…

    • 1370 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Far Was Lenin Responsible for the Bolsheviks Growing Hold on Power in the Years 1917 24 Essay
    • 877 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Far Was Lenin Responsible for the Bolsheviks Growing Hold on Power in the Years 1917 24 Essay

    had very smart and tactical aims and objectives and ideas of what was best for Russia.…

    • 877 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Transformation of Russia (2/14/13)
    • 837 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Transformation of Russia (2/14/13)

    Between 1800 and 1939 Russia underwent through a severe regime change. The people of Russia were in a state of great economic disparity, and the lower class faced hunger, poverty, etc. The lower class had very little of the grain, land, and fiscal control that was available in Russia, such pretext of large income disparity gaps and unbalanced control of GDP were the pre-requisites se in place for the takeover of socialism. And such is what happened. Within this time period Russia went through a proletariat revolution of communism aiming have the workers of the world unite and free themselves from capitalist oppression to create a world run by and for the working class. However even though they underwent this major social-economic change, conditions in Russia stayed around the same. We still saw that Russia was under leadership of a Totalitarian authority. And maintained the same economic conditions where the consumer-based market never developed and the population was largely rural and the economy was agricultural based.…

    • 837 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Vladimir Lenin's Consolidation Of Power In 1917
    • 1843 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Vladimir Lenin's Consolidation Of Power In 1917

    Russia was torn between the world war and the population was threatened as levels of starvation rose whilst industry fell. The provisional government could not do much to stop Russia plummeting as they did not have much power and the people of Russia failed to support them (1). The citizens of Russia were desperately looking for help and the Bolshevik party, created with the help of Lenin and Trotsky in the year 1917, had the answer. Slowly, they had managed to become one of the most powerful parties ever created, but many factors were to cause the consolidation of power. In this essay I will be comparing the significance of Vladimir Lenin in the Bolshevik consolidation of power with another important factor; Leon Trotsky.…

    • 1843 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Stalin Dbq
    • 887 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Stalin Dbq

    In 1917, Russia was crumbling into pieces. The World War I was draining all of Russia’s resources. There was shortage of food throughout the country, which left people starving. At the battlefront, millions of Russian soldiers were dying, they did not possess many of the powerful weapons that their opponents had. The government under Czar Nicholas II was disintegrating, and a provisional government had been set up. In November of 1917, Lenin and his communist followers known as the Bolsheviks overthrew the provisional government and set a communist government in Russia. However, in 1924, Lenin died and Josef Stalin assumed leadership of the Soviet Union, which was the name for the communist Russia. Stalin was a ruthless leader who brought many changes to the Soviet Union. Stalin’s goal was to transform the Soviet Union into a modern superpower and spread communism throughout the world, and he was determined to sabotage anyone who stood in his way. He used many methods such as collectivization, totalitarianism and five year plan’s to achieve his goals. Stalin’s rule brought both harmful and beneficial consequences to the Soviet Union; however, the negative factors were so terrible, that they overwhelm the positive factors.…

    • 887 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    To What Extent Did the Bolsheviks Succeed in the October Revolution and the Civil War Due to Weakness in Opposition? Essay Example
    • 1627 Words
    • 7 Pages

    To What Extent Did the Bolsheviks Succeed in the October Revolution and the Civil War Due to Weakness in Opposition? Essay Example

    “To what extent did the Bolsheviks succeed in the October Revolution and the Civil War due to weakness in opposition?”…

    • 1627 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    What was the most significant factor for the Bolshevik victory in the civil war?
    • 1169 Words
    • 5 Pages

    What was the most significant factor for the Bolshevik victory in the civil war?

    The Bolshevik victory in the civil war was down to a number of factors. The first being the role of Trotsky, the geographical advantages the Red Army had and the weaknesses of the White Army. Undoubtedly, the most significant was the geographical advantages of the Red Army because this was what secured the equipment to fight and allowed it to be transported.…

    • 1169 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why did the Bolsheviks gain power in Russia in 1917?
    • 801 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Why did the Bolsheviks gain power in Russia in 1917?

    There were many reasons why the Bolsheviks gaining power in Russia, in 1917. Many were to do with how the Bolsheviks became popular in the years leading up to 1917. These long term causes started very early, this was mainly because the Russians disliked the Tsar very much because of many things, for example of the ongoing resentment and cruel treatment to peasants, and poor working conditions. The Russians were also disgruntled with the food shortages and military failures and the fact that they face humiliating losses in the Russo-Japanese war, then the Bloody Sunday and the Revolution of 1905. They were fed up of the poverty and economic crisis they were facing between themselves and their hatred was growing, and to top it off Tsarist troops fired on an unarmed troop, further dividing the Tsar from his people. At this time, Russians were waiting for their beacon of light, and there was Lenin promising ‘Peace, Bread and Land’, this was the perfect opportunity for the Bolsheviks to promote themselves. The Bolsheviks had been promoting themselves by producing, illegally, newspapers, leaflets and posters which would help support their cause. The Bolsheviks also supported the idea of communism, where everyone is treated equally including women. Many Bolsheviks also went to prison for these actions, which made them look…

    • 801 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Compare And Contrast Communist Manifesto And Marxism
    • 576 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Compare And Contrast Communist Manifesto And Marxism

    The Soviet Union was a capitalist state that was damaged due to the lack of resources and necessities after World War I. Economically they were incapable to grow due to the poor leadership, mostly towards the middle class, with socialist ideals. The Bolsheviks were capable to sight the flaw and wanted to gain the power of the Soviet Union under the power of Lenin. Unfortunately the Bolsheviks were a socialist group during this upheaval leading to the failed attempt. Few social mobility was allowed after World War I, canceling the effects. The Soviet Union decided to populate the communism into the parties through socialism first, for it was much easier than capitalism to communism. Communism did not succeed due to not disrupting the power but they did allow the upper classed elite to have more power. This all shows how the USSRs communism differed from that of the ideals of Marx in the communist manifesto. The selfish upper class ruined the plan of distributing equality and resources, leading to the downfall of the supreme Soviet…

    • 576 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Why Did the Bolsheviks Succeed in 1917? Essay Example
    • 1594 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Why Did the Bolsheviks Succeed in 1917? Essay Example

    During 1917 the political system of Russia, and the political opinions of its public, began to change. The First World War was deeply taking its toll, with the casualties running into millions, and food shortages were reaching crisis levels across Russia. Presided over by the Provisional Government, who had little support and even less real power, the people of Russia became restless. In October, the animosity between Government and populace came to a head, and a revolution put Lenin’s socialist Bolshevik party in power. This essay will show that, while the Bolshevik party was dedicated and driven in the values they believed in, it was only the seizing of opportunity, and a lot of luck, that they succeeded in taking power.…

    • 1594 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Bolshevik Takeover
    • 592 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Bolshevik Takeover

    In March of 1917 in Russia, The Tsar, Nicholas II had little choice. The Great War (as it was known as at that time) had turned into a disaster, conditions at home were horrible, and the Menshevik government had forced Nicholas to abdicate He did this for himself and his son and gave the power to his brother. His brother gave up the power the next day because the country was in such disarray. After that, the Provisional Government took power. By November of 1917 in Russia, the Provisional Government was in complete collapse. In the meantime, the Bolshevik party, which was helped by German money, had built up an efficient party organisation, had a brilliant propaganda machine, and a powerful private army know as the Red Guards.…

    • 592 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Primary Cause Of The Russian Civil War
    • 1745 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The Primary Cause Of The Russian Civil War

    It was made sure that they were completely expelled from the government, and that they would not partake in any organized political activity. Eventually, in September of 1918, the government established a campaigned known as the Red Terror. The Red Terror was a campaign of mass killings, torture, and oppression against people who did not agree with the Bolshevik ruling, the anti-Bolsheviks. It was initiated due to a Socialist Revolutionary attack on Lenin and other Soviet leaders. It is estimated that between 10,000 and one and a half million people were killed during the Red Terror.…

    • 1745 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Social History
    • 1040 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Social History

    Social historians who intend to focus on understanding the root causes and motivations for the revolutions of 1917, look towards the actions and behaviour of normal, everyday people involved within the Revolution rather than the influence of great men and women, or the policies of a state. Social historians observe and comment on the fact that leading up to 1917, there was a widening and very apparent gap between the richest members of Russia society and the very poorest members. Rather than being typecast as the ignorant and stupid masses, many Russians from all different walks of life whether they were soldiers, peasants, factory workers, or homemakers developed their own consciousness and opinions as to what that the revolution meant for Russia, how they should function in a new society, how that society should be structured, and what it should look like. In contrast to what Bolshevik propaganda would have some of us believe, many Russians did not blindly follow or believe in demagogues like Trotsky or Lenin who were promising bread, circuses, and miracles for the suffering population. Instead, many developed their own opinions on what kind of regime should take power and represent Russia and what type of laws should govern the land. Due to the fact that the vast swarm of Russian society was what would be considered lower-class, the message of the Bolsheviks for a government and party to represent the lower-class was simply much more appealing than other parties at the time such as the liberals or the conservative factions in the government. Peace by the means of an end to the Russian involvement in the First World War, bread for the starving masses in the cities, and land to those who were disappointed by the lack of agricultural reform since the emancipation of 1861 were all promises that were much more appealing than the message of the provincial government. The…

    • 1040 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Access the Methods Used by Either Peron or Lenin to Maintain His Position as Ruler of a Single Party State
    • 1134 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Access the Methods Used by Either Peron or Lenin to Maintain His Position as Ruler of a Single Party State

    The promise that had brought so much support to the Bolsheviks party was that the war with Germany was going to end. Lenin knew that opposition to the war had been a key factor in the Bolsheviks success in October, and he knew that he would have to honor the promise he made to end the war. The Russian army was badly beaten and had taken heavy casualties. Most of the soldiers left were highly untrained and most did not have adequate weapons and ammunition. Casualties totaled an estimated 1.8 million killed, another 2.8 million wounded and 2.4 million taken prisoner. Lenin knew that without peace with Germany and Austria-Hungary his party’s…

    • 1134 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics