Occupying forces
controlled most of
western Russia.
Peasants seized land,
industruial production fell,
unemplyment and inflation
rising.
Bolsheviks did not
have mass support
across the country.
Lenin too vulnerable to
cancel elections for
Constituent Assembly
(Bol. only had 1/4).
Forming a
Government
No experience of governing
and administration.
Gov. officals went on
strike and state bank
refused to release any
funds to new Gov.
Create a Gov. free
from control of
All-Russian Soviet.
Soviet pass 3 decrees first; 1. Land -
confiscate all private land and give to the
peasants. 2. Peace - steps to end war. 3.
Organisation with the new gov.
Close down newspapers
which were critical of the
Bolsheviks.
Ending a war
No choice -
deeply
unpopular and
factor in fall of
PG.
Needed military
for internal
enemies.
Ceasefire - Dec. 1917.
22nd Dec. Bolshevik
peace delegation.
Germany had severe
demands - take 1/3 of
Russia population = 1/3
of agricultre.
7/8 Jan - continure
negotiations.
27th Jan - Trotsky signed peace traty with
Ukraine. Treaty of Brest-Litovsk - offical end
of war with Germany.
Forced to pay high price in loss of territory and economic wealth -
Bolshevik gov actually annulled treaty.
Constituent Assembly
Promised by PG after feb. rev.
SR took most seats - Lenins concern was how
to prevent Assembly from changing new
Bolshevik rule.
1st = Feb. 5th 1918 -
armed troops and red
guards dispersed.
End of any democracy under
Lenin - start of communism.
Bol.
successful due
to opposition
divided about
what to do.
SR split into two
factions.
Left-wing = support Bolsheviks
Mensheviks divided -
only come back
together when Lenin
firmly in control.