The Period Of Lenin?s Rule (1917-24) Essay, Research Paper

Lenin?s long term aims: Create a communist state w/ state control of industry & trade. Nationalization of land Ending of class barriers and the establishment of a republic of workers, peasants, and soldiers deputies with a gradual transition to socialism and the ‘withering away of the state’ He was willing to adapt these goals b/c: Inside Russia the Bolsheviks had only minority support Outside Russia revolution in advanced industrial states had not undergone revolution and the transition w/in Russia from revolution to socialism would therefore be hard and long. The establishment of a single party rule: Lenin dissolved the Constituent Assembly (which did not have a Bolshevik majority). Dictatorial methods before this had included: suppression of newspapers, banning of the Cadet Party, setting up a secret police (Cheka). The communist aimed to "suppress all attempts of the bourgeoisie to return to power: and this is what is meant by the dictatorship of the proletariat." Lenin drew up a new constitution after dissolving the assembly. Lenin’s Constitution: Drawn up in 1918 but only accepted w/ adjustments in 1922 & 1924. See notes for further info on basic rights, voting rights, etc. The ending of the war: Lenin wanted to obtain peace and signed in March 1918 the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk: Russia lost Poland, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, the Ukraine, part of Belorussia and Transcaucasia. (1,3 million sq. miles of territory, a pop. of 62 million people, 1/3 of all her railways, _ of her coal and iron resources.) Advantages: Bolsheviks did not have to deal w/ discontented minorities. Bolsheviks could concentrate on control of Russia itself End of war meant Lenin could concentrate on internal difficulties. The treaty was unpopular, the German ambassador was assassinated, and attempts to assassinate Lenin were made.