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Establishing Communist Party control, 1917–24 (Ruthlessness of Bolsheviks,…
Establishing Communist Party control, 1917–24
Between 1917 and 1924 the Bolshevik party faced intense opposition from a bewildering array of political, military, social and national groups.
By the time of Lenin’s death, in January 1924, the regime was, despite all the odds, still in power.
The Bolsheviks had successfully overthrown the government, however they needed to strengthen their hold on Russia.
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Russia was still at war with Germany and Austria Hungary. The Bolsheviks had to end this conflict before it destroyed Russia and the new government
Although Moscow and other cities in Russia fell into Bolshevik hands, Lenin had little political control over the rest of Russia.
Decree on Land
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Gave the peasants the right to take over the estates of the gentry without compensation and to decide the best way to divide it up.
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Weaknesses of opponents
The Social Revolutionaries suffered for years from bitter splits over such issues as the validity of terrorism, participation in the Duma and support for the Provisional Government.
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Ultimately, seven leftist Social Revolutionaries joined the government at the end of 1917 and helped to draft the decree which legitimised the seizure of the land by the peasants.
This not only exacerbated the divisions in the party, but consolidated the position of the Bolsheviks in the countryside.
Lenin secured its ratification by the Central Committee only by threatening his resignation, and even then by only a majority of one.
Given the unpopularity of the treaty within the party, it is hardly surprising that it united anti-Bolshevik military forces.
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