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Council of People's Commissars (SOVNARKOM) established
The new government of Russia, with Lenin as Chairman -
Decree on Land is issued
Written by Lenin and was passed by the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets. It decreed an abolition of private property, and the redistribution of the landed estates amongst the peasantry. Basically gave peasants the legal right to continue siezing land in the countryside -
Decree on Peace is issued
Written by Lenin and was passed by the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets. Promised an immediate withdrawal of Russia from WW1. Also included the proposal that all warring states begin immediate negotiations for democratic peace. -
Right to self-determination passed
This was passed as a decree which gave various national groups the right to rule themselves. Didn't go as Lenin planned and states such as Finland and Ukraine were established independently -
Establishment of the Cheka
Established by a Sovnarkom decree and was initially led by Felix Dzerzhinsky. Originally intended to be a temporary organisation to deal with the immediate issue of opposition to the regime, but quickly grew into an expansive -
Lenin introduced War Communism
The extreme economic policies of Lenin which were maintained throughout the Civil War, main elements:
- Nationalization of all industrial enterprises, placed under the control of Vesenkha.
- Imposition of strict labour discipline.
- Class-based rationing system
- End to the market economy
- Grain requisitioning (IMPORTANT) -
Constituent Assembly opens
As a result of Russia's first democratic election for parliament members, Bolsheviks lost nationally. Socialist Revolutianaries won the most votes -
Constituent Assembly dissolved
After only 1 day a Sovnarkom decree dissolved the Assembly. -
Switch to Gregorian calander
The day after would be the 14th of February. All dates past this point are written from Gregorian time -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk signed
Lenin saw ending the war as incredibly significant to maintaining power, a major failure of the Provisional Government. Main terms included:
- Lost 62 million people
- 27% of its farmland
- 26% of its railways
- 74% of iron and coal
Would later have to pay reparations to Germany -
Civil War begins
No official declaration of war, roughly June 1918. Fought between the Bolsheviks "The Reds"
The Whites, were opponents of the Bolsheviks, mostly from the middle class and associated themselves with the Tsar and the old system.
The Greens were independent groups of nationalists, who roamed Russia doing as they wished, mainly seizing land. -
Tsar and royal family killed
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Petropavlovsk resolution
The crews of the battleships Petropavlovsk and Sevastopol stationed on Kronstadt naval base held an emergency meeting, which approved a resolution raising 15 demands for the Bolshevik government -
Bolsheviks took control of Kronstadt
This invasion ending the revolt of sailors, however the Bolsheviks suffered significantly and over 15,000 troops were killed. Showed the lengths the Bolsheviks would go to maintain power. Lenin realised policy change was needed -
New Economic Policy begins
Brought an end to War Communism, Lenin saw that a step backwards was needed in order to go forwards. Main changes include:
- Grain requisitioning stopped
- Smaller factories were returned to previous owners
- Private trade ban was lifted
- Business, trade and workshops allowed.
- Strict military measures were removed -
Russia becomes the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)