Notes for Lenin’s Russia/Soviet Union - IB | RevisionDojo
Lenin’s Russia/Soviet Union Notes
The Bolsheviks banned opposition newspapers following the October Revolution in 1917. This was a critical step in establishing their single-party rule and suppressing all political opposition
Consolidation of power (1917–18): After the October Revolution, the Bolsheviks banned opposition newspapers, shut down the Constituent Assembly in 1918, and used the Cheka (secret police) to silence critics.
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918): To end World War I, Lenin signed a harsh peace with Germany. Russia lost huge areas of land and resources, but Lenin saw peace as necessary to keep Bolsheviks in power.
Civil War (1918–21): Reds (Bolsheviks) fought the Whites (tsarists, liberals, foreign-backed armies) and Greens (peasants). The war devastated Russia, killing millions through fighting, famine, and disease.
Red victory: The Reds won because Trotsky organized the Red Army well, they controlled key cities like Moscow and Petrograd, and they used propaganda to rally support. The Whites were divided and poorly coordinated.
War Communism (1918–21): To supply the army, the Bolsheviks seized grain from peasants, nationalized factories, and banned private trade. This led to hunger, strikes, and peasant uprisings.
Terror and coercion: The Cheka arrested and executed thousands of “enemies of the people.” Censorship, forced labor camps, and the “Red Terror” kept opposition down.
Unlock the rest of this chapter with aFreeaccount
Nice try, unfortunately this paywall isn't as easy to bypass as you think. Want to help devleop the site? Join the team at https://revisiondojo.com/join-us. exercitation voluptate cillum ullamco excepteur sint officia do tempor Lorem irure minim Lorem elit id voluptate reprehenderit voluptate laboris in nostrud qui non Lorem nostrud laborum culpa sit occaecat reprehenderit
Definition
Paywall
(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.
anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Note
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.
Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident
Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.
Tip
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.
End of article
Want a cheatsheet?
View a summary cheatsheet for Section 12: Imperial Russia, Revolution and the Establishment of the Soviet Union (1855–1924)
Flashcards
Remember key concepts with flashcards
20 flashcards
What was the purpose of the Cheka?
Lesson
Recap your knowledge with an interactive lesson
9 minute activity
Note
After the October Revolution of 1917, the Bolsheviks moved quickly to consolidate their power. They faced numerous challenges, including political opposition, economic collapse, and social unrest.
The Cheka (secret police) was established to suppress opposition and maintain control through fear.
Opposition newspapers were banned, and the Constituent Assembly was dissolved after just one day.
The Bolsheviks used propaganda to promote their message and discredit their enemies.
DefinitionChekaThe Bolshevik secret police, established in 1917, responsible for suppressing opposition and maintaining state security through terror.
ExampleWhen the Constituent Assembly refused to accept Bolshevik demands, armed guards were sent in to forcibly dissolve it.
AnalogyThink of the Cheka as a political "fire extinguisher" - always ready to put out any sparks of opposition before they could grow into a larger fire.
