1) Bolsheviks ruled by decree – no say by the people.
Some decrees popular – peace with Germany, land to the peasants.
Elections held and Bolsheviks dismissed the assembly because SRS won.
2) The peace with Germany meant giving up a lot of Russian land and helped unite people against the Bolsheviks.
3) Civil War – Whites v. Reds.
It looked at first as if Bolsheviks would lose but the Whites were divided and controlled the more remote areas of Russia.
4) Tsar and family murdered. Brutal war.
5) Lenin kept control by terror. The Cheka were his secret police.
6) War communism was introduced which kept the Red Army fed but meant many starved.
7) Trotsky was a brilliant war leader.
8) Bolsheviks won Civil War but faced opposition to their tough policies.
9) Famine in Ukraine.
10) Lenin introduced NEP
This relaxed the tough War Communism. The government had less control over the economy. Peasants could buy and sell their own produce, small businesses could be owned by individuals.
