The Bolsheviks in Power

Lenin was now faced with the problems that the Tsar and the Provisional Government had faced previously. The soviet view of what was to happen, was that they would revolutionise russia, into a socialist society with measures and reforms, but it wasn't that simple, as Lenin in the future from this point changed policies based on the situation. Lenin claimed that it was the soviets who had took power in october, but it was the Bolsheviks alone, but he said that his People's Commissars had been appointed by the Soviets. This did mean they had the power to make up their own rules.

The Immediate problems that faced the bolsheviks were apparent as the bolsheviks simply did not have enough power to make a sweeping revolutionary reformation package, and needed to make policies to fit the circumstances. The circumstances were made worse by the war
- Shortage of Raw materials
- Collapse of Transport system
- Inflation huge
- Wide-spread hunger and famine

Lenin, who saw the future with the proletariat, also saw that the peasants were the sole food creaters and for this reason alone, he considered how to persuade the peasants to create more food. The Bolsheviks so, introduced policies to kick-start the economic recovery, 'Decree on Land' and 'Decree on Workers Control', but both of which were sort of confirming and allowing what had already happened.

'Decree on Land' simply declared that all privately own property was to be confiscated and to belong to the entire state, and those who 'work' it, this followed the bolshevik land approach.

'Decree on Workers Control' as the workers had taken over control of many of the factories, the efficiency of these factories dropped severely and a drop in industrial output. The Bolsheviks tried to put severe discipline on these workers, but it was difficult as the committee's which ran the factories, all did not contain bolsheviks. The Vesenkha was set up to take charge of all institutions for the economy, and it nationalised railways, cancelled the debts and sorted out the transport (to an extent).

The Bolsheviks also
- Abolished titles to 'Comrade
- Moscow became Red
- People's courts
- Armistice followed by treaty with Germany
- Red Army
- Communist Party
- The Cheka was also created, Lenin was determined to impose Ultimate rule, by supressing all political opposition, the cheka was a better organised Okhrana of old, and worked to destroy 'counter-revolution' or anything that was slightly anti-bolshevik.

SUMMARY
Problems - Inflation, Food/Transport, Low Industrial production and Limited control for the Bolsheviks.

Attempted to start reforms with Two Decree's. Gave land to those who 'work it' and authority over economic production, plus Vesenkha. Next wask the Cheka, to impose absolute rule and rule out 'counter revolution'. Red term officially used, Red Army, communist and Comrade.