Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-3-red-terror-and-centralisation [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [GCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse.md) › [History](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history.md) › [AQA](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa.md) › Red Terror & Centralisation # Red Terror & Centralisation History: AQA GCSE Russia, 1894-1945, topic 2.2.3 ## The Red Terror The Bolsheviks moved quickly to crush their opposition and to restrict political freedoms. ### Quashing opposition ![Quashing opposition](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/8133bc00-2648-4d56-b90f-ed1fc76fd9d2/shutterstock_245971987.jpg) - As early as December 1917, all non-Bolshevik newspapers, even those of other left wing groups, were banned. - The Kadet Party was banned and its leaders arrested. - Law courts were replaced by Revolutionary Tribunals, and the Cheka shot enemies of the Bolsheviks. ### The secret police ![The secret police](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/74da66da-33eb-4d2d-9941-4ff51b82f9d3/shutterstock_699567733.jpg) - The Cheka terrorised enemies of the Bolsheviks during the Civil War and the so-called Red Terror. The Cheka was then renamed the GPU (State Political Directorate) in 1922, and then the OGPU (All-Union State Political Directorate) in 1923. - During the Red Terror (September 1918 to February 1919), between 50,000 and 140,000 people were executed, and concentration camps were established on the Solevetsky Islands. ### One-party state ![One-party state](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/6f2b2212-a4f4-4bdb-911d-5160e38fc287/shutterstock_249572506.jpg) - Between 1918 and 1922, the SR, Mensheviks and anarchists were removed and deported (sent into exile in other countries). Russia became a one-party state. - In February 1918, Bolshevik decrees became more extreme. The party could now force anyone to do hard labour and could execute anyone who resisted. ## Bolshevik Centralisation In March 1918 AD, the Bolsheviks became the Russian Communist Party (of Bolsheviks). There was a shift towards ‘communism’ rather than ‘Bolshevism’ in public. This led to a process of centralisation. ### The Sovnarkom ![The Sovnarkom](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/582ca795-2cab-484f-8b58-196349b1d980/shutterstock_339956711.jpg) - Lenin was the chairman of the government, which was called Sovnarkom (the Council of People’s Commissars). - He was responsible for Russia’s development into a brutal dictatorship, rather than into a genuinely equal communist society. - The centralisation of power under his control was typical of his leadership style. ### The Communist Party ![The Communist Party](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/11238f67-858d-456f-b6e9-1d73fef745ca/shutterstock_620759114.jpg) - Although the Soviets were supposed to be in charge in the regions, in reality power was completely under the control of the Communist Party. - The Soviets were eventually required to agree automatically with the decisions of the central party. - While from the outside, the communist government seemed like a democracy, in reality the Communist Party decided everything. - When elections were held, it was only members of the Party who could stand for office. Criticism was not allowed. ### The Politburo ![The Politburo](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/d3738823-8372-4950-975d-7df6d4a9deaa/shutterstock_785840902.jpg) - The Central Committee was elected at the Party Congress to represent the party between congresses. The Central Committee elected the Politburo (the key policymaking committee). - The first members of the Politburo were Lenin, Zinoviev, Kamenev, Trotsky and Stalin. - From 1917 AD onwards, the Politburo became increasingly powerful. ### The Soviet Union ![The Soviet Union](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/20e0b578-de4a-4443-a636-ef3591af3016/shutterstock_57734440.jpg) - In 1922 AD, under a new constitution, Russia was reorganised into the USSR - the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. - There were initially four republics. The largest was the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic. - Officially, each region had voluntarily become part of the USSR. - In reality, the Red Army had forced the regions to join and there was no way for them to leave the USSR. - In December 1925 AD, the Communist Party became the ‘All-Union Communist Party (of Bolsheviks)’ in response to this change. ## Test yourself on Red Terror & Centralisation - When did the Bolsheviks become the Russian Communist Party? - Which of the following about the centralisation of power in Russia are correct? - When did Russia become the USSR? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/68cb5c28-b4d9-41f3-a315-2a7d3e63fc5e/section/91f61eda-d942-40e9-bf24-8c9a2ef726cd/session) - Previous topic: [2.2.2 The Cheka](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-2-the-cheka.md) - Next topic: [2.2.4 The Civil War & The Red Army](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-4-the-civil-war-and-the-red-army.md) ## History: AQA GCSE Russia, 1894-1945 contents ### 1 The End of Tsardom - 1.1 Russia's Economy & Society - [1.1.1 Industrialisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-1-1-industrialisation.md) - [1.1.2 Living & Working Conditions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-1-2-living-and-working-conditions.md) - 1.2 Nicholas II's Autocracy & the Court - [1.2.1 Growth of Revolutionary Opposition](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-2-1-growth-of-revolutionary-opposition.md) - [1.2.2 The 1905 Revolution & the October Manifesto](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-2-2-the-1905-revolution-and-the-october-manifesto.md) - [1.2.3 Reforming Russia Before 1914 - Stolypin](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-2-3-reforming-russia-before-1914-stolypin.md) - [1.2.4 The Duma & Political Stalemate](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-2-4-the-duma-and-political-stalemate.md) - 1.3 The First World War - [1.3.1 The Impact of Military Defeats](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-1-the-impact-of-military-defeats.md) - [1.3.2 Social & Economic Effects of WW1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-2-social-and-economic-effects-of-ww1.md) - [1.3.3 Romanov Unpopularity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-3-romanov-unpopularity.md) - [1.3.4 The Tsar's Abdication](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-4-the-tsars-abdication.md) - [1.3.5 Top Grade AO2/3 - The End of Tsardom](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-5-top-grade-ao23-the-end-of-tsardom.md) ### 2 Lenin's New Society - 2.1 The Provisional Government - [2.1.1 The Failure of the Government](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-1-the-failure-of-the-government.md) - [2.1.2 Social & Economic Problems](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-2-social-and-economic-problems.md) - [2.1.3 Lenin & Trotsky](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-3-lenin-and-trotsky.md) - [2.1.4 The Growth of the Bolsheviks](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-4-the-growth-of-the-bolsheviks.md) - [2.1.5 The October / November Revolution](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-5-the-october-november-revolution.md) - [2.1.6 Top Grade AO2/3 - The Provisional Government](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-6-top-grade-ao23-the-provisional-government.md) - 2.2 The Impact of Lenin's Dictatorship - [2.2.1 The End of the First World War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-1-the-end-of-the-first-world-war.md) - [2.2.2 The Cheka](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-2-the-cheka.md) - [2.2.3 Red Terror & Centralisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-3-red-terror-and-centralisation.md) - [2.2.4 The Civil War & The Red Army](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-4-the-civil-war-and-the-red-army.md) - [2.2.5 Propaganda](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-5-propaganda.md) - [2.2.6 Top Grade AO2/3 - Early Bolshevism & the Civil War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-6-top-grade-ao23-early-bolshevism-and-the-civil-war.md) - 2.3 Social & Economic Developments - [2.3.1 War Communism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-3-1-war-communism.md) - [2.3.2 The Kronstadt Rising](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-3-2-the-kronstadt-rising.md) - [2.3.3 The New Economic Policy (NEP)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-3-3-the-new-economic-policy-nep.md) - [2.3.4 The Achievements of Lenin & Trotsky](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-3-4-the-achievements-of-lenin-and-trotsky.md) - [2.3.5 Top Grade AO2/3 - Social & Economic Developments](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-3-5-top-grade-ao23-social-and-economic-developments.md) ### 3 Stalin's USSR - 3.1 Stalin the Dictator - [3.1.1 The Power Struggle to Succeed Lenin](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-1-the-power-struggle-to-succeed-lenin.md) - [3.1.2 The Communist Party & Government](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-2-the-communist-party-and-government.md) - [3.1.3 The Terror & the Purges](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-3-the-terror-and-the-purges.md) - [3.1.4 The Secret Police](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-4-the-secret-police.md) - [3.1.5 Cult of Personality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-5-cult-of-personality.md) - [3.1.6 Propaganda & Censorship under Stalin](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-6-propaganda-and-censorship-under-stalin.md) - [3.1.7 Top Grade AO2/3 - Stalin's Dictatorship](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-7-top-grade-ao23-stalins-dictatorship.md) - 3.2 Stalin's Modernisation of the USSR - [3.2.1 Collectivisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-2-1-collectivisation.md) - [3.2.2 Five Year Plans](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-2-2-five-year-plans.md) - [3.2.3 Social & Economic Consequences](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-2-3-social-and-economic-consequences.md) - [3.2.4 Social & Economic Consequences 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-2-4-social-and-economic-consequences-2.md) - [3.2.5 The Extent of Modernisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-2-5-the-extent-of-modernisation.md) - 3.3 Impact of the Second World War - [3.3.1 Stalin's Wartime Leadership](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-3-1-stalins-wartime-leadership.md) - [3.3.2 Political, Economic & Social Consequences of War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-3-2-political-economic-and-social-consequences-of-war.md) - [3.3.3 Top Grade AO2/3 - Modernisation of the USSR](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-3-3-top-grade-ao23-modernisation-of-the-ussr.md)