End of WW1
History: KS3, topic 17.5.1
Early Bolshevik Decrees, Late 1917
The Bolsheviks wanted to show the people that they were different by issuing a series of decrees (laws).
Condemnation of the Provisional Government
- The Bolsheviks only had real power in a few large cities in the first month of the new government.
- The Bolsheviks also needed to find a solution to Russia’s involvement in the war.
- The Bolsheviks started by condemning the Provisional Government for not pulling Russia out of the war or instigating any meaningful reform.
The Decree on Peace, November 1917
- The Decree on Peace was passed by the All-Russian Congress.
- The decree called for all countries in the war to begin peace talks.
- The Congress wanted no annexation or reparations (fines imposed by the victors) as part of any peace treaties.
- This was a good way to take decisive action which would be popular amongst workers and soldiers.
The Decree on Land, November 1917
- The November decree on land called for land to be taken from landowners and given to peasants.
- Although this had happened informally already during the unrest in the previous few months, this gave legal backing for these actions.
- In December, land owned by the church was nationalised (taken into control of the state).
Decrees on Workers’ Rights, November/December 1917
- The Decree on Work introduced an eight-hour working day.
- The Decree on Unemployment introduced insurance for the unemployed, injured or ill.
- The Decree on Workers’ control formalised workers’ committees’ authority to run factories.
- The Decree on Nationalities in November 1917 allowed the national minorities of the old empire to rule themselves in their own language, whilst staying under the control of Petrograd.
Outcome of the decrees
- The Soviets across the nation supported these decrees, as people felt they were experiencing the dawn of a new Russia.
- Symbolically, titles were abolished, and ‘Your honour’ and ‘Your excellency’ were banned and replaced with ‘Comrade’.
- These changes were unifying in the beginning.
Test yourself on End of WW1
What did the Bolsheviks do as soon as they gained power?
One of the early decrees of the Bolsheviks called for land to be taken from landowners and given to peasants. What was this called?