Important In The Bolshevik Consolidation Of Power example essay topic

Evaluate the role of Trotsky in the Bolshevik Revolution of November 1917 and in the subsequent consolidation of power to 1924. Trotsky played a fundamental role in the 1917 November revolution and in the subsequent consolidation of Bolshevik power to 1924. Trotsky's importance in the revolution is evident through his organisation of the Military Revolutionary Committee and his planning of the revolution. In addition to Trotsky, there were also other factors contributing to the Bolshevik's success in the 1917 revolution. These included Lenin's leadership and the weaknesses within the Provisional government accentuated by the state of virtual anarchy in Russia. The consolidation of Bolshevik power can be examined through three phases.

Trotsky made significant contributions to two of these phases. There were also a variety of other factors which enabled the Bolsheviks to consolidate their power. Trotsky played a crucial role in the revolution as he led the Military Revolutionary Committee (MRC). The November revolution in 1917 was carried out by the MRC. Trotsky was the main Bolshevik organiser of the events of the revolution planning the military take-over.

Lenin was "the architect of the revolution, Trotsky was the master builder", and in this way Trotsky held an important role in the November revolution. Lenin was able to manipulate public opinion using slogans and propaganda. Through his April theses, particularly the slogans "Peace, Bread, Land" and "All Power to the Soviets", he was able to harness the support of the Russian people. Robert Service comments that Lenin "cleverly manipulated public opinion and adopted slogans which would appeal to the masses".

The support of the people was an extremely important factor; it was this support which determined that there would be so little resistance to the Bolshevik revolution. Lenin became the chairman of the Military Committee of the Petrograd Soviet in September 1917. His ability to convince the reluctant Bolshevik Central Committee, who had been cautioned after the failed July days of the need for an immediate revolution, is another example of his considerable role in the influence over the November revolution. The system of dual power and the Provisional Government's failure to reform was another consideration which contributed to the Bolshevik's success in the November revolution in 1917. Since the beginning of 1917, the Soviets were increasingly viewed by the Russian people as their representative body. Order Number One ensured that the power of the generals who supported the Provisional Government was undermined and the Bolshevik's power over the army increased.

The Provisional Government was described as the 'authority without power' while the Petrograd Soviet was 'the authority with power'. The Provisional Government's continuing support of the war and it's failure to implement reforms also lost support. Failed military offensives and the economic hardships resulted in a crisis of confidence in the Provisional government's leadership. The delayed land reforms angered the peasants who often claimed land for themselves. This contributed to the chaotic state of Russia which provided the perfect opportunity for the Bolshevik revolution. Famine and rationing was a catalyst for many to join the Bolshevik's cause.

Many of the people in Russia were convinced that the only way to gain better conditions was through a government of Soviets. The Kornilov affair emphasised the Provisional Government's faults. Kerensky's actions demonstrated his weaknesses and made the Bolsheviks appear heroic. This contributed to the Bolshevik's broadening support base and was another component which enabled the Bolshevik's success in the November revolution in 1917. After the Bolshevik's success in the November revolution it was vital for them to consolidate their position as the leaders of Russia as their power was far from secure. The first phase of the Bolshevik's consolidation of power was the development of initial reforms and the establishment of a formal government.

Reforms included decrees which promised the end of the war, the declaration of all people as equal and the dismantling of the Russian Orthodox church. These reforms temporarily appeased the people and functioned to ensure that any opposition was contained and therefore maintained the Bolshevik's power. The development of the formal organisation of the new government was also very important in consolidating the Bolshevik's power. Under this new structure the Sovnarkom, headed by Lenin, was established. This created an institutional structure which the Bolshevik's could use for their own purposes.

Lenin's dissolving of the Constituent Assembly demonstrates the power he held within this new hierarchy. The Bolshevik's power was consolidated when the Constituent Assembly was dissolved because without a majority in the assembly, the Bolsheviks couldn't maintain control. By the middle of 1918 all anti-Bolshevik parties had been forced to disband, which enabled the Bolsheviks to exert total control as Russia emerged as a one party state. The second phase of the Bolshevik's consolidation of power was their victory in the civil war. Trotsky played an important role in the civil war. When the civil war began the Bolsheviks had no effective fighting force.

In March 1918, Trotsky became War Commissar and through harsh discipline and organisation successfully transformed the Red Army into an effective and efficient fighting force. Ranks, badges and saluting were re-introduced. Harsh penalties were introduced; the penalty for desertion was death. In April 1918, Trotsky re-instated conscription. By 1920 the Red Army was a large force of three million soldiers. He recruited 50,000 ex-Tsarist officers who gave the Red Army experienced leadership.

To ensure the loyalty of troops, Trotsky appointed a Communist party member to each fighting unit. He also created a large force of cavalry which played an important role in disrupting enemy lines of communication. Trotsky gave motivational speeches promoting the war effort. For three years, Trotsky lived largely on an armoured train. The train was a way in which Trotsky could remain in constant contact with the front. It inspired uncertain officers and soldiers and demonstrated Trotsky's dedication.

Trotsky's organisation of the successful counter-attack which forced Deniken and Koltchak to retreat demonstrated the importance of his role in the Bolshevik's victory in the civil war as this counter-attack was the turning point in the civil war and led to the decline of the White Army. It is evident that Trotsky was immensely important in the Bolshevik consolidation of power, particularly through his actions in the civil war. A second factor which contributed to the Bolshevik success in the civil war was control of the railway centres which gave the Bolsheviks a decisive advantage over their opponents as they could move forces and munitions from one front to the other. The Red Terror was another reason for the Bolshevik's defeat of the White Army in the civil war and their subsequent consolidation of power. The establishment of the Cheka ensured discipline. Cheka agents tortured and often murdered anyone who showed signs of opposition or resistance to the Bolsheviks.

During the civil war, Cheka units in the countryside killed those who helped the Whites or fought for them. War Communism further contributed to the Bolshevik's consolidation of power by ensuring that discipline was tightened during the civil war. War Communism allowed the Bolsheviks to control industry and food supply. While in many ways it did not succeed, it did ensure that the Red Army was supplied with food and weapons. It is evident that the reorganisation of the economy through War Communism was important for the survival of the Bolshevik regime during the civil war.

The weaknesses within the White Army also assisted the Bolshevik victory in the civil war. The White Army remained divided and lacked unity. The Whites did not cooperate in their military planning. They alienated the peasantry as they gained supplies by looting which in turn made it difficult to find recruits. When the White Army lost the support of the allies after Germany surrendered, their weaknesses became even more apparent. It was these weaknesses that enabled the Bolsheviks to win the civil war and consolidate their power.

The third phase of the Bolshevik consolidation of power was after the civil war. Trotsky helped to maintain Bolshevik power by ruthlessly in dealing with the Kronstadt mutiny. His leadership of a detachment of Red Soldiers to Kronstadt to crush the revolt was an important factor which enabled the Bolshevik's to defeat their opposition and consolidate their own power. Lenin's introduction of NEP, (New Economic Policy) was also important as it prevented further uprisings which could have threatened the Bolshevik's power.

Lenin himself stated that "Only agreement with the peasantry can save the Socialist revolution in Russia". NEP was a tactical measure to consolidate the Bolshevik power after the civil war had ended. In conclusion Trotsky was an important figure who played an essential role in the 1917 November revolution and the Bolshevik consolidation of power. This is evident through an examination of his leadership of the Military Revolutionary Committee, his organisation of the Red Army in the civil war and his suppression of the Kronstadt mutiny after the civil war. While Trotsky's role was important there were also several other factors which contributed to both the November revolution and the Bolshevik consolidation of power.