Assess the significance of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk to the Bolshevik consolidation of power Essay plan PDF

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Niagara Colleges Notes - Class of 2021....

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Assess the significance of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk to the Bolshevik consolidation of power. Some points to implement into your essay Intro -

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The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk is moderately significant to Bolshevik consolidation of power, as the treaty was able to secure early success of the regime by halting the German Invasion and build a strong support base for the Bolsheviks. However, in the long term, the treaty was ultimately insignificant and was largely annulled due to the German loss in the war. Other factors such as the NEP, would be more significant to the Bolsheviks consolidation of power.

Paragraph 1 - The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was significant in ensuring the early survival of the Bolshevik regime and allowed the Bolsheviks to consolidate their power in the initial months of its government’s existence. - The Treaty was borned due to the impact of the First World War, years of social unrest and economic decline - Lenin’s motto of ‘Peace, Bread and Land’ gave the Bolsheviks a massive upspring in power and support, and they would ultimately seize control of Russia in October. - The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was essential to Bolshevik consolidation of power by halting the German advance and hence providing the Bolsheviks with the breathing space they required to consolidate their power. - Lenin understood that Russia could not afford to fight Germany, due to both material and more practical reasons. - Lenin also knew that the civil war was on the horizon and that continuing the war with Germany would have resulted in certain loss in Bolshevik power and would ruin the Russian economy. - Thus, he ended the war and allowed the Russians the freedom to crush their domestic enemies and consolidate power. - The treaty appeased the war-weary population and marked the fulfilment of an aspect of Lenin’s famous slogan “Peace, Bread and Land”, which was the key in allowing the Bolsheviks to take control of Russia. - By 1917, the Russian people were starving and miserable, casualties numbered in the millions and the economy was in tatters - inflation had risen over 400% by 1916. Paragraph 2 - Lenin had initially asked for a “peace without annexations or indemnities” when he issued his ‘Decree of Peace’ in 1917. - Under the treaty, Russia lost 1.3 million square miles of territory and 34% of the population - this included the important grain-growing areas of Ukraine and Poland, as well as the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

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The treaty heavily impacted Russia's economy as Russia lost 32% of its arable land, 85% of its coal mine and 25% of its industrial resources. The Left Srs would split with the Bolsheviks over the treaty, and many other political parties were united in animosity against Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks argued that any losses to Germany - a nation on the “doorstep of the socialist revolution” - would be temporary. Regardless, the factionalism and division caused by the Treaty would ultimately result in Civil War.

Paragraph 3 - After Germany lost in the war, Lenin’s view that the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk would be voided was proved correct, and Germany was forced to give up much of the gains they made at the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. - The impact of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was greatly minimised after a year of its ratification....