The Sickle and the Hammer: A Socialist History of the Soviet Union 7 - The People and the Party
Mar 24, 2025
Discover the undercurrents that shaped the Bolshevik party and its relationship with the Russian peasantry and urban workers. Explore the significance of the mir system and why land ownership reforms led to class strife. Delve into why ordinary people, not just leaders, are crucial to understanding the revolution. Examine the Bolsheviks' rapid rise as a true workers' party amidst chaos and logistical challenges. Plus, witness the growing disillusionment of peasants and workers, setting the stage for the tumultuous events to come.
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Peasants Began Quiet Land Seizures
- After February, many peasants waited for official permission before seizing land but grew impatient.
- They soon organized committees and quietly began using gentry land for grazing and sowing crops themselves.
Peasant Congress Accelerated SR Decline
- The All-Russian Congress of Peasants' Deputies exposed the SR leadership's weakness and split the party.
- Peasants endorsed land committees while rejecting SR support for the provisional government and the war.
Peasants Rejected Legal Delay
- The SR leadership's dithering made peasants act directly, undermining legalist promises.
- Mass seizures and committee actions showed peasants preferred immediate action over waiting for the Constituent Assembly.
