# Decrees explained — Ten Days That Shook the World

> Chapter companion for Ten Days That Shook the World by John Reed.

## What happens

This chapter presents a series of revolutionary decrees issued by the Council of People's Commissars, nationalizing banks, abolishing military ranks and privileges, establishing elective command in the army, and eliminating all class distinctions and titles. It also includes a decree limiting the salaries of government officials, with the highest salary set at 500 rubles per month for a People's Commissar.

## Themes in this chapter

### Workers' Control and Economic Transformation

The nationalization of banks and merger into a single state bank represent a key step in establishing state control over the economy.

### Class Conflict and Polarization

The abolition of all class divisions, titles, and privileges directly targets the old ruling classes, reinforcing the class-based nature of the revolution.

### Struggle for Legitimacy and Power

The decrees assert the authority of the Council of People's Commissars and the Tsay-ee-kah, centralizing power in the new Soviet government.

## Character check-ins

### Vladimir Lenin

President of the Council of People's Commissars, signs multiple decrees as Vl. Ulianov (Lenin).

### Nikolai Krylenko

People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs, co-signs military decrees.

### Yakov Sverdlov

President of the Tsay-ee-kah, confirms the decree on abolition of classes and titles.

## Key lines

> The banking business is declared a state monopoly. All existing private joint-stock banks and banking offices are merged in the State Bank.

Banking becomes a state monopoly, and all private banks are absorbed into the State Bank.

_This decree nationalizes the banking system, centralizing financial control under the state._

> All ranks and grades in the Army, beginning with the rank of Corporal and ending with the rank of General, are abolished.

All military ranks from corporal to general are eliminated.

_This decree abolishes the traditional military hierarchy, promoting equality among soldiers._

> All classes and class divisions, all class privileges and delimitations, all class organisations and institutions and all civil ranks are abolished.

All social classes, privileges, organizations, and civil ranks are abolished.

_This decree eliminates the legal basis of the old class system, establishing universal citizenship._

> To begin with, the Council fixed the salary of a People's Commissar at 500 rubles per month, with 100 rubles additional for each grown member of the family incapable of work.

The salary for a People's Commissar was set at 500 rubles per month, plus 100 rubles for each dependent adult unable to work.

_This salary cap reflects the Bolshevik commitment to limiting bureaucratic privilege._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/3-decrees
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters