Which statement best describes civil liberties in the early Soviet state?

• A. Civil liberties were restricted as the state consolidated power
• B. Civil liberties expanded rapidly with open political competition
• C. Civil liberties were unrestricted during the early state
• D. Civil liberties were enshrined in a comprehensive bill of rights

Answer: (C)

In the early Soviet state, civil liberties were curtailed as the new government moved to consolidate power and win the civil war. The regime relied on emergency measures, the secret police (the Cheka), and censorship to suppress opposition and control information. The dissolution of the Constituent Assembly in 1918 and the banning of other political parties show that political freedom and open competition were not allowed. While radical social and economic reforms were pursued for workers and peasants, individual rights like free speech, free association, and political pluralism were limited. This combination demonstrates that civil liberties did not expand; they were restricted to secure the revolution and centralize authority.