13.1 Lenin's Russia; ideology and change

Question 1

Who was Lenin and key life details? (4)

Answer 1

• Lenin was a Russian revolutionary leader
• Wrote pamphlets and organised strikes later exiled to Siberia
• 1902 Pamphlet “What is to be done?” arguing the need for revolution
• Uncompromising attitude led to split of the Social Democrats in 1903

Question 2

What did Lenin and Trotsky think would happen as a result of the Bolsheviks seizing power?

Answer 2

Lenin and Trotsky though that the Bolsheviks seizing power would trigger similar revolutions elsewhere

Question 3

What happened with German relations as a result of Russia wishing to provoke international revolutions?

Answer 3

Russian’s were ideologically committed to provoke a German revolution yet they also wanted peace, this was a contradiction to general ideas.

Peace would strengthen the Imperial government they wished to destroy

Question 4

What did the 1917 Armistice with Germany cause?

Answer 4

The 1917 Armistice led to peace talks in December - Germans wanted lots of land in return for peace

The Bolsheviks split as some wished to continue fighting to defend socialism but this would contradict Bolshevik promises

Question 5

Did Lenin and Trotsky have the same ideas about signing an armistice?

Answer 5

• Lenin argued for the acceptance of German terms

- Trotsky wanted ‘neither peace nor war’

Question 6

When and who signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?

Answer 6

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed on the 3rd March 1918 by an emergency party congress

Question 7

What did it take for the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk to be signed?

Answer 7

Lenin suggested he resign twice

Question 8

What became a new priority after the Treaty?

Answer 8

‘Socialism at home’ was a greater priority that then international spread of the revolution

Question 9

What did the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk take?

Answer 9

• 1/6th of population lost
• 2 million squared kilometers of land including the area that produced almost 1/3rd of Russia’s agricultural produce
• 26% Russia’s railways
• 74% iron ore and coal supplies

Question 10

What type of leadership had Lenin proposed Russia be?

Answer 10

Lenin had proposed a traditional Marxist view that the government would be in the hands of the people – there would be a complete transfer of Russia’s power.

Question 11

What was the Sovnarkom?

Answer 11

The Sovnarkom was the cabinet made up of important ministers who ran the country and ruled by decree so didn’t have to seek Soviet permission.

Question 12

How did Lenin retain power in the Sovnarkom?

Answer 12

Lenin, unwilling to relinquish power made it Bolshevik only – started with 1-2 meetings/day but this quickly fell into decline.

Question 13

Who temporarily resigned from the Bolsheviks and what does this suggest about Lenin?

Answer 13

Kamenev and Zinoviev’s resignations showed that Lenin was stubborn and was not willing to compromise so that even his close advisors could not stand him

Question 14

Why was a socialist coalition government formed?

Answer 14

Lenin succumbed to a socialist coalition government (though it opposed his personal beliefs) as there was widespread discontent

• Railway men’s strike in November 1917
• Even members of his own party protested

Question 15

What happened when Lenin dispersed the constituent assembly in January 1918?

Answer 15

Civilians demonstrated against his actions and were fired upon; 12 were killed

Question 16

How did Lenin turn the 12 killed in the protest against the dissolvement of the Constituent assembly in his favour?

Answer 16

Lenin turned this around suggesting it was the necessity of a strong party to get past initial ideology

Question 17

What happened from 1917-1920 which helped preserve the Soviet state?

Answer 17

December 1917 - Cheka and Sovnarkom were created

1918 - Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and the dismissal of the Constituent assembly

1918-1920 - Central planning; war economy

Question 18

How did the Leninist government react to national self determination?

Answer 18

• Earlier support for self-determination for ethnic minorities was abandoned - all independence was denounced as revolutionary

Question 19

How did the Leninist government react to the Church?

Answer 19

• Marriage and divorce were removed from the Churches control as they were seen as a rival power source

Question 20

How did the Leninist government react to the Political rivals? (2)

Answer 20

• 5000 people were arrested as ‘counter-revolutionaries’

- 1922 a group of SR’s were given a ‘show-trial’ in which 11 were executed

Question 21

What principles did Lenin establish which Stalin utilised to defeat rivals?

Answer 21

• Lenin refused to accept any mistakes thus the Party was never wrong
• He also imposed a ban on factions stating that unity was necessary