2.1 Bolsheviks' Early Consolidation of Power

Question 1

What excuse did the Bolsheviks mention when seizing power from the PG?

Answer 1

When they seized power from the Provisional government in October 1917, they calimed they were doing so on behalf of the workers, peasant and soldiers of Russia.

Question 2

Why did they condemn the Provisional Government?

Answer 2

For failing to reform Russia and take them out of war, which the bolsheviks were determined to do to show the people that they were capable of bringng these changes.

Question 3

What was the Decree on Peace, November 1917?

Answer 3

The first decree passed by the All-Russian Congress of Soviets after the Bolsheviks had seized power.

Question 4

What was the aim of the Decree on Peace?

Answer 4

It as called for all countries involved in the war to immediately begin peace negotiations and to create peace “without annextion and indemnities” (no country’s land to be seized by another or punish each other with huge fines).

Question 5

Did the Decree on Peace increase support for the Bolsheviks?

Answer 5

Yes

Question 6

What did the Bolsheviks hope that the decree on peace would do?

Answer 6

It might encourage German soldiers to begin their own Bolshevik style revolution and pread it across the country

Question 7

Was the bolsheviks hope a success?

Answer 7

No, it did not happen

Question 8

What was the Decree on Land, November 1917?

Answer 8

Distributing the land of ealthy landowners to the peasants.

Question 9

How did the decree on land benefit the peasants?

Answer 9

Many peasants had this land already - but the decree gave this the force of law and indicated that the new Bolshevik government approved of the land seizures.

Question 10

What did the Bolsheviks fail to do before the decree of land was passed?

Answer 10

Land distribution, which lost them a lot of peasant support

Question 11

What further action did the Bolsheviks do?

Answer 11

They nationalised church land on December and at the same time, many Russian churches were shut or damaged.

Question 12

What was the Decree on Workers rights?

Answer 12

It was done to improve the lives of workers in towns or cities.

Question 13

What was the Decree on Work?

Answer 13

eight hour working day, 48 hour week: to give workers less demanding hours

Question 14

What was the decree on unemployment?

Answer 14

Brought unemployment insurance - to support workers who are injured, ill or unemployed

Question 15

What was the decree on workers control?

Answer 15

Allowed workers committees to run their own factories

Question 16

What was the Decree on nationalities, December 1917?

Answer 16

Promised all the different peoples of the old tsarist Russian Empire that they would have their own government. Russian rule/ language would not be forced on them

Question 17

Why was the decree on nationalities introduced and what benefit did it give?

Answer 17

To stop the different nations breaking away and becomming inedependant. It seemed as though it would give the groups more right but it only made them more tightly controllled under bolshevik rule

Question 18

What was the soviets response to the decrees?

Answer 18

The Bolsheviks gained increased support from across the sovet system. It seemed that a new kind of Russia was emerging- one in which those who were unhappy with “old Russia” would finally find things changing in ways that benefitted them.

Question 19

Why were the Bolsheviks reluctant to organise elections?

Answer 19

They did not intend to set up a parliamentary democracy and their real intention was to work through the soviets that they controlled.

Question 20

Why did lenin agree to put up election?

Answer 20

There were great expectations that a general election should be held

Question 21

How many people voted?

Answer 21

41.7 million people

Question 22

What were the reults like to the Bolsheviks?

Answer 22

It was a dissapointment as they only won 168 seats but the Socialist Revolutionaries gained 370.

Question 23

What were the consequences of the elections?

Answer 23

Some SRs (the lefs SRs) actually supported the Bolsheviks but nevertheless, the Bolsheviks list majority.

Question 24

What happened to the remaining votes?

Answer 24

They were split between other parties such as Mansheviks and the Kadets. Those elected were expected to sit in a new parliamentary body called the Constituent Assembly.

Question 25

When the Constituent Assembly first meet?

Answer 25

In January 1918

Question 26

Why and how was the assembly broken?

Answer 26

The Bosheviks had no intention of giving up the power by letting the assembly go on so it was broken up by the Bolsheviks and the Red Guards fom the Baltic Fleet at Kronstadt.

Question 27

What did lenins governments (sovarkom) include?

Answer 27

It included the left Soviet Revolutionaries (SR) and Bolsheviks.

Question 28

When did the alliance break down?

Answer 28

The alliance lasted until March 1917 and broke down when left SRs refused to acept the Bolshevik decision to sign Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany, in order to get Russia out of war

Question 29

What happened after Tsar Nicholas II was abdicated?

Answer 29

He and his family were cosely guarded and were moved of Petrograd to prevent any rescue attempts

Question 30

Where were the Tsar and his family taken to?

Answer 30

Finally, they were taken to the Zapetiv House in Yekaterinburg in the Ural mountains.

Question 31

How was the Tsar betrayed by his alliances?

Answer 31

He hoped he and his family would be allowed to leave Russia but Neither France or Britain allowed him. France saw him as an embarassment and as someone who “ruled as an autocrat”

Question 32

What did the Bolsheviks do with the Tsar at first?

Answer 32

After the Bolsheviks overthrew the PG, they became in complete control of the Tsar and the local Ural soviets became in charge in guarding them.

Question 33

what did the Bolsheviks fear when Civil War broke out 1918?

Answer 33

They feared that one of the anti-Bolshevik armies advancing through Ural area might free the Tsar

Question 34

What did the Bolsheviks finally decide to do to the Tsar?

Answer 34

They murdered the Tsar and his family on the orders of Lenins government in Moscow.

Question 35

Who was given the job of negotiating the end of fighting in the war?

Answer 35

To Trotsky as Commissor for war. The Bolsheviks promised to end Russia’s involvement with the war.

Question 36

What did Trotsky hope to do?

Answer 36

• avoid continuing to fight the war - avoid surrendering as Germans were making huge demands for Russia.

Question 37

What troubles did Trotsky face?

Answer 37

Germans kept advancing, and Petrograd seemed in danger of being captured. The capital was moved to Moscow.

Question 38

What were Lenins colleagues opinion of the war?

Answer 38

The so called “left Communists” wanted to continue the war but Lenin persuaded his colleagues to agree to German terms.

Question 39

What were the consequences of agreeing to the German terms?

Answer 39

Left SRs walked out in protest so it only left the Bolsheviks.

Question 40

When was Brest- Litovsk signed?

Answer 40

On March 1918.

Question 41

What ere the main outcomes of the treaty?

Answer 41

Russia lost all its western lands, Russia lost 62 million people/26 percent of its population, Russia lost 27percent of farmland/26percent of railways/74percent iron and coal and Rusia had to pay Germany 300 million gold roubles.

Question 42

What were the main reasons for Brest-Litovsk?

Answer 42

They needed a breathing space - a chance to get their rule organised without being overwhelmed by the military and economic problems caused by continuing to fight the war.

Question 43

What were the reactions to the treaty in Russia?

Answer 43

The left SRs assassinated German ambasador in hope of starting war again.

Question 44

What were the positive effects of the treaty?

Answer 44

• It saved the Bolshevik government- they couldn’t continue with the war - soldiers were relieved that the fighting seemed to be over.

Question 45

What were the negative effects of the treaty?

Answer 45

• It was a crushing blow to Russia and encouraged the Bolsheviks’ enemies to try and overthrow their government and restore Russian greatness