4. Keeping And Consolodating Power 1918-1924

Question 0

How did Lenin try and overcome the initial problems faced by him in Russia?

Answer 0

The Decree of Land- redistributed land to peasants.
The Peace Decree- emphasised the Bolsheviks were seeking an immediate end to Russia role in WW1.
The decree that established a new government organisation.

Question 1

What were the initial problems Lenin faced after the Bolsheviks took power?

Answer 1

The continued war. Peasants continued to seize land. Economy chaos. Substantial support in the cities but limited in countryside. Civil servants started strike, refusing to co-operate with the new government. State Bank refused funding the Bolsheviks. Bolsheviks would not perform as well as SR’s in forthcoming elections to the Constituent Assembly.

Question 2

What was the Sovnarkom which was established under Lenin?

Also how did it fit in to the governments structure?

Answer 2

The top of the new government. Known as the Council Of People’s Commissars. Lenin was the chairman of the Sovnarkom. Below the Sovnarkom was the All Russia Congress of Soviets.

Question 3

What was the purpose of the Sovnarkom?

Answer 3

The leading body of the government. Designed to allow the Bolsheviks to extend their powers and control across Russia. Lenin and other leading Bolsheviks could choose who was in the Sovnarkom therefore deciding important decisions.

Question 4

What were the results of the Constituent Assembly elections in 1918?

Answer 4

The Bolsheviks only achieved 24% of the vote, while the SR’s gained 40.4% (mainly peasants).

Question 5

What were the Bolsheviks key strengths following the Constituent Assembly vote in 1918?

Answer 5

They had considerable military support form the western and northern military fronts. Support from Petrograd and Moscow (military). Baltic fleet and Kronstadt sailors support. 10million voted for them. Lenin formed a coalitions with left wing SR’s. Mensheviks and Sr’s were divided and failed to oppose the Bolsheviks effectively.

Question 6

How and why did Lenin and the Bolsheviks close the Constituent Assembly?

Answer 6

Late October Lenin didn’t feel secure enough to cancel the elections. However after the elections Lenin demanded the the Constituent amAssembly should rule under the Sovnarkom and Soviet. Upon refusal Lenin sent in the Red Guards to close it down and hopes for democracy ended.

Question 7

What was the Brest-Litovsk treaty of March 1918?

Answer 7

A treaty Lenin thought of to end the war with Germany, which he believed was the downfall of the Tsar and PG. The aim was to free up troops to use to secure the power of the Bolsheviks. The Germans demands were very harsh.

Question 8

What were the Germans demands for The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?

Answer 8

The Baltic seas (including Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia). Poland and finally the Ukraine, which was an important agricultural region. Due to these demands the Bolsheviks would lose 75% of coal and iron mines, 26% of its railway system, 60mill Russian citizens and more.

Question 9

What was the Cheka?

Answer 9

The secret policy created in December 1917. They were focused on ending strikes initially. They also eliminated political opponents, and deserters from the Red Army. They created the Red Terror.

Question 10

Why did the Cheka start the Red Terror?

Answer 10

A failed assassination attempt in 1918 led the Cheka to start the Red Terror. Anybody who criticised the government could be arrested and many people were shot without trial.

Question 11

How did the Cheka operate in the party?

Answer 11

Used to check the loyalty of party members. It operated outside of the party control and the Soviet and was used spread fear.

Question 12

Why did the Bolsheviks allow peasants to do for the first six months of them ruling and why?

Answer 12

Continued to allow peasants to seize land and factories. Not a policy, but for the first few months they didn’t have the control capability to exert control across Russia.

Question 13

What other policies did the Bolsheviks implement in Russia?

Answer 13

Supreme Economic Council to help restore Russia’s economy. nationalisation of the banks. Banning the Kadet political party. established Red Army. Ending of all foreign and domestic debts.

Question 14

Did the Bolsheviks gain control with all these policies within six months?

Answer 14

No, they were struggling to exert control over Russia. By May 1918 Russia was descending into a Civil War.

Question 15

How was the beginning of the Civil War (1918) signalled to start?

Answer 15

The rebellion of the Czech Legions on 25th May 1918 signalled the start of the Civil War.

Question 16

Why did the Czech Legion (Austro-Hungary troops in prison) oppose the Communists? 40’000 men

Answer 16

The PG promised to free the Czech prisoners captured in the war against Austro-Hungary and taken prisoner. They agreed to free them to fight against Germany and Austro-Hungary but it collapsed during the treaty of Brest-Litovsk.

Question 17

What counter revolutionary armies were established in the summer during the Civil War?

Answer 17

Estonia, Siberia and the Ukraine.

Question 18

Who were the Red, White and Green?

Answer 18

Whites: Communist opponents, Admiral Kolchak supreme leader.
Reds: Communists, led by Trotsky.
Greens: opposed Reds and Whites; supported economic power being distributed to local groups if peasants.

Question 19

What were the causes of the Civil War

Answer 19

Russia had become a one party state; other parties supported the Whites. Some wanted the return of the Tsar or PG. British+French wanted Russia to stay in the war - supplied the Whites and sent troops to Russia. Japan wanted to expand- took Vladistok. Czech Legion wanted wanted own country. Many nationalities wanted their own country. Many Russians opposed the treat of Brest-Litovsk. Bolsheviks started to clash with the peasantry over requisitioning the grain.

Question 20

What were the White’s weaknesses during the Civil War?

Answer 20

Lacked command structure and strategy leading to defeats against the Reds. Spread all over Russia. Lacked support from many Russians as the Whites were seen to be foreign invaders and former Tsarist supporters. Failed to side with the Greens army.

Question 21

What were the strengths of the Red’s military?

Answer 21

Trotsky used experienced leaders, who previously worked withy the Tsar. The Army controlled important railways along it easy to transport troops. Defeated each White army and prevented them working together. By 1920 only one White army remained, which was later defeated in 1920.

Question 22

What was the Red leadership like during the Civil War?

Answer 22

Unified under Lenin. Trotsky was an effective leader, e.g. Prevented the Whites from taking Petrograd by sending in troops. Trotsky used strict discipline and used political officers to ensure loyalty and also he used an armoire train to visit and support areas under threat. Lenin used the Cheka to eliminate political opposition.

Question 23

What was war communism like during the Civil War?

Answer 23

War Communism describes the Eco policies the communists introduced to win the war. The communists controlled industrial centres. Industry was nationalised and factories used to produce military supplies and equipment. Food requisitioned from the peasants to supply the workers and Red Army.

Question 24

What were the weaknesses of foreign intervention in Russia during the Civil War?

Answer 24

By late 1919 foreign forces from Britain, France and USA left Russia. Support for Whites stopped once the armistice with Germany was signed. Foreign leaders realised the Whites couldn’t win, the 30’000 foreign beaten by the Reds and no more sent.

Question 25

What happened between Russia and Poland from 1919 an

Answer 25

During 1919 Polish forces invaded the Ukraine and captured Kiev. Lenin ordered an invasion of Poland and by 1920 the Reds had reached Warsaw, the Polish capital, where the red army was then defeated. In April 1921 the Treaty of Riga was signed between Russia and Poland.

Question 26

How had the Civil war affected the peasants?

Answer 26

There was widespread famine across the peasant population in Russia as many peasants hoarded grain from the government.

Question 27

What opposition remained to the Bolsheviks after the Civil War outside of the party? (Info on Kronstadt)

Answer 27

Due to famine, rebellions occurred among the peasants. A key rebellion was the Kronstadt Rebellion march 1921. The sailors mainly came from peasant backgrounds and had supported the communists in the October Revolution. However they realised what War Communism was doing to the peasants and rebelled.

Question 28

In March 1921 the Kronstadt Rebellion took place. What were their demands?

Answer 28

An end to the political domination of the communists.
Relaxation of War Communism and centralised economic control.
Restoration of freedom of speech and press.

Question 29

What opposition remained to the Bolsheviks after the Civil War in the party?

Answer 29

Many communists believed the NEP was a betrayal of communism due to it allowing peasants to sell some of their produce for profit. It also allowed factories to sell goods for profit.

Question 30

What did lenin do in response to the opposition after the Civil War?

Answer 30

Lenin used forceful repression and economic reform to secure his and the Communist Party’s position in 1921.

Question 31

What repression did Lenin use to suppress opposition after the Civil War?

Answer 31

Ordered Trotsky to end the Kronstadt Rebellion by force. (50’000 soldiers)
It took three weeks to end the rebellion and thousands were killed or sent to the Gulags.

Question 32

What economic reform did Lenin use to suppress opposition after the Civil War?

Answer 32

At the Tenth Party Congress March 1921 Lenin announced and end to War Communism. Introduced NEP to improve economy,reducing opposition.
Private trade was now aloud meaning resulting in the emergence of Nepmen. The currency was changed in 1922.

Question 33

What were Nepmen?

Answer 33

Private traders.

Question 34

What was the ban on factions and why was it introduced ?

Answer 34

Lenin realised the communist party could be weakened by divisions. This rule prevented any member of the party from forming groups independent from Lenin’s control.

Question 35

What were the positive impacts of the NEP?

Answer 35

Food shortages/famine stopped after 1921. By 1923, 85% of companies were owned privately. Cultivated land and livestock increased. By 1926 the economy had almost returned to the production levels of 1913.

Question 36

What were the negative impacts of the NEP?

Answer 36

Production of more crops resulted in reduced prices and less income. The cost of industrial goods increased to a level peasants couldn’t afford due to their reduced incomes. Some communists believed the NEP was leading Russia to capitalism.

Question 37

How did Lenin further secure the Communist Regime after 1921?

Answer 37

All other parties banned. Increased propaganda use to glorify Lenin and the Communists. Only Communist newspapers allowed. Cheka replaced by GPU 1922. Gulags expanded from 84 in 1920 to 315 in 1923. Show-trials of SR’s and Clergy.

Question 38

What was the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) made up of?

Answer 38

The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. The Ukrainian Social Republic. The Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. The Transcaucasia Soviet Socialist Republic.

Question 39

Why was the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) created in 1922?

Answer 39

Lenin believed it could help overcome ethnic divisions, which may have threatened communism.