5) The Consolidation Of The Communist Dictatorship Flashcards
What was the Bolsheviks main claim when coming to power
They act in the interest of the proletariat ( ordinary people of Russia)
What did bolsheviks encourage about the Oct/nov revolution
It was a popular rising
How did the concept of liberal democracy seem alien to Lenin and his colleagues
The idea of trying to compete for votes of ordinary citizens, allowing different views to exist belonged to an old class ridden world
What’s was Lenin convinced was the first step to socialism
Establishment of a dictatorship of the proletariat.
Driven by Marxist ideology in state and revolution
How did Lenin act to opponents and thoughts on leadership
Ruthless Believed only the bolsheviks were acting in the best interests of working class and that his authority was all that was needed
When did Lenin permit elections for a constituent assembly
November 1917
Why were the elections for a constituent assembly to go ahead
Lenin has attacked kerensky for postponing
How many votes cast in the election
Over 41 million
Who had the highest percentage of votes for the constituent assembly
Social revolutionaries - 53%
What percentage of the vote did the bolsheviks revive in the election for a constituent assembly
24%
What’s was lenins justification for not receiving a high percentage of votes
Assembly held in crisis atmosphere soon after a revolution
Likely those who voted on areas away from Moscow and Petrograd had little idea of what was happening in the capital and who the bolsheviks were
When did constituent assembly first meet
5th jan 1918
Who was the chairmen chosen by social revolutionaries for constituent assembly
Viktor chernov
What was the reaction of civilian when the constituent assembly was forcibly closed
Demonstration against it 12 killed Lenin wrote this off as crushing boyrgeois attitudes that remained after the revolution
What did Lenin claim his government represented
The people and a higher form of democracy
Explain how Bolsheviks showed what Dictatorship of the proletariat would mean
October 1917 curbed ability for Mensheviks and SR newspapers to be printed
Anyone known as bourgeoisie lost their right to vote in new soviet gov - July 1918
1921 all political parties were banned
Lenin and the ending of involvement of First World War
Ideologically - Lenin convinced that revolution would soon engulf Germany and German workers would join their comrades. So peace agreement was seen as temporary. Lenin knew Russian army could not stop the Germans. On practical grounds compromise with enemy seemed the only way forward and worth price in order to preserve what Bolsheviks had already accomplished
Who and when we’re negotiations on an armistice with Germans
Trotsky Dec 1917
How was the party split when it came to peace talks
Bukharin led the revolutionary war group of those who believe Russians should fight on. To defend socialism Seen as a betrayal of promises the bolsheviks made to seizing power
What was Trotsky approach of Neither peace nor war
He dragged proceedings out hoping that germans would experience their own rev before peace treaty signed
What was the Germans reaction to Neither peace nor war
Angered them especially since they knew Bolsheviks were using propaganda to stir up mutiny in the German army Agreement had to be made because Germans begun to renew their advance into Russia
What treaty was signed with Russia to end the war
The treaty of Brest- litovsk
When was the treaty of Brest-litovsk signed
3 March 1918
Some terms of Brest-litovsk
Lost Finland Ukraine Poland etc Losses amounted to 1/6th of Russian population Lost 74% of iron and coal supplies Pay 3 billion roubles in compensation
Different views of the treaty
Lenin - robber of peace But Russia had to accept the naked truth Other Bol argued strongly against the acceptance of the treaty
The decision of accepting the terms of the treaty explain
Lenin threatened to resign twice
Central committee- Trotsky, Stalin, zinoviev supported him
Bukharin and kamenev voted against the peace
Terms agreed by only one vote
What did the decision of accepting the treaty mean - stretch What did this lead to for Russia
Establishing socialism at home would take priority over spread of international revolution Confirmed Russia would be one party state - left wing revolutionaries walked out of sovnarkom in protest to treaty Bolsheviks governed alone - everyone else eh opposed was treated as enemies
What did Bolsheviks change their names to
Communist party March 1918
Who are red army
A new professional force Led by Trotsky Replaced red guards Was to protect regime March 1918
What was the RSFSR
July 1918 Oversee the transition to a socialist society the first Soviet constitution Russian Soviet federal Socialist Republic Supreme power rested with them Responsible for electing sovnarkom 
Limitation of the new constitution 1918
Vote reserved for Toiling masses - business men and tsarist officials excluded Workers vote weighed 5 to 1 against peasant Sovnarkom officially appointed by congress in practice chosen by bolsheviks Congress met at intervals
