Background to the Bolshevik Revolution and Lenin's State

Question 1

Between which years did Tsar Nicholas II reign?

Answer 1

1984 until 1917

Question 2

In 1900 who were the two main opposition parties to the Tsar?

Answer 2

The Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP) and the Socialist Revolutionaries (SRs)

Question 3

What was the 1905 Revolution?

Answer 3

A series of revolts which attempted to overthrow the Tsarist regime. They were nearly successful but ultimately failed.

Question 4

What was the February Revolution?

Answer 4

An uprising in Petrograd in 1917. The people overthrew the Tsar and set up a Provisional Government.

Question 5

Which party was Lenin a member of during the time of the February Revolution?

Answer 5

The RSDLP

Question 6

When did Lenin return from exile?

Answer 6

April 1917

Question 7

What policies did Lenin say needed to be introduced?

Answer 7

The immediate end of World War One and redistribution of land.

Question 8

What was Lenin’s slogan in 1917?

Answer 8

Peace, Land and Bread.

Question 9

Why did Lenin’s ideas become popular in the wake of the February Revolution?

Answer 9

The continued war meant that the economy crashed and people became increasingly dissatisfied.

Question 10

Who did Lenin seize power on behalf of?

Answer 10

The soviets

Question 11

What were the soviets?

Answer 11

Small democratic councils that had emerged under the Provisional Government.

Question 12

When was the All-Russian Congress of Soviets?

Answer 12

June 1917

Question 13

What was Lenin’s opinion on the All-Russian Congress of Soviets?

Answer 13

That it should form the basis of a new governmental system.

Question 14

Why was the Sovnarkom introduced?

Answer 14

Because the All-Russian Congress of Soviets was too big to govern effectively.

Question 15

Who elected the Sovnarkom?

Answer 15

The All-Russian Congress of Soviets

Question 16

How many people were in the first Sovnarkom?

Answer 16

13

Question 17

What title was given to members of the Sovnarkom?

Answer 17

People’s Commissar

Question 18

Who was elected chair of the Sovnarkom?

Answer 18

Lenin

Question 19

Which position did Trotsky have in the first Sovnarkom?

Answer 19

People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs

Question 20

Which position did Stalin have in the first Sovnarkom?

Answer 20

People’s Commissar for Nationality Affairs

Question 21

Which two decrees featured in Lenin’s first speech to the All Russian Congress of Soviets?

Answer 21

The Decree on Land and the Decree of Peace

Question 22

What did the Decree on Land introduce?

Answer 22

The right for peasants to seize land from the bourgeoisie and the Church.

Question 23

What did the Decree of Peace do?

Answer 23

Bring an end to Russia’s involvement in World War One

Question 24

When were the Workers’ Decrees introduced? What did they do?

Answer 24

November 1917. They established an 8 hour working day and a minimum wage.

Question 25

When was the Decree of Workers’ Control introduced? What did it introduce?

Answer 25

April 1918. It allowed workers to elect committees to run factories on their behalf.

Question 26

How did Lenin’s early policies allow him to establish control?

Answer 26

They won over the workers, peasants and soldiers and gave the government “breathing space” to resolve the economic crisis and construct the new government.

Question 27

Why was the Sovnarkom weak at first?

Answer 27

The October revolution took place exclusively in Petrograd and Russia is a vast country.

Question 28

Why was Lenin’s new system of government met with enthusiasm?

Answer 28

• The Sovnarkom was accountable to the All Russian Congress of Soviets meaning that it didn’t have absolute power
• There were hopes that a coalition government could be formed
• The workers were happy with the reforms they had seen

Question 29

What was the election in November 1917 for?

Answer 29

The Constituent Assembly

Question 30

When did the Constituent Assembly first meet?

Answer 30

January 1918

Question 31

Why did Lenin close down the Constituent Assembly?

Answer 31

The Bolsheviks were in minority

Question 32

What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?

Answer 32

The treaty signed by Lenin with the Central Powers in order to end Russia’s involvement in the war.

Question 33

When was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk signed?

Answer 33

March 1918

Question 34

Why was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk contoversial?

Answer 34

As part of the treaty, Lenin signed away large parts of Russian territory to the Central Powers.

Question 35

What was the consequence of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?

Answer 35

The Bolsheviks lost the soviet elections in 1918.

Question 36

How did Lenin respond to losing the 1918 elections?

Answer 36

He nullified the result and removed the SRs and the Mensheviks from all soviets.