Bolshevik consolidation 1917- (Unit 1 a 1918)

Question 1

The Bolsheviks let the Constituent Assembly sit in January 1918, but what proportion of the vote did they get?

Answer 1

24%

Question 2

Lenin allowed the constituent assembly to sit, but they had to vote to say that they would submit their authority to what, arguing that the CA was not democratic as it represented the old regime? (they voted no with a majority of 237 to 137)

Answer 2

The Sovnarkom

Question 3

To gain control and to be seen to be delivering his promises Lenin passed a series of what?

Answer 3

Decrees

Question 4

What does MRC stand for?

Answer 4

Military revolutionary Committee

Question 5

How was the Sovnarkom supposed to be democratic>

Answer 5

Representatives from towns and villages voted for:

All Russian Congress of Soviets voted for:

Sovnarkom

Question 6

In what year was the Cheka created by the Sovnarkom?

Answer 6

1917

Question 7

In 1918, the Cheka had 120 employees, by 1921 it had risen to 143,000. How many people are estimated to have been killed?

Answer 7

50,000

Question 8

Who was sent to negotiate peace with Germany?

Answer 8

Trotsky

Question 9

Why did Lenin need to end the war?

Answer 9

It was unpopular

The provisional government’s fall was blamed on its continuation of the war

It was essential to get the economy back on its feet

A civil war was inevitable the Bolsheviks needed to be ready

The military was exhausted

The Germans had been financing Lenin and the Bolsheviks

Question 10

The peace treaty was brutal - what did they lose?

Answer 10

Russia lost 32% of arable land, 26% of the railway, 33% of factories, 75% of coal iron and steel mines and 60 million Russians

Question 11

What were the consequences of the Treaty at home?

Answer 11

Mensheviks and SRs left the government and they grew in popularity

Question 12

Why did the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk cause difficuly in the party?

Answer 12

Bukharin wanted a revolutionary war to de-stabalise Austria and Germany

Trotsky wanted to continue the truce

Consequences - the Left SRs left the Sovnarkom in protest

Led to a decline in support from the SRs and Mensheviks.

Question 13

What problems did the Bolsheviks face once they had taken power?

Answer 13

Strikes, no control in the countryside, civil service were on strike, state back refused to support them, food shortages

Question 14

How did Lenin take over?

Answer 14

MRC - led by Trotsky, attacked the PG, took control of the post officed and telegraph office. Supported by the Petrograd garrision,

Sovnarkom from the congress of Soviets and included SRs, Mensheviks and Bolsheviks. They left in October. The Sovnarkom voted Lenin as chari

Question 15

How did Lenin establish a one-party state?

Answer 15

• Abandoned titles
• Sovnarkom replaced the cabinet
• Policy by an elite group from the bolshevik central committee - they became the Politburo in 1919
• Lenin determined to supress opposition
• Cheka created

Question 16

Decrees were passed in the early days - what were the most well known ones?

Answer 16

• Land decree
• Decree on Peace
• Nationalities decree

Question 17

Why did Lenin pass the decrees?

Answer 17

He only had control of Moscow and Petrograd, or the majority of support in the congress of soviets. Lenin’s policies were popular - congress passes a number of radical and genuinely popular measures. They gave an illusion of control

Question 18

How was the Consituent assembly removed?

Answer 18

Lenin sent the red guard to surround the building denying entry after 1 day.