Bolshevik Consolidation 1918 - 24

Question 1

25th October 1917

Answer 1

The delegates of the second All-Russian Congress of Soviets voted 500 to 170 for a socialist government to replace the overthrown PG. they were expecting this to be a socialist coalition government along the lines of Petrograd soviet.
But Lenin did not want to share power. He believed the Bolsheviks were acting in the best interest of the working class and that this gave him complete authority.

Question 2

Nov 1918

Answer 2

Constituent assembly elections. SRs won the majority of seats. The consistent assembly met for one day attempted to redraft the Bolshevik decrees then was closed by troops and never opened again

Question 3

When was the armistice with Germany agreed

Answer 3

December 1917

Question 4

When was the treaty of Brest-Litovsk signed

Answer 4

3 March 1918. It meant the loss of 62 million people (1/6 of russias population), 2 million square kilometres of land, responsible for one third of russias agricultural production, 1/4 of Russias railway lines, 3/4 of Russias iron and coal supplies.
The Bolsheviks also had to pay 3 billion roubles in war reparations.
It was very unpopular and caused the left wing SRs to walk out the sovnarkom in protest.

Question 5

When did Trotsky become head of the new red army

Answer 5

March 1918

Question 6

When was the first constitution proclaimed

Answer 6

July 1918

Question 7

The 1918 constitution

Answer 7

Set out the power structure of the new regime. Congress of soviets only met at intervals throughout the year, between those times the sovnarkom ruled Russia. Sovnarkom consisted solely of Bolsheviks after the left SRs walked out following the treaty of Brest litovsk. Workers votes were worth 5 peasant votes.

Question 8

When was the civil war

Answer 8

Early 1918 - 20 but Bolsheviks fight the poles until 1921

Question 9

First main stage of civil war

Answer 9

1918 -20 mainly fought in east and south of Russia. The Bolsheviks held the area around Moscow and were attacked on different sides by the whites.

Question 10

Second main stage of civil war

Answer 10

1920 -21 was more a nationalist conflict against the polish armies that had invaded western Ukraine. Russian forces led by general tukhachevsky, were able to drive the poles back. This led to the treaty of riga in march 1921

Question 11

Civil war 1918

Answer 11

April -may - the Czech legion seizes part of the trans-Siberian railway. War begins.
August - denikin and kolchaks white armies make rapid advances
November - kolchak declares himself ‘supreme ruler’ of Russia

Question 12

Civil war 1919

Answer 12

October - denikins army advances within 200 miles of Moscow. Yudenichs army advances to the outskirts of Petrograd.

Question 13

Civil war 1920

Answer 13

February - kolchak is captured and shot
March - denikins army is evacuated to the Crimea
May - beginning of the Russo -polish war
October - wrangels army is evacuated from the crimea. The Bolsheviks establish control.

Question 14

Civil war 1921

Answer 14

March - the treaty of riga is signed

Question 15

When was the tsar and his family murdered

Answer 15

July 1918 by the Cheka in the Ural Mountains

Question 16

What was the name given to the Bolshevik state in Jan 1918

Answer 16

The Russian soviet federal socialist republic

Question 17

When was the politburo formed

Answer 17

1919 from the party’s central commitee it quickly took over the running of both the party and the government

Question 18

State capitalism - 1917

Answer 18

Feb - Decree on land (abolished private ownership of land)
Nov - decree on workers control of factories (gave workers greater control over the running of factories)
December - nationalisation of the banks

Question 19

When was war communism

Answer 19

1918 -21

Question 20

War communism 1918

Answer 20

June - war communism was introduced
September - intensification of the red terror, nationalisation of factories and railways

Question 21

War communism 1919

Answer 21

Jan - start of compulsory grain requisitioning

Question 22

War communism 1920

Answer 22

August - outbreak of the Tambov revolt
December - industrial production at 20% of 1913 levels

Question 23

When was the NEP

Answer 23

1921

Question 24

NEP 1921

Answer 24

March - Kronstadt rising and NEP introduced
June - final defeat of the Tambov revolt

Question 25

When was the GOLERO est

Answer 25

1920 to organise the production and distribution of electricity across Russia

Question 26

When was war communism introduced

Answer 26

June 1918 primarily to ensure that the red army was supplied with enough munitions and food

Question 27

Nationalisation

Answer 27

By Nov 1920 nearly all businesses and factories were nationalised

Question 28

When was the food supplies dictatorship set up

Answer 28

May 1918 to organise the requisitioning of peasants grain to feed the red army and workers in the cities

Question 29

Population by 1921

Answer 29

In 1913 - 170. 9 mill
1921 - 130.9 mill due to war and famine

Question 30

Harvest of 1921

Answer 30

Produced only 48% of 1913s harvest leading to widespread famine. Millions died of starvation and disease

Question 31

Industrial output in 1921

Answer 31

20% of pre war levels so rations had to be cut

Question 32

Population of Petrograd by end of 1920

Answer 32

Fallen by 57.5% and Moscow by 44.5% from 1917 levels