Bolshevik Consolidation of Power Flashcards
What were the first 4 decrees issued by Sovnarkom? Why were they significant?
THE DECREE ON PEACE- Calling for an immediate cease-fire
THE DECREE ON LAND- Gave the peasants the right to take over landowner’s estates without compensation
THE WORKERS’ DECREES- Guaranteed a minimum wage and an 8-hour day, allowing workers to take control of the factories.
THE DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE OF RUSSIA- Gave national minorities the rights to decide their own future, including the right to separate themselves from Russia.
They were clearly unashamed attempts to garner public support
How did Lenin justify his dictatorship?
Marx argued that between the worker’s revolution and the establishment of a fully blown communist society there would have to be a temporary dictatorship of the proletariat in order to sweep away the remnants of bourgeoisie existence.
How did Lenin justify his dissolution of The Constituent Assembly?
The constituent assembly was forcibly dissolved in January 1918 after it had met only once.
He claimed that the make-up of the constituent assembly did not reflect voters true preferences because the election papers did not recognise the split in The SR party, into the left SRs and the right SRs.
He also asserted that ‘a republic of soviets is a far higher form of democracy than the usual bourgeois republic with a constituent assembly’
Which two events intensified ‘the red terror’?
Fanny Kaplan’s assassination attempt on Lenin in August 1918, and the start of The Civil War in spring 1918.
Who was head of The Cheka?
Felix Dzerzhinsky
How many agents did The Cheka have by 1921?
Over 150,000
Why was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk signed, even though Germany extracted such a high price from Russia? What problems did it create?
- The Bolsheviks had promised peace, before the October revolution and could not go back on their promise without hemorrhaging supporters.
- The Russian army was seriously weakened by desertion and could not continue to effectively fight.
- The Bolsheviks wanted to focus on crushing their internal enemies. Lenin said “The bourgeoisie has to be throttled and to do that we need both hands to be free.”
It also created 2 new problems:
- The left SRs were hostile to Brest-Litovsk because large swathes of peasant land would be lost, walked out of the coalition in protest
- Russia’s army and upper classes were greatly nationalistic and became extremely hostile to The Bolsheviks who were seen as ‘traitorous surrenders’.
Describe a typical Bolshevik supporter and a typical anti-Bolshevik during the civil war?
PRO-BOLSHEVIKS
- Peasants who took part in land seizures
- Party members
- Industrial workers (The Bolsheviks enticed them as they had an 8 hour day and control of the factories)
- Soldiers loyal to the Bolsheviks
ANTI-BOLSHEVIKS
- Other political parties
- Kornilov and his soldiers
- Supporters of The Provisional Government
- Soldiers unhappy with Brest-Litovsk
- Members and supporters of the constituent assembly
- The middle and upper classes
- Those that suffered at the hands of The Cheka
Give a statistic which emphasizes the extent of The Civil War.
More Russians died in the civil war than WW1.
Describe the 4 different aims and armies of the civil war
RED ARMY- They aimed to retain the power they had gained in The October revolution.
WHITE ARMY- The white army had many different aims: some wanted a military dictatorship until the Bolsheviks were defeated and law and order was restored. Others wanted The Tsar or a constituent assembly. The white army was supported by foreign powers who wanted to prevent the revolution’s spread.
GREEN ARMY- They wanted to create a society based on local groups of peasant. Others fought alongside the Green army to protect the land which had been looted by the other armies.
CZECH LEGION- They fought against The Bolsheviks as they were scared of being handed back to the Germans, whose army they had deserted. They ultimately wanted their own state.
Why did The Bolsheviks win The Civil War?
LEADERSHIP- Leadership was clear and strong under Lenin. Unlike the Whites, they are united and well organised and prepared to do whatever it takes to hold on to power.
GEOGRAPHY- They dominate the heartlands of Russia, which has a population of 60 million. This means they have access to the industrial centers and rail networks.
WEAPONS- They can produce their own weapons, unlike The Whites who are reliant on foreign arms supplies
TRANSPORT- They can effectively transport troops where they are needed
COMMUNICATION- Their territory is continuous, which allows them to communicate more effectively and co-ordinate attacks
WAR COMMUNISM- The Bolsheviks conscripted people to work in factories using coercion- with the ultimate aim of making Russia an autarky. As part of this, they used tactics such as:
- Elite workers
Workers giving a cult-like superhuman status. They are sent to trouble spots to boost morale and speed up production and efficiency.
-Grain requisitioning
Grain is forcibly taken from the peasants to feed industrial workers in the cities. This was re-enforced by the Cheka who terrorised peasants who witheld grain.
Terror
- The Cheka used terror tactics and were ruthless in dealing with any opposition to communist tactics.
TROTSKY- The Red Army was founded in 1918, initially to stop the Germans advancing on Petrograd. By the end of the civil war, it had 5 million men, mostly conscripts.One successful tactic Trotsky used was exploiting experienced generals from The Tsarist army, by holding their families hostage to make them fight. In addition to this, political police were assigned to every unit to ensure obedience. Trotsky himself toured the front-line giving rousing speeches to boost morale.
LACK OF WHITE UNITY- They had differing aims and a lack of unity and purpose. Often, there was much infighting. This does not appeal to the majority of Russians. They wanted a united front, not a return to Tsarism.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISPERSE- They cannot properly co-ordinate as they are so geographically dispersed.
ASSOCIATION WITH FOREIGN POWERS- They are seen as non-Russian invaders.They are mostly reliant on foreign aid and troops, which means that they have supply problems. Eventually the foreign aid dried up.
LACK OF TRANSPORT- Lack of transports leads to ineffective movement of troops and supplies.
ETHNIC CLEANSING- The peasants are particularly badly treated, mostly by Cossacks in the Southern army who disliked non-Cossacks. Looting, raping and pogroms against Jews was commonplace, which drove the peasants to the reds.
NO TELEPHONE LINES- They had to use soldiers on horseback to convey messages.
Why was control of the railways crucial in the Russian Civil War?
It allowed the Bolsheviks to transport grain, troops and heavy artillery up and down Russia, as well as communicate, issue orders and coordinate attacks. The whites had to rely on messengers on horeseback.
Identify a mnemonic for Bolshevik victory in the Civil War?
The Bolshevik victory in the Civil War: Enemity - Ex Tsarist officers that Trotsky recruited Persists - Political compliance officers attached to every unit (in) Verona- Veshenka Growing- Grain requisitioning Feuding- Foreign Funding of the Whites Capulets- Cheka (and) Montagues- Murder of the Royal family Divided- Divided opposition Romeo- Railways Weeps- Whites relied on horeback messengers Noisily- NEP
To what extent had Lenin created a Socialist Society in Russia by the time of his death in 1924?
YES IT WAS- Brief period of war communism: although this was only TEMPORARY and worked only because of grain requisitioning
NO IT WASN’T- NEP wasn’t socialist, it received a lot of criticism from other socialists. By 1923, 3/4 of all trade was conducted by NEPmen, and 85% of all firms were owned by privately.
A new class of party beuracrats emerged
Force was used excessively- grain requisitioning, GULAGS, arbitrary imprisonment
The Chekha is like the Okhrana: by 1921 it had 150,000 agents
Kronsdadt rebellion in 1921- they had been the main source of support in 1917!
Doomed from the outset: Russia was not fully capitalist.
