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Bolshevik's consolidation of power Flashcards

1
Q

Give 8 factors which allowed Lenin to consolidate power 1917-1924

A
  1. Ending WW1 with the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on 3rd March 1918
  2. Introduced the NEP
  3. Ruled by decree (e.g Decree on land, Rights of people of Russia decree and Peace decree,workers council).
  4. Introduced Revolutionary justice
  5. Dissolution of the Constituent Assembley
  6. Starting and winning a civil war
  7. Use of Cheka terror
  8. Introduced war communism
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2
Q

Socialism meaning in Bolshevik Russia and examples of acts.

A
  1. Workers control state industry
  2. Land/estates taken from gentry by peasants and divided fairly between them.
  3. Grain requisitioning to spread food from the countryside(where it was produced) to the towns and cities.
  4. All equal, food and wealth evenly spread between the population and all have equal entitlemnet to good housing and good standards of living (opposed by upper class and Bourgeoisie).
  5. Bread rationing
  6. Private trade banned
  7. Land could not be bought or rented as it belonged to the state and was communal.
  8. Class system was brought to an end
  9. Period of strict control(e.g Cheka and Red terror) to root out non socialist attitudes (Burzhui). There were mass murders, secret police(Cheka) and an authotriarian society/regime during this period.
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3
Q

Communism definition

A 
A society in which private property and social class doesn't exist. The governement ownes all things neccisary to make and transport good (e.g. factories).
Opposite to Capitalism, which instead promotes the ownership of private property and the private sale and trade of goods.
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4
Q

What synonym can be used to describe the main features of the NEP and what does NEP stand for

A

ROTCOM

NEP stands for New Economic Policy

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5
Q

What does ROTCOM stand for

A

R-Requisitioning (of grain) stopped
O-Ownership of small private business allowed
T-Trade ban removed
COM-State control of heaving industry, transport and banking.

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6
Q

Describe the 4 main features of the NEP

A
  1. Abolished grain requisitioning, whuch was replaced by a ‘tax in kind’. Peasants now had to give a fixed proportion of grain to the state, but the amount they had to hand over was much less than the amount taken by requisitioning (benefited peasants). They could also sell any surpluses on the open market (not communism).
  2. Small businesses allowed to re-open (private ownership) and make a profit(not communism). The aim of this policy was to increase sales of grain by peasants by producing more consumer goods that they would like to buy, therefore they are more willing to sell grain which can be used to feed towns and cities.
  3. The ban on private trade was lifted, allowing food and goods to flow more easily between countrysides and towns. Privately owned shops reopened, rationing abolished and people had to pay for food and goods through their own income. New currency introduced (Roubles) to restore security of finance.
  4. State controlled heavy industry, transport and banking. The state kept control of coal, oil and steel and retained control of the transport and banking system. Industry was organised into trusts that had to buynd materials and pay workers wages. If they failed to manage their finance the state now refused to bail them out of trouble.
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7
Q

What was the significance of the NEP (6 points)

A
  1. It was a retreat from Bolshevik policy of state control of the economy.
  2. Allowed some private trade.
  3. It was always meant to be a temporary measure (to help enforce socialism in the long run).
  4. Allowed free trade and the revival of the petit Bourgeoisie (had previously been targeted through terror).
  5. Ended some opposition and forced opponents like Bukharin to accept the realities of the NEP.
  6. Gave breathing space to revive the economy (e.g revival of economy with new currency Roubles and ending grain requisitioning.
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8
Q

What was the ‘Third Revolution’

A

Reference to rebels demand for greater power to trade unions, peasant organisations and other political parties e.g. Social Revolutionareis (SRs) amd the Mensheviks.

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9
Q

Who were involved in the Kronstadt Mutiny of 1921

A

Sailors and workers from Kronstadt, of peasant origin. They had been amongst the supporters of the revolution, but had grown tired of ruthless years of war communism. They demonstrated and made a list of demands-free elections, freedom of the press and of speech

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10
Q

What were the demands of rhe ‘third revoltion’

A

free elections, freedom of the press and of speech

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11
Q

What were the demands of rhe ‘third revoltion’

A

free elections, freedom of the press and of speech

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12
Q

Events of the Kronstadt Mutiny of 1921

A

Third revolution acted without violence. Peasants protested and workers went on strike. Communists answered with mass executions and blood-thirstiness. Sea of blood with no middle ground, just victor or defeat. 1st stage was a success with no guns fired, only violent as self-defense. Used to open a new broad road for socialist creativity. Had previously been a 3 year violence and opression by Communist dominance. Aimed to remove socialists from social life, so they couldn’t interfere with revolutionary work. Peasants and workers went forward without Constituent Assembley. Made it possible for tailors to to have freely elected soviets and remake state trade unions into assosiations of workers,peasants and labouring intelligencia. Also, policemen’s club (Communist autocracy) had been broke.

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13
Q

Response of authoraties to the Kronstadt Mutiny of 1921

A

Kalnin a leading party member warned people of Kronstad to prevent any furthe humiliation, which Trotsky ignored, starting an ultimatum on 15th March 1921. 2 days later red army launched assault on Garrison. Sailors slaughted them and fought like ‘wild beasts’. Captured all houses of Communists, one taking 1 hour to capture. Revolutionary slogans appeared about ‘liberty’, ‘free trade’,’emancipation from serfdom’ and ‘;’Soviets without Bols’. Both Mensheviks and SRs declared the movement to be there own, Bukharin said it was not a white rising.

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14
Q

Significance of Kronstadt Mutiny of 1921

A

Warning for Lenin, people had endured war communism for too long and rebel slogans emerged about freedom and began to demand greater political freedom. Lenin saw it as time to compromise and recognise failure of War Communism. Faced challenge of Russia’s economic situation, to avoid further rebellions like this one. Lenin had to admit his errors,revise his policies and make a tactical retreat. Central aim of Lenin was to win over Russian Peasantry as this was the only way to save Socialist Revolution in Russia.

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15
Q

What was the Sovnarkom and what was it also known as. How many members did it have and when was it set up. When did it operate until

A

Also known as the Council of People’s Commisars. It was the Bolsheviks governing body. It had 30-40 members and was set up after the October Revolution in 1917. It operated until 1941. The Commisars in Sovnarkom ran commisariats and it became less influencial after the Politburo was formed in 1919 with 7-9 members.

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16
Q

Who was the chairman of the Sovnarkom

A

Lenin

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17
Q

Who was the Commisar for Nationalities in the Sovnarkon

A

Stalin

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18
Q

Who was the Commisar for Social welfare of the Sovnarkom and why were they significant

A

Alexandra Kollanti and it was significant as she was a woman, showing more equality for women.

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19
Q

Who made up the Sovnarkom

A

Exclusively made up of Bols however some left-winged SRs were later invited to join.

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20
Q

What did the Sovnarkom show

A

Lenin had no intention of sharing power with the Mensheviks, SRsor other socialist groups in the Soviet.

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21
Q

How did the Sovnarkom rule

A

Ruled by decree without going for Soviet approval.

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22
Q

What is the Land Decree

A

Gave peasants the rights to take over estates of the gentry, without compensation, and decide for themselves the best way to divide it up (They had been doing this anyway). Land could no longer be bought,sold or rented as it belonged to the ‘entire people’. This was not what the Bols wanted as privately owned land was not part of their socialist vision.

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23
Q

What is the Workers’ control decree

A

Factory Committees given right to control production and finance in workplace and to ‘supervise’ managment. This decree did not give direct managment to the workers but some committees took it to mean so. Far beyond what Bols wanted but they were unable to withstand the strength of workers’ pressure for reform.

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24
Q

What is the Rights of the People of Russia decree

A

Gave right of self-determination to the national minorities in the former Russian Empire. Bols didn’t have control of most of the areas where these lived, so this was nothing more than a paper measure.

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25
5 decrees issued by Sovnarkom in October 1917
1. Max 8 hour day for workers 2. Social insurance (old age, unemployment, sickness benefits,etc) to be introduced 3. Decree on Land 4. Decree on Peace 5. Opposition press banned
26
5 decrees issued by Sovnarkom in Novemeber 1917
1. Rights of social determination granted to all parts of the former Russian People (Rights of the People of Russia decree) 2. Workers to control factories 3. Abolition of titles and class distinctions 4. Abolition of justice system (replaced by Revolutionary Justice. 5. Women declared equal to men and are able to own property.
27
5 decrees issued by Sovnarkom in December 1917
1. Cheka set up 2. Banks nationalised 3. Democatisation of army- officers ti be elected, army to be controlled by army soviets and soldier's committees, ranks, saluting and decorations abolished. 4. Church land nationalised 5. Marriage and divorse became civil matters, no longer linked to the church.
28
3 decrees issued by Sovnarkom in January 1918
1. Creation of the Red Army 2. Church and state separated 3. Worker's control of railways
29
2 decrees issued by Sovnarkom in February 1918
1. Nationalisation of banks | 2. Socialisation of land
30
When was the dissolution of the Constituent Assembley and what happend on this day. What took its place
5th January 1918 CA allowed to open for the day on 5th Jan 1918 and then the doors were closed and the deputies were told to go home. It was completely dissolved between 18th-18th January by the All-Russian congress of Soviets (the new governing body of Russia).
31
What were the Constituent Assembley election results before disolution of CA
``` SRs-410 seats (including 40 left SRs) Bols-175 seats Kadets-17 seats Mensheviks-18 seats Almost 100 seats for other parties ```
32
What did Lenin believe with regard to the Constituent Assembley and his Soviet gov
Lenin asserted that his Soviet gov (exploited by Bols to get into power) represented a higher stage of democarcy than an elected assembley containing different political parties.
33
What did Lenin state about the Constituent Assembley and what did he declare it
It smaked of bourgeois parliamentary democracy and he declared it redundant
34
What happend to an unarmed corwd which demonstrated in favour of the Constituent Assembley and why was it so significant
The crowd was fired upon by soldiers loyal to the Sovnarkom, which was very significant as it was the first time that soldiers had fired on an unarmed crowd since February 1917.
35
What had Russia lost in terms of people,farm land, railway lines and iron ore and coal reserves
1. Lost 62 million people (1/6 of the population) 2. Lost 27% of farm land (including some of the best farm land in Russia) 3. Lost 26% of railway lines (destroyed) 4. Lost 74% of iron ore and coal reserves
36
When was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk signed and what did it due. Who refused to go to the final meeting and why
3rd March 1918
37
When was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk signed and what did it do. Who refused to go to the final meeting and why
Signed on the 3rd March 1918 1. Russian-held area of Poland became part of the independent state of Poland (lost land) 2. Estonia,Latvia and Lithania became independent republics (loss of land) 3.Bessarabia was handed over to Romania (loss of land) 4.The Germans set up independent governments in Belarus, the Ukraine and Georgia. 5. Finland had been ruled by Tsars since 1809. In 1918, Germans helped Fins to defeat a Bol rising (gaining independence), and Finland remained independent under the 1918 Treaty. Trotsky did not attend the final meeting of the treaty as he did not agree with Lenin signing the Treaty on 3rd March 1918.
38
When was the decree on peace signed and what was it
Signed on 26th October with a plea to other nations for a just peace with 'no annexations,no indemnities'. Lenin was convinced that revolution in Europe would ensure that equitable peace settlements would be reached.
39
Why did the Lenin need peace at 'any cost'
To ensure the survival of his fledging Bolshevike regime.
40
What was Trotsky's role for the Bolsheviks and what did he do during peace negotiations at Brest-Litovsk
The Bolkshevik negotiaitor and he withdrew the Bols from peace nogotiations saying that there would be 'neither war nor peace' meaning that the Russians would not fight the Germans but would not sign the treaty either (Lenin knew Bols needed peace to survive and pressured his representatives into signing the treaty on 3rd March 1918).
41
Consequences of Treaty of Brest-Litovsk for the Bols
1. Horrified patriotic Russians (terms) as they gave away large chunks of Russian homeland. This antagonised people across the class and political spectrum and encouraged them to join anti-Bol groups (often Kadets or Conservative forces on the right). 2. Caused more splits within the Bol party. Bukharin and left wing of party wanted to prosecute a revolutionary war to encourage a European socialist revolution. Some thought international revolution was more important than one in Russia. To them Treaty seemed a shameful peace that helped Germany survived as an imperial power. 3. Left wing of SRs, who also wanted to fight revolutionary war like Left Bols, left the Sovnarkom in protest (less support in revolutionary war now). Bols now really were on their own. 4. All the opposition to Brest-Litovsk made the civil war almost inevitable
42
How did some people view the Treaty of B-L and what did it help Germany to do
A shameful peace that helped Germany to survive as an imperial power.
43
What did the opposition to Brest Litovsk do
All the opposition to Brest-Litovsk made the civil war almost inevitable
44
What was the main Cheka slogan
Death to the Bourgoisie/Burzhui
45
What did the Cheka do to monks,nuns and priests
Crucified-Thrown into cauldrons of boiling tar,scalped,strangled,given communion with melted led and drowned in holes in the ice.
46
How many monks,nuns and priests were estimated to be put to death in 1918 alone
3,000
47
What replaced the old Russian legal system and what was used to impliment this
Revolutionary justice | 'Peoples Courts'
48
Describe 'Peoples courts' (3 points)
1. Overtly class in nature. 2. Arbitary (random) in nature and relied on vendettas (revenge of a murder via murder) and denunciations from Revolutionaries.
49
Who ruled 'Peoples Courts'
Bolsheviks,often of a 3rd class interlect.
50
What can be said about the use of 'Peoples Courts'
Used against people's privledges.
51
What did the introduction of 'Peoples Courts' lead to
Mob trials (sometimes in streets), mob rule and mob lynching's.
52
What could the Constituent Assembley claim to be
The legitimate body to decide the future Russian government.
53
Date of Lenin's death and cause and age at death
21st January 1924 by a brain haemorrage aged 53.
54
What land was lost or became independent under the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Estonia,Lithuania and Latvia became independent republics. Russia-held part of Poland became a part of the independent state of Poland. Bessarabia handed over to Romania. Germans helped Fins to defeat Bols rising in 1918 and in treaty Finland remained independent.
55
What were the Germans able to do under the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Set up semi-independent governments in Belarus, the Ukraine and Georgia.
56
Who opposed the Bols making the Civil War inevitable
``` Left SRs(left Sovnarkom in protest vs them). Patriotic Russians horrified by giving away of large chunks of land anatgonised many Russians across class and political spectrum, encoraging them to join anti-Bol forces, e.g Kadets and Conservative forces on the right. ```
57
What did all of the oppositon to Bols make inevitable
Civil War
58
What did Cheka/reds allow to happen in Crimean Coastal town, Evapataria (red terror)
Reds allowed
59
When did the Bols move their capital to Moscow
5th March 1918 The city's proximity to anti-Soviet armies forced communist leader Vladimir Lenin to move his government to Moscow on 5 March 1918. The move was disguised as temporary, but Moscow has remained the capital ever since.
60
What did Lenin do to the Kadet party and how did he deal with its leader
Denounced and outlawed the kadet party. | Leaders of the party were arrested and 2 party leaders brutally beaten to death by Bols sailors.
61
Which political opponents did Lenin arrest before end of 1917
Kadet leaders Right-winged SRs Mensheviks
62
When was the Cheka set up
7th December 1917
63
What else was the Cheka known as
Extraordinary Commision for Combating Counter-Revolution and Sabotage
64
Who were brought in to control the Cheka
Units of Red Guards and military units
65
When were the Red Guards set up
March 1917
66
2 characteristics of Revolutionary justice
Arbritary and voilent in nature.
67
Who were liable to be arrested under Revolutionary justice
Anyone accused of being a Burzhui or anyone found well dressed in the streets (also robbed and beaten) Former people.
68
What were the Burzhui labelled as
'The enemies of the people'
69
Feature of War Communism (Grain Requsitioning)
Grain Requisitioning Bols sent units of Red Guards to find grain for hard-pressed cities often used force to take grain. May 1918 a food supplies dictatorship set up to establish forceable grain requisitioning as standard policy. Peasnats reacted bitterly
70
Feature of War Communism (Banning private trade)
All private trade and manifacture banned. State trading extremely unorganized and not enough consumer goods produced. Enormous black market developed, which most people could not survive without.
71
What percentage of its workforce had Petrograd lost by April 1918
60%
72
Feature of War Communism (Industry nationalised)
All industry brought under state control and administered by Vesenka. Workers committees replaced by single managers, reporting to central authority. Often old Bourgeoisie ministers. Only was to stop factory committes which gave themselves pay rises.
73
Feature of War Communism (Rationing)
Class-based system. Labour force and red army given priority and largest rations, then civil servantsprofesionals e.g. doctors. Samllest rations, barely enough to survive, given to Burzhui and middle class (former people).
74
Feature of War Communism (Labour discipline)
Discipline brought back to work place. Fines for lateness. Internal passport introduced to stop people fleeing to countryside.Work book needed to set rations and bonuses used to increase productivity.
75
How were Tsar and his family executed
Shot and their bodies were thrown into a disused mineshaft after being drenched in acid. Later buried.
76
Who did Lenin claim was responsible for execution of Tsar and his family
The local Soviet against their wishes.
77
Why did Lenin not want to antagonise Germans at time Tsar and his family were executed
Tsar wife was Russian | Tsar was blood related to Kaiser Willhem II
78
Causes of war Communism
1. Industry fell apart as worker's committees incapable of runnung factoires 2. Civil war created shortages of raw materials.
79
2 main Bol problems in 1917
1. Couldn't feed the workers | 2. Not enough worker in cities to produce sufficinet war materials,muntions,supplies or other desperately needed goods.
80
How much had the Proletariat shrunk by 1920
By half of its size (pre-revolution)
81
How many people had left Petrograd by June 1918
1 million people
82
What happend to the size of the Urban Proletariat
Decreased from 3.6 million in Jan to 1.4million 2 years later due to starving and unemplyment. Many returned to vilages lor joined Red Army.
83
What happend to the population of Petrograd by summer 1918
Fell from 69,000 to 5,000 by summer 1918.
84
Impact of foreign intervention in Civil War
Whites given supplies and support by US, France and Britain (until end of WW1 in 1918) as ther resented Russia for backing out of War in March 1918. This support for whites was half-hearted and ineffective. Gave Bols a propoganda coup as could present themselves as defenders of Russian soil vs foreign forces.
85
Which powerful Bols did not support Trotsky's return to traditional army during Civil War
Stalin and Zinoviev.
86
What role did Trotsky apply to every army unit to ensure loyalty and to give info to central Bol committee
Political Commisar.
87
How did Trotsky ensure loyalty of troops
Held families hostage
88
NEP importance of COM
State control heavy industry (coal,oil and steel-26%lost in war), transport and banking systems. Industry organized into trusts which had to buy materials and pay wah=ges out of their own budgets. If failed to manage budgets effectively state would NOT bail them out.
89
What did the lift of the ban on private trade allow
Allowed food and goods to flow more easily betweens towns and the countryside.
90
What happend to cereal production due to NEP
23% increase in production compared with 1920
91
When was NEP introduced
1921
92
By what percent did factory output rise by from 1920 to 1923
200% (from a very low base)
93
By what time was the recovery of large-scale industry
By 1924
94
By what year had industrial production levels reached the levels of 1913
1926
95
Production under NEP (coal levels)
1913 29 million tones 1921 8.9 million tones (NEP introduced) 1924 16.1 million tones 1926 27.6 million tones
96
Production under NEP (electricitylevels)
1913 1,945 million kWhs 1921 520 1924 1,562 1926 3,508
97
Production under NEP (steel levels)
1913 4,231 thousand tonnes 1921 183 1924 1,140 1926 3,141
98
What caused the 'Red terror'
Lenin shot and seriouly wounded on 30th August 1918 after speaking at a labour rally in Moscow by Fanya Kaplan (she claimed Lenin was a traitor to revolution). Executed 3 days later. On 30th aug head of Cheka, Uritsky, also murdered. Bols look in streets for victim.
99
Examples of White armies
1. Deekin: Southern Volunteer army# 2. The Komuch 3. Kolchak/the Omsk 4. Yudenich's Army
100
The Komuch
Mainly SRs Committee of members of Constituent Assembley Had a majority in CA (410 seats Bols had 175 seats)
101
The Komuch
Mainly SRs Committee of members of Constituent Assembley Had a majority in CA (410 seats Bols had 175 seats) Claimed to be legitimately elected gov Based at Somara at River Volga.
102
Yudenich's army
In North-West Quite a small force Attacked the reds out of Siberia.
103
Kolchak/The Omsk
Reactionary gov, mainly right-winged (pro-monarchists or supporters of a military dictatorship). Lead by Normial leadership of Admiral Kolchak Controlled an extensive area of Siberia.
104
General Deikin | Southern Voluteer army
Formed by Kornilov nad General Alekseev. Based in South River Don Joined by Jadets and thousands of army officers and other liberals. Deikin took over after both generals died in 1918.
105
Tambov uprising
Widespread resistance to communists due to harsh discipline in factories, hunger in cities and forced grain requisitioning in countryside. SRs weakened so couldn't launch coordinated effort needed to oust Communists. Peasnat uprising in Tambov region, 200 miles South East of Moscow. Attacked a grain requisitioning and killed 8,000 brigade members by end of 1920. Some local and former SR leaders had a role, however WAS A PEASANT RISING. Many peasnat risings took place all over Russia. Peasnat bands used guerilla warfare e.g cutting telephone lines, blowing up bridges an dpulling up railway tracks. Used terror e.g. mutilation of those captured in war as vengence. Peasnats only defeated by a huge red army of 100,000 in last part of 1921.
106
Rebel slogans at Kronstadt
'Soviets without communists(Bols)' 'liberty' 'free trade' 'emancipation from serfdom
107
When was Kronstadt Mutiny
April 1921
108
What did the Kronstadt Mutiny of April 1921 cause Lenin to relise- 3 things
Needed to win support of peasantry to svae socialist revolution Had to admit to failure of War Communism Had to make a tactical retreat and admit his errors to deter further rebellions like one in Kronstadt.
109
Main feature of Red Terror
Bourgeoisie driven from their homes, deprived of rations and forced to do degrading work. Sometimes indiscriminately shot Aug 1918 Lenin ordered implementation of a ruthless mass terror vs kulaks, priests and White Guards by chosen men loyal to Bol regime. Suspicious people detained in Conc camps. Families, priests, former officials murdered for no reason. Opposition to Bols dealt with by violence and peasants who resisted grain requisition punished and often shot. Punishment for arrested often decided by their job

Russian History (31 decks)

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