Bolsheviks

Question 0

What became worse when the provisional government took control?

Answer 0

Inflation grew even worse, there were food shortages and peasants began to seize land from noble estates.

Question 1

What made elections impossible thus leading to the provisional government staying in power?

Answer 1

The economic crisis.

Question 2

Who did the provisional government have to share power with?

Answer 2

The Petrograd soviet.

Question 3

What was Order No 1?

Answer 3

That people should only obey it if the soviet agreed, key workers were told to strike to undermine the authority of the provisional government. It also stated that they would keep arms under control and that they were in charge of the army.

Question 4

What did the provisional government do?

Answer 4

It abolished the Okhrana and press censorship, it also allowed for political freedom which allowed opposing parties to attack and criticise it such as the Bolsheviks, it had an amnesty for political prisoners, recognition of trade unions, introduction of eight hour work days for industrial workers, preparation for the election of a constituent assembly.

Question 5

Watt happened at the end of June in 1917?

Answer 5

The Russian army attacked the Germans, after early Russian success the Germans counter-attacked which forced a retreat and collapse of morale and discipline in the army.

Question 6

Why did the provisional government fail?

Answer 6

They wanted to continue with the war effort which was draining Russia as there were big defeats which lead to soldiers deserting the army, they did not want to carry out major reforms which disappointed people as they have just had a revolution in the hope of an improvement, they didn’t provide land to the peasants - instead they told them to wait and this led to peasants stealing land - especially considering they were starving and wanted land to grow crops on, famine was spreading due to food shortages - they kept telling people to wait and claimed they were sorting the situation out, also food was not being distributed evenly, weren’t representative of nation as had not been elected and failed to see that people wanted a revolution. Also, they faced strong opposition which undermined their authority but also promised the people everything that they weren’t giving them.

Question 7

From which party did Trotsky transfer from to the Bolsheviks?

Answer 7

The Mensheviks

Question 8

What was the April Theses?

Answer 8

Lenin issued this document promising ‘peace, bread, land and freedom’ as well as ‘all power to the soviets’.

Question 9

Why did the April Theses urge people to overthrow the provisional government?

Answer 9

Lenin was able to expose the weaknesses of the provisional government and use them to his own advantage, he promised people everything that they wanted that the provisional government wasn’t providing.

Question 10

What was Marxism?

Answer 10

Idea of communism, change arrives thorough struggle between middle class and working class, eventually this would lead to a violent revolution by the workers, the production would then be used for everyone and shared.

Question 11

What were the July Days?

Answer 11

This was an attempted Bolshevik takeover trying to overthrew the provisional government but they managed to quash it due to loyal troops. It lasted for three days.

Question 12

Why did some people not trust Lenin?

Answer 12

He had received helps from the Germans to arrive to Russia as their aim was for Lenin to cause disrupt in Russia making it easier for Germany to defeat them.

Question 13

What were the consequences of the July Days?

Answer 13

A new government was set up with Kerensky as prime minister, he accused the Bolsheviks of being German spies as Lenin’s return had been financed by Germany and so had their revolutionary activities, the Bolsheviks were denounced as traitors and their newspaper Pravda was shut down, Lenin was forced to flee the country.

Question 14

What happens in September 1917?

Answer 14

The Bolsheviks take control of the Petrograd soviet and Trotsky, the leader of the red army, becomes its chairman.

Question 15

When was the Kornilov revolt?

Answer 15

September 1917

Question 16

What was the Kornilov revolt?

Answer 16

This was when General Kornilov threatened to seize power in Petrograd. He did not agree with the Petrograd soviets wish to end the war and he wanted to set up a military dictatorship. Kerensky was forced to ask the Bolsheviks for help and he provided them with weapons.

Question 17

What was the result of the Kornilov revolt?

Answer 17

It left the provisional government looking weak as it showed that they couldn’t control rebellions, Lenin was starting to make plans of the Bolshevik takeover as well as his arrival.

Question 18

What happened on 6th November, 1917?

Answer 18

The red guards take control of post offices, bridges, the state bank and telephone exchange. They cut off Petrograd from the rest of Russia.

Question 19

What happened on 7th November 1917?

Answer 19

The red guards take over government buildings, banks and railway station. They also move in and take over the winter palace.

Question 20

What caused the July Days?

Answer 20

The war was not going well, the soviets were growing in power and the Austrian front was in a terrible state so many soldiers came flooding back to Russia.

Question 21

Who made up the dual government?

Answer 21

Petrograd soviet and provisional government.

Question 22

What were the Bolshevik decrees?

Answer 22

Land belonging to the Tsar, nobles and church was handed over to the peasants; Russia asked for peace with Germany; working day was limited to eight hours, 48 hour week, rules made about overtime and holidays; workers to be insured against illness or accident; all non Bolshevik newspapers banned; the cadets were banned and it’s leaders arrested; the Cheka was set up to deal with spies and counter-revolutionaries; factories were put under control of workers committees; banks were put under Bolshevik control; marriages could take place without a priest if desired and divorce was made easier.

Question 23

What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and what did it lead to Russia losing?

Answer 23

This was an agreement with Germany to pull out of the war but it meant that Russia lost vast amounts of best industrial and agricultural land and it had to pay a fine of 300 million roubles.

Question 24

What other things did the Bolsheviks do when they came to power?

Answer 24

They banned religion, there was a huge campaign to teach people to read and Lenin dismissed the constituent assembly.

Question 25

When was the treaty of Brest-Litovsk?

Answer 25

1917

Question 26

What were agit trains?

Answer 26

Trains that went around showing communist newsreels.

Question 27

Why did the red guards close down the constituent assembly?

Answer 27

Elections were held and the Bolsheviks only had 168 seats out of 703. The most popular party was the socialist revolutionary party who had support from the peasants.n

Question 28

What were the two decrees that Lenin made?

Answer 28

Decree on Land nationalised all the land in Russia and Decree on Peace called for peace with Germany.

Question 29

Why were the Bolsheviks successful in their takeover?

Answer 29

They were strong in key political and administrative centres especially in Petrograd, they had their own military trained force - the red guards who were organised and inspired by Trotsky, they were ruthless and planned clear strategies, they were practical as they realised that a true Marxist revolution was way off so they changed their policies in order to seize power - they ran a socialist government to create the right conditions for communism in the long term, the provisional government had become a weak target and Lenin was very manipulative and quick-thinking.

Question 30

Why did foreign countries support the whites in the civil war?

Answer 30

The Bolsheviks had declared they wanted to cause revolutions all over the world.

Question 31

What were the weaknesses of the whites?

Answer 31

They were disunited and could not agree on their aims or coordinate attacks which meant the red guards could deal with them one by one, whites were spread over large areas whereas the reds were in a central area with good communications, morale in the white army was low and there were often desertions and foreign intervention was half-hearted.

Question 32

Who made up the whites?

Answer 32

The Czech legion who were a group of Czech prisoners of war, general Miller who captured Archangel and set up a tsarist government there, admiral Kolchak - he advanced by this soldiers were more interested in cocaine and vodka so his army collapsed, general Yudenich - made up of Finns but when Kolchak refused to promise to give Finland their independence they deserted - got really close to Petrograd but then red guards beat them, general Denikin - ran out of money and general wrangle made a last stand in Crimea.

Question 33

When was the Soviet Union created?

Answer 33

1922

Question 34

What was the red terror?

Answer 34

The Bolsheviks putting anyone who opposed them to death.

Question 35

What were the strengths of the reds that led them to winning the civil war?

Answer 35

War communism allowed for all necessary resources to be poured into the army, Trotsky blackmailed soldiers into fighting for him and conscription was introduced, peasants would not support the whites because they feared a return to the old tsarist system and the use of the Cheka terrified ordinary people.

Question 36

What was the point of Comintern?

Answer 36

It was formed to promote revolution abroad and encourage friendly governments in nearby Europe.

Question 37

When did the government move from Petrograd out Moscow?

Answer 37

1918

Question 38

Why was foreign military support soon withdrawn?

Answer 38

It was obvious that the Reds would win.

Question 39

What happened to the Tsar’s family?

Answer 39

They were held prisoner in a house at Ekaterinburg because the communists knew they were an important symbol for the white cause, they were executed by the Bolsheviks in 1918 as the whites were approaching.

Question 40

What were the main features of war communism?

Answer 40

Rationing of food in cities was to be strictly applied during food shortages, private trading was banned - peasants could not sell the surplus food to make a profit but had to give it to the government, factories with more than 10 workers were nationalised which meant workers were under state control and could be told where to work and there was rapid inflation which left money valueless. Also, all adults had to work apart from the sick and pregnant, the secret police executed any enemies of the state and workers were not allowed to strike or be absent from work.

Question 41

What was food requisitioning?

Answer 41

When squads were sent in to take the peasants food with force. Peasants who refused to give up their food were shot or sent to labour camps.

Question 42

Why was there a famine in 1921?

Answer 42

Peasants did not respond to the idea of giving up produce to the state and so they grew and bred fewer animals. 7 million people died from it.

Question 43

When did the Kronstadt rebellion occur?

Answer 43

1921

Question 44

What was the Kronstadt rebellion?

Answer 44

Thousands or sailors protested at how the Bolsheviks were taking away power from the soviets.

Question 45

What was the result of the Kronstadt rebellion?

Answer 45

The introduction of the new economic policy as the Kronstadt sailors had been their fiercest supporters but they thought war communism was too extreme.

Question 46

How was wpthe Kronstadt rebellion dealt with?

Answer 46

Trotsky used the red army to put down to put down the rebellion. The surviving rebels were either executed by the Cheka or put in a gulag.

Question 47

What did the sailors want?

Answer 47

Free speech and press, free trade unions, sale of peasant grain and free elections for soviets.

Question 48

Why was the NEP introduced?

Answer 48

To increase prosperity after the chaos of revolution, civil war and war communism.

Question 49

When was the NEP introduced?

Answer 49

1921

Question 50

What were NEPMEN?

Answer 50

Those who stood to gain from the capitalism permitted under the new policy. They were small traders who were allowed to set up businesses.

Question 51

What were the key features of NEP?

Answer 51

Peasants would still have to give a fixed amount of grain to the government but they could sell their surplus for profit again, peasants who increased their food production would pay less tax, factories with less than 20 workers would be given back to their owners and consumer goods could be produced and sold for a profit, people could use money again and a new rouble was introduced however key industries still remained under state control but experts were brought in on higher salaries and extra wages were paid for efficiency. Local nationalities were allowed to bring back their own language and customs, churches, mosques and bazaars were re-opened.

Question 52

What was the politburo?

Answer 52

The senior council.

Question 53

Why did some old Bolsheviks leave the party?

Answer 53

They said that Lenin had sold out to communism.

Question 54

What is a proletariat?

Answer 54

Another name for a worker.

Question 55

When did Lenin die?

Answer 55

1924

Question 56

What name did Petrograd change to and why?

Answer 56

Leningrad in Lenin’s honour.