Bolsheviks' early government Flashcards
what did Lenin and Trotsky assume would happen because of the October revolution
similar revolutions would be sparked across europe, especially in Germany
why did ending Russian involvement in the war cause divisions within the Bolsheviks?
-in return Germany demanded a lot of Russian territory
-many in the [party opposed this e.g. Bukharin, who created the ‘revolutionary war group’ within the party
what were some different views regarding WW1 within the party?
-some wanted to continue fighting to defend Socialism
-Trotsky’s view, as a big idealist, was ‘neither peace nor war’ - wanted to retreat further if necessary whilst awaiting revolutions
-Lenin took a pragmatic view and wanted to accept Germany’s terms
how did Lenin force his decision about the war through?
he said that if the party didn’t agree to the treaty of Brest Litovsk then he would resign
what precedent was set by the treaty of Brest Litovsk?
-established ‘socialism in one country’
-essentially they would focus on maintaining socialism in Russia rather than trying to create an international revolution
what form of government had Lenin suggested before seizing power?
he thought the government should be in the hands of the people, which is the conventional Marxist view
how did Russia become a one-party state?
-Sovnarkom was only comprised of Bolsheviks
-Lenin clearly had no intention of sharing power with other socialists
-Sovnarkom ruled with decree without seeking the Soviet’s approval
-the local soviets were brought into a new Bolshevik power structure
what concessions did Lenin make regarding the Sovnarkom?
-in November 1918 he let some left wing SRs in
what were the reaction from people in Russia about the new government?
-there were protests about the establishment of a one party state
-workers, soldiers and peasants were protesting
-e.g. at the Kronstadt naval base their was an uprising, which is significant as this was the site of the beginning if the Oct. revolution
what was the name of the new version of the Okhrana?
Cheka
how did the Bolsheviks assert control through the Constituent Assembly?
-in the first assembly the SRs won more seats than the Bolsheviks
-so Lenin shut down the assembly
-he claimed that elections meant nothing and the CA was a remnant of bourgeois parliamentary democracy
what was the reaction to the dissolving of the constituent assembly
-large public demonstrations against it
-the red guards fired on them and 12 people were killed
when did the Bolsheviks adopt the new title of the Communist Party?
March 1918
what methods of repression did they use to preserve the Soviet state?
-5000 Mensheviks arrested for ‘counter revolutionary activities, which destroyed their party
-fierce attack on the church e.g. arresting Clergymen, seen as a remnant of the Tsarist system
-show trials of some imprisoned SRs, then they outlawed the party all together, called them ‘enemies of the revolution’
-U-turn of policy towards self-determination: now independence movements were seen as ‘counter revolutionary’ e.g. Georgian independence movements crushed in 1922
-repressions of rebellions
-ban on factions within the party
-extended powers of the Cheka
-more systematic censorship
when was a constitution created?
1918
