Consolidation of Communist Dictatorship Flashcards
What were the Congress of Soviets expecting from the overthrowing of PG?
A coalition government, similar to PS
Why didn’t Lenin want to share power?
Believed Bolsheviks were acting in interests of working class
What was the Constituent Assembly election?
organised elections by PG
Who won the Majority of seats in Constituent Assembly Nov 1917?
the SRs with 53%
Bolsheviks had 24%
Mensheviks and others had 23%
What happened after the Bolsheviks lost the election?
Lenin said ‘Elections prove nothing’ and closed the Constituent assembly with troops
How did Lenin justify closing the Constituent Assembly?
Russia now governed by a ‘Dictatorship of the Proletariat’
How many civilians were killed after a demonstration following the Constituent Assembly closure?
12
Who lost the right to vote in July 1918?
the ‘bourgeoisie’
What were the main reasons for Lenin ending Russian involvement in WW1?
Bolshevik promised peace,
Germany could invade
Everyone would rebel against capitalism anyways - German revolution
When was an Armistice with Germany signed?
Dec 1917
Who led the ‘Revolutionary war group’ that believed Russians should fight on?
Bukharin
Why did Trotsky drag the Peace Treaty proceedings out?
Thought that Germany would have own revolution
What was Trotsky’s approach to the Armastice?
‘No peace, no war.’ - Germany took advantageL
What was signed on the 3 March 1918?
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Who opposed the Brest-Litovsk treaty?
SRs - walked out in protest
Lenin threatened to resign to get the treaty through - majority of one
How many people had Russia lost due to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
62 million people
How much land had Russia lost due to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
2 million km squared - 1/3 of agriculture
3/4 iron and coal supplies
Brest-Litovsk summary terms?
people
land
produce
agriculure
money
Who became the head of the Red Army in March 1918/
Trotsky - Red Guard disbanded
Where was the capital moved to?
Moscow - to be more central to the country
When was the first Soviet constitution proclaimed?
July 1918
Who was at the top of the 1918 constitution power structure
the Sovnarkom - (Lenin as chairman)
appointed by congress + ran country while congress not in session
Who were banned from voting or holding office?
the former ‘exploiting classes’
What was the difference between workers and peasants?
Workers’ votes = 5 peasant votes
Was there free choice of candidates for Congress of Soviets?
Nope - all were Bolshevik
