developments between the revolutions of 1917 Flashcards
Who was Lev Borisovich Kamenev?
Lev Borisovich Kamenev (1883-1936) was a prominent Bolshevik leader, son of a Jewish railway engineer, who joined the Social Democrats in 1901.
What significant event did Kamenev oppose in 1917?
Kamenev opposed Lenin’s April Theses and voted against an armed uprising in October 1917.
What role did Kamenev play in Lenin’s government?
Kamenev was made a Commissar in Lenin’s government and participated in the Brest-Litovsk negotiations.
What happened to Kamenev in 1936?
Kamenev was expelled from the party in 1932 and executed in 1936.
Who was Josef Vissarionovich Djugashvily?
Josef Vissarionovich Djugashvily, known as Stalin (1879-1953), was a leading Bolshevik with peasant roots and a former priest.
What was Stalin’s role during the October Revolution?
Stalin played a minor role in the October Revolution but was appointed Commissar for Nationalities.
How did Stalin rise to power?
Stalin rose to power after Lenin’s death and established himself as a dictator until his own death in 1953.
What was the Bolsheviks’ situation in February/March 1917?
At that time, the Bolsheviks were a small party of 23,000 members with only 40 representatives in the Soviet of 1500.
Who were the first Bolsheviks to reach Petrograd in March 1917?
Lev Kamenev and Josef Vissarionovich Djugashvily (Stalin) were the first to reach Petrograd.
What was the significance of Lenin’s return in April 1917?
Lenin’s return marked the beginning of the Bolsheviks forging their own path, moving away from supporting the Provisional Government.
How did Lenin return to Russia?
Lenin returned to Russia with the help of the Germans, who allowed him to travel through Germany to Finland and then to Petrograd.
What was unique about Lenin’s sealed train?
Lenin traveled on a sealed German train with no passport or luggage inspections, allowing him to work privately.
What was Lenin’s situation before returning to Russia in 1917?
Apart from six months in 1905 to 1906, Lenin had been in exile for the previous 17 years and he was not quite sure what would await him in Russia.
How was Lenin greeted upon his return to Russia?
He was greeted by cheering crowds at the Finland station in Petrograd, where he gave a rousing speech, prepared during his long journey.
What was the main content of Lenin’s April Theses?
Lenin returned with a ready-made political programme which went beyond anything that other left-wing leaders had been saying.
What did Lenin believe about the Russian middle class’s ability to lead a revolution?
He believed that the Russian middle class was too weak to carry through a full ‘bourgeois revolution’ and that allowing them to continue in power would hold back the inevitable proletarian revolution.
What is the theory of ‘permanent revolution’?
It is the belief that the Russian revolution had no need to confine itself to bourgeois democratic objectives, as the whole of Europe was on the brink of socialist revolution anyway.
What were the key demands of Lenin’s April Theses?
The demands included:
- the war should be brought to an immediate end
- power should be transferred to the soviets
- all land should be taken over by the state and re-allocated to peasants by local soviets.
What slogan is often associated with Lenin’s April Theses?
‘Peace, bread and land’, supported by the motto, ‘All power to the Soviets’.
What was the state of the Bolshevik Party in April 1917?
The Bolshevik Party was not under Lenin’s tight control, which was a myth spread by later Soviet historians.
What reactions did Lenin’s proposals receive from the social Democrats?
His proposals caused uproar among the delegates, with some believing he had grown out of touch, allegations of him being in pay of the Germans, and fears from Mensheviks about undermining their efforts.
What is the definition of ‘permanent revolution’?
The concept that continuing revolutionary progress within the USSR was dependent on a continuing process of revolution in other countries.
what is a faction?
a group of dissenting voices within a larger group
What skills did Lenin use to gain support?
Lenin used skills of persuasion, tactful retreat and compromise, threats of resignation, and appeals to the rank and file.
How did Lenin attempt to appear more proletarian?
He wore a worker’s cap at party and factory meetings.
What did Lenin abandon to win over those fearing civil war?
He abandoned his call for an immediate overthrow of the Provisional Government.
What did Lenin claim credit for in his speeches?
He claimed personal credit for the peasants’ seizure of land and the massive anti-war demonstration in Petrograd.
What was the outcome of the first ‘All-Russian Congress of Soviets’ on 3 June?
It passed a vote of confidence in the Provisional Government by 543 votes to 126.
What happened during the June demonstrations?
Bolshevik banners dominated the march, showing their growing influence.
What occurred during the July Days?
Sailors at the Kronstadt naval base organized an armed demonstration using Bolshevik slogans.
What was Lenin’s position during the July Days demonstrations?
He could neither condemn the action nor give full support, fearing a premature revolution.
