Divisions and contenders for power: Bukharin and the Right

Question 1

What was the partnership between Bukharin and Stalin known as?

Answer 1

the “Duumvirate”

Question 2

What did the rank-and-file Bolsheviks regard Bukharin as?

Answer 2

both impressive and likeable

Question 3

What did Lenin call Bukharin?

Answer 3

“the darling of the party”

Question 4

Was Bukharin popular?

Answer 4

yes

Question 5

What was Bukharin regarded the best at in the party?

Answer 5

regarded the best theoretician

Question 6

What was Bukharin expert in? (2)

Answer 6

• economics

- agriculture

Question 7

Why was Bukharins expert knowledge on agriculture a strength?

Answer 7

as this was a time when there was major concern about the peasantry

Question 8

What was a weakness of the fact that Bukharin tried to remain on good terms with everyone?

Answer 8

he had no power base

Question 9

Why was underestimating Stain a weakness of Bukharin?

Answer 9

as he could not see that he was one of Stalin’s targets due to his popularity in the party

Question 10

What was a major tactical mistake of Bukharin’s ?

Answer 10

leaving it too late to make an alliance with Zinoviev and Kamenev

Question 11

What was Rykov’s political position?

Answer 11

he was on the moderate wing of the party

Question 12

Who was Rykov more aligned to in his views?

Answer 12

Buhkarin and Tomsky

Question 13

What was Rykov’s position in the Party?

Answer 13

Chairman of the government

Question 14

What was Rykov labelled as well as Kamenev and Zinoviev?

Answer 14

an “old Bolshevik”

Question 15

How did Rykov show his administrative ability?

Answer 15

in the implementation of war communism during the Civil War and in managing to switch policy to the NEP

Question 16

What position was Rykov chosen for in the Sovnarkom which gave his extensive support?

Answer 16

Deputy Chairman in 1923 and then Chairman in 1924

Question 17

Amoung the moderates of the party, who was Rykov overshadowed by in terms of ability and popularity?

Answer 17

Bukharin

Question 18

What role did Rykov have in the collective leadership?

Answer 18

he held a largely ceremonial role and lacked a power base

Question 19

What was one of Rykov’s unpopular policies which made him acquire intense opposition from sections of the party?

Answer 19

his policy of putting heavy taxes on vodka

Question 20

Alike Kamenev and Zinoviev what was held against Rykov ?

Answer 20

the fact that he had argued against Lenin over revolutionary tactics in 1917

Question 21

Who was Tomsky son of?

Answer 21

son of a factory worker

Question 22

Along with Kamenev, Zinoviev and Rykov what was Tomsky labelled in the party?

Answer 22

an “old Bolshevik”

Question 23

Who did Tomsky have long associations with?

Answer 23

Trade Unions

Question 24

What was Tomsky’s political views ?

Answer 24

moderate wing

Question 25

What made Tomsky popular within the Party?

Answer 25

his working-class origins

Question 26

What role did he have for the Trade Unions?

Answer 26

role of Chief Spokesman

Question 27

From what yer was Tomsky General Secretary of Red International of the Trade Union?

Answer 27

1920

Question 28

When was Tomsky elected to the Central Committee and Politburo?

Answer 28

1922

Question 29

Who was Tomsky a natural ally too as a moderate of the party? (2)

Answer 29

Bukharin and Rykov

Question 30

Who did Tomsky have intense hostility towards?

Answer 30

Trotsky

Question 31

How did Tomsky help in handing massive power to Stalin with Rykov and Bukharin?

Answer 31

He helped in purging left wingers from the Party in 1926

Question 32

What power base made Tomsky a target for Stalin’s jealousy?

Answer 32

His power base in the trade unions

Question 33

How was Tomsky’s support for the NEP going to be a weakness?

Answer 33

due to the grain crisis of 1927 which hit the economy