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Russia 1917-1991 > Government > Flashcards

Government Flashcards

1
Q

What was the social class of Russia during Tsarist period

A 
Ruling Class: 0.5%
Upper Class: 12%
Commercial Class: 1.5%
Working Class: 4% 
Peasants: 82%
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2
Q

What group were opposed to Tsarism

A

Social Revolutionaries
Mensheviks
Bolsheviks

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3
Q

Social Revolutionaries

A

Formed in 1902
First to announce they disliked the Tsars
Their actions considered violent and aggressive
Would start riots and protests
Tsars used their army to defeat the SRs

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4
Q

Mensheviks

A 
Formed in 1903
Millions of members
More concerned about informing people
Focuses on trade unions
Mass party without leader
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5
Q

Bolsheviks

A

Started revolution immediately
Formed in 1903
Small party of intellectuals
Lenin as leader

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6
Q

What was the February Revolution

A

Defeat by Germany sparked off a revolution in Russia
Workers in Petersburg went on strikes and peasants were revolted
Tsarists abandoned by their army meaning their abdication was on 1st March
Russia governed by Soviets- workers council

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7
Q

What problems did Bolsheviks face after October Revolution

A

Lack of popular support outside Petersburg
Continued involvement in WW1
Threat of nationalist movement within Russia (different cultures)

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8
Q

Why did Bolsheviks seize power

A

Because of the all the revolutionary parties they were the least supporters group and never really gained power

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9
Q

How many members did the Bolsheviks have in their party

A

300,00, mostly in Moscow and Petersburg

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10
Q

Who were the most popular parties

A

Social Revolutionaries and Mensheviks were more popular with the people, however Bolsheviks refused to share power

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11
Q

What occurred during the elections for a new Constituent Assembly

A

SRs gained 17m votes
Bolsheviks gained 10m votes
Undermined Lenin and made him look weak

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12
Q

How did Lenin and the Bolshevik party destroy political opposition

A

Banned all opposition newspapers(decree on press)
Shut down the Constituent Assembly
Banned all political parties from political activity
Bolsheviks remained as only political party after 1921
Lenin used terror against opposition eg-arrest

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13
Q

What was the aim of the February Revolution

A

Take Russia out of WW1, they did this by signing the Brest-Litovsk Treaty March 3 1918

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14
Q

What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

A 
A peace deal with Germany which meant that Germany was able to take 25% of Russian population, 35% of its farmland.
This gained the support from the peasants but also caused Russia's upper class to oppose them
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15
Q

Who opposed the Bolsheviks

A

Conservatives
SRs/ Mensheviks
National minorities
Foreign allies such as Britain & France

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16
Q

What to key points triggered the Civil War

A

Dissolution of Constituent Assembly

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

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17
Q

What aided the Bolsheviks victory during the Civil War

A

Trotsky and red guards- Trotsky was commissar for war 1918 and introduced forced conscription

Economic policy such as the War Communism

Opposition weakness- wanted Tsarism, poorly organised, whites were divided with no real leader

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18
Q

What was the significance of the Civil War

A

Intense demand of war allowed Bolshviks to take control of economy and state
Created highly centralised system in which Lenin and party had power over everything
Developed use of terror & violence against enemies
Created a hardened and experienced generation of Bolsheviks who overcame overwhelming odds

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19
Q

What was the Tambov Rising

A

1920-21
40,000 peasants waged guerrilla war against Bolsheviks
Disrupted food supplies to cities and cut off railways
Bolsheviks responded brutally with poisoned gas

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20
Q

What was the Kronstadt Rebellion

A

Occurred in 1921
10,000 sailors at naval port mutinies, previously most loyal supporters of Bolsheviks
Bolsheviks attacked across frown ice which resulted in 10,000 deaths

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21
Q

How many members did the Bolshevik party have in 1921 and what did Lenin do

A

Increased from 300,000 to 750,000 in 1921
The massive size made the party unruly so Lenin had to tighten his grip on leadership, announced Ban of Faction 1921
This meant that if you disagreed with Lenin you would be expelled from party

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22
Q

State

A

A nation or territory considered as an organised political community under one government

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23
Q

Politburo

A 
Most important body of government/party
Had membership of 7/9 elite Bolsheviks 
Key member include:
-Lenin
-Stalin
-Trostky
-Kamenev
-Zinoviev
-Bukharin
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24
Q

Centralise

A

Concentrate control of an activity or organisation under their authority

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25
Q

What key factors were used in centralising party control

A

Soviet constitution: 1922 Lenin renamed USSR to Russia, federal states made of autonomous regions governing

Nomenklatura: a list created of names for a reason, 300,000 members in 1917 to 1m in 1924

Use of terror

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26
Q

Why was Russia at an advantage with the new Soviet Constitution of 1924

A

Russia made up of 90% of land area of USSR and 72% of its population so they had more power than national republics eg- Georgia
Almost 75% of CP were Russian, national minorities were always outnumbered in votes/meetings

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27
Q

When was Lenins death

A

1924 he suffered several strokes which paralysed him, confined to a wheelchair and could barely talk

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28
Q

What years did the Struggle for Power occur

A

1924-1928

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29
Q

What positions did Stalin hold

A
  • Commissar for Nationalities after Oct Rev
  • Head of Ogburo 1919
  • General Secretary 1922
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30
Q

What Stalins position as Gen Sec allow him to do

A

Drawing up agendas and papers for politburo, gave him control over what was being discussed and what information members received, only topics that were in Stalins interest

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31
Q

What did Stalins position of party membership allow him to do

A

Per,titled him to get rid of opposition such as Trostky and his supporter (students and soldiers) and pack the party with his supporters such as Molotov and Kalininz

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32
Q

What factors helped Stalin defeat his rivals

A

Stalin was underestimated with his small positions compared to Trotsky
Pragmatics, he used political alliances with Zin&Kam
Political intrigue where he tricked Trotsky not attending Lenins funeral and creating a negative image for him
Policies, supported popular ideas such as Socialism in One Country to gain support

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33
Q

What key factors contributed to the outbreak of the Purges

A

Ryutin Platform: document criticising Stalin
Stalins Personality: paranoid and jealous
Congress of Victors: attempt to remove Stalin
Murder of Kyrov: former member of Politburo

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34
Q

Why would Stalin rather kill his opponents than expel/disgrace them

A

Deeply suspicious of others and ultra paranoid; suicide of his wife made him feel that everyone would betray him. He was also vindictive and vengeful due to holding grudges against anyone who wronged him

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35
Q

Why did Stalin have to get rid of the Old Bolsheviks

A

Limited abilities, idealised and viewed himself as a hero of the revolution. He thought he was a genius who was the only that could transform Russia into a socialist paradise. Keeping the Old Bolsheviks meant they could undermine the view of him being a saviour

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36
Q

What was the Ryutin Platform

A

Martemyan Ryutin circulated a document around the CP which was critical on Stalins policies. He was arrested and his supporters expelled from the party, however they were cleared of their crimes and re-admitted. In 1932 Ryutin urged Stalins overthrow as leader, he was arrested again and sentenced to death in 1937

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37
Q

Congress of Victors

A
  • 17th Party Congress in 1934 was to vote new members
  • Kyrov gained more votes than Stalin for Gen. Sec position
  • Old Bolsheviks urged Kyrov to stand election as Gen Sec but refused
  • Stalin demoted to Secretary of Equal Rank with Kyrov
  • Stalin position under threat
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38
Q

Murder of Kyrov

A

Asassinated in December 1934, many believed Stalin ordered it

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39
Q

What benefits did Kyrov’s murder give Stalin

A

-freed him from his most dangerous rival
-allowed him to blame others
-game him an excuse to purge anyone who opposed him
Because of this Stalin issued the Decree against Terrorist Acts 1934 which gave NKVD unrestricted power to hunt down anyone Stalin believed to have been involved

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40
Q

How many people affected by the Show Trials

A

8m arrested
1.5m executed
8m sent to labour camps ( 2m died)
About 1,000 people dying each day

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41
Q

Who were the main victims of the purges

A

NKVD: many had been members of the Bolshevik Chekha; Stalin believed they hadn’t purged enough
Army: generals appointed by Trotsky; Stalin wanted complete control
Relatives of the purged: guilty by association

42
Q

Who was Yagoda replaced by

A

Nikolai Yezhovschina

43
Q

How did the purges help Stalin strengthen his control

A
  • Expansion of the NKVD
  • Removal of all opposition
  • Promotion of loyal supporters to Stalin
  • Created a personal dictatorship
44
Q

How different was Lenin to Stalin

A

Lenin created a dictatorship of the Proletariat whereas Stalin created a personal dictatorship
Lenin used violence and terror to protect the party and the revolution in a time of chaos and civil war, compared to Stalin who used it promote his own position where communists were no longer under threat.

45
Q

From what years did Stalin rule

A

1928-1953

46
Q

What was the difference from the old Bolshevik party compared to the party during 1930s

A

In 1924 the party consisted of educated and powerful members but by 1930s only Stalin remained, when he packed the politburo with those who wouldn’t oppose him such as Molotov and Kalinin

47
Q

How many times would the Politburo meet

A

During 1920s: once a week

During 1930s: 9 times a year

48
Q

Who was Rychagov

A

Rychagov complained to Stalin about the quality of the Soviet Air Force at one meeting and Stalin executed him, the reason why the Air Force was so bad was due to Stalin having killed most of the soldiers (probably because of Trotsky)

49
Q

Why was the Soviet Constitution of 1936 not democratic

A

Only communist party members could be elected, known as democratic centralism
Council of Ministers acted as a rubber stamping institution, meaning they would always say yes to Stalin and not oppose him
The purges of 1930s removed all political opposition

50
Q

How did Russia defeating Germany in 1945 strengthen Stalins power

A

Acted as a propaganda symbol for Russia against the nazis. They also set up powerful State Defence Committee (GKO) manage and control economy and war production
Victories at battles of Moscow(1941) Stalingrad(1943) and Berlin(1945) boosted his prestige as a war leader
Stalin regarded himself as the saviour of the country

51
Q

What were the post war purges

A 
Leningrad Affair(1949): Stalin believed Russia's 2nd city was becoming a rival to his power base in Moscow, 100 shot dead & 200 arrested
Mengrelian Affair(1951): Beria became an ambitious party member, Stalin had his allies purged in Georgia which left him humiliated and without supporters
52
Q

Who was Khrushchev

A

Reformer, became General Secretary from 1953-64 and wanted to improve Russia

53
Q

Who was Brezhnev

A

Conservative who wanted to keep things as they were and defended the Status Quo (current state of affairs)

54
Q

What was the secret speech

A

Khrushchev gave a radical speech at the 20th party conference in 1956 which criticised Stalin:

  • abandoning the revolution by creating personal dictatorship
  • Robbed CP of its role by not sharing power
  • Becoming GenSec without Lenin’s blessing, released testament
  • Creating genocidal policies such as the great terror
55
Q

Why did Khrushchev give this secret speech

A

Beginning of De-Stalinisation. Wanted to reform the USSR without admitting the CP or revolution in the wrong and by doing so used Stalin as a scapegoat for Russia’s problems

56
Q

Why was the secret speech only published in 1988 and not 1956

A

Because he was trying to convince the members of the CP and not the public as they were not his target audience

57
Q

What was Social Legality

A

Doing something in terms that it is legal, such as not using terror in leading a country

58
Q

What did De-Stalinisation consist of

A
  • Not celebrating Stalins birthday
  • End of terror regime, NKVD were put under control
  • Labour camps removed from NKVD control
  • 2m prisoners released
  • No more purges within party
59
Q

What was the Anti-Group Party

A

Those who opposed Khrushchev and supported Stalin. Malenkov was an eg. as he persuaded Politburo to remove him. Only Central Committee could force him to resign, Khrushchev packed politburo with allies and demoted Malenkov to Head of Electricity (social legality)

60
Q

Why would Stalin rather kill his opponents than expel/disgrace them

A

Deeply suspicious of others and ultra paranoid; suicide of his wife made him feel that everyone would betray him. He was also vindictive and vengeful due to holding grudges against anyone who wronged him

61
Q

Why did Stalin have to get rid of the Old Bolsheviks

A

Limited abilities, idealised and viewed himself as a hero of the revolution. He thought he was a genius who was the only that could transform Russia into a socialist paradise. Keeping the Old Bolsheviks meant they could undermine the view of him being a saviour

62
Q

What was the Ryutin Platform

A

Martemyan Ryutin circulated a document around the CP which was critical on Stalins policies. He was arrested and his supporters expelled from the party, however they were cleared of their crimes and re-admitted. In 1932 Ryutin urged Stalins overthrow as leader, he was arrested again and sentenced to death in 1937

63
Q

Congress of Victors

A
  • 17th Party Congress in 1934 was to vote new members
  • Kyrov gained more votes than Stalin for Gen. Sec position
  • Old Bolsheviks urged Kyrov to stand election as Gen Sec but refused
  • Stalin demoted to Secretary of Equal Rank with Kyrov
  • Stalin position under threat
64
Q

Murder of Kyrov

A

Asassinated in December 1934, many believed Stalin ordered it

65
Q

What benefits did Kyrov’s murder give Stalin

A

-freed him from his most dangerous rival
-allowed him to blame others
-game him an excuse to purge anyone who opposed him
Because of this Stalin issued the Decree against Terrorist Acts 1934 which gave NKVD unrestricted power to hunt down anyone Stalin believed to have been involved

66
Q

How many people affected by the Show Trials

A

8m arrested
1.5m executed
8m sent to labour camps ( 2m died)
About 1,000 people dying each day

67
Q

Who were the main victims of the purges

A

NKVD: many had been members of the Bolshevik Chekha; Stalin believed they hadn’t purged enough
Army: generals appointed by Trotsky; Stalin wanted complete control
Relatives of the purged: guilty by association

68
Q

Who was Yagoda replaced by

A

Nikolai Yezhovschina

69
Q

How did the purges help Stalin strengthen his control

A
  • Expansion of the NKVD
  • Removal of all opposition
  • Promotion of loyal supporters to Stalin
  • Created a personal dictatorship
70
Q

How different was Lenin to Stalin

A

Lenin created a dictatorship of the Proletariat whereas Stalin created a personal dictatorship
Lenin used violence and terror to protect the party and the revolution in a time of chaos and civil war, compared to Stalin who used it promote his own position where communists were no longer under threat.

71
Q

From what years did Stalin rule

A

1928-1953

72
Q

What was the difference from the old Bolshevik party compared to the party during 1930s

A

In 1924 the party consisted of educated and powerful members but by 1930s only Stalin remained, when he packed the politburo with those who wouldn’t oppose him such as Molotov and Kalinin

73
Q

How many times would the Politburo meet

A

During 1920s: once a week

During 1930s: 9 times a year

74
Q

Who was Rychagov

A

Rychagov complained to Stalin about the quality of the Soviet Air Force at one meeting and Stalin executed him, the reason why the Air Force was so bad was due to Stalin having killed most of the soldiers (probably because of Trotsky)

75
Q

Why was the Soviet Constitution of 1936 not democratic

A

Only communist party members could be elected, known as democratic centralism
Council of Ministers acted as a rubber stamping institution, meaning they would always say yes to Stalin and not oppose him
The purges of 1930s removed all political opposition

76
Q

How did Russia defeating Germany in 1945 strengthen Stalins power

A

Acted as a propaganda symbol for Russia against the nazis. They also set up powerful State Defence Committee (GKO) manage and control economy and war production
Victories at battles of Moscow(1941) Stalingrad(1943) and Berlin(1945) boosted his prestige as a war leader
Stalin regarded himself as the saviour of the country

77
Q

What were the post war purges

A 
Leningrad Affair(1949): Stalin believed Russia's 2nd city was becoming a rival to his power base in Moscow, 100 shot dead & 200 arrested
Mengrelian Affair(1951): Beria became an ambitious party member, Stalin had his allies purged in Georgia which left him humiliated and without supporters
78
Q

Who was Khrushchev

A

Reformer, became General Secretary from 1953-64 and wanted to improve Russia

79
Q

Who was Brezhnev

A

Conservative who wanted to keep things as they were and defended the Status Quo (current state of affairs)

80
Q

What was the secret speech

A

Khrushchev gave a radical speech at the 20th party conference in 1956 which criticised Stalin:

  • abandoning the revolution by creating personal dictatorship
  • Robbed CP of its role by not sharing power
  • Becoming GenSec without Lenin’s blessing, released testament
  • Creating genocidal policies such as the great terror
81
Q

Why did Khrushchev give this secret speech

A

Beginning of De-Stalinisation. Wanted to reform the USSR without admitting the CP or revolution in the wrong and by doing so used Stalin as a scapegoat for Russia’s problems

82
Q

Why was the secret speech only published in 1988 and not 1956

A

Because he was trying to convince the members of the CP and not the public as they were not his target audience

83
Q

What was Social Legality

A

Doing something in terms that it is legal, such as not using terror in leading a country

84
Q

What did De-Stalinisation consist of

A
  • Not celebrating Stalins birthday
  • End of terror regime, NKVD were put under control
  • Labour camps removed from NKVD control
  • 2m prisoners released
  • No more purges within party
85
Q

What was the Anti-Group Party

A

Those who opposed Khrushchev and supported Stalin. Malenkov was an eg. as he persuaded Politburo to remove him. Only Central Committee could force him to resign, Khrushchev packed politburo with allies and demoted Malenkov to Head of Electricity (social legality)

86
Q

How much did the membership of the CP increase by in 1964

A

From 7m in 1954 to 11m in 1964
Most members were peasants (60%)
No fixed terms for senior positions 2/3 members from politburo replaced 1957-61
Split the CP: 1/2 dealt with agriculture and 1/2 death with industry

87
Q

What factors forced Khrushchev to resign

A

-Economic policies failed
-Backed down the nuclear missile crisis (made him look weak)
-Breached with Maos Communist China
The main cause however were his reforms
He resigned with pension leave, public thought he left due to illness and if they knew real reason they would think it’s less democratic

88
Q

What did Brezhnev during his early periods as General Secretary

A

Reversing Khrushchevs De-Stalinisation

89
Q

What did Brezhnevs Restoration mean

A

Restoring the party. This meant he would go back to centralisation by giving back decision-making to central ministers and away from local Soviets. This reunited the CP into a whole where they were not put into halves like they were under Khrushchev

90
Q

What was the Stability of the Cadres

A

Brezhnev attempted to slow down the rate of De-Stalinisation and win the support of the party

91
Q

What was the Trust in Cadres

A

The removal of the time limit someone could be a member in the CP

92
Q

How much had the CP membership increased by 1980

A

17m, the CP was seen as the main body of employment and promotion

93
Q

What was the 23rd Party Congress known as

A

Congress of Silence, everybody was happy due to no opposition

94
Q

Oligarchy

A

Rule by a small elite who govern a country or organisation in their own interests

95
Q

Nepotism

A

Promotional friends and family. Under Brezhnev, the party relied on promoting with friends and family, especially Brezhnev who would ensure promotion for his old colleagues in Ukraine

96
Q

Challenges faced due to Nepotism and Oligarchy

A
  • Stifled innovation and change, created stagnation
  • Previous promotion by experience, climbing ranks in different ranks in USSR
  • Spread new ideas and gain better understanding of the country and unable to tackle serious challenges
97
Q

What was the leadership like during early 1980s

A

Group filled with elderly, old-fashioned and out-of-touch party members.
Average age of politburo members in 1919: 39 1982: 70
Due to illness, politburo meetings reduced from hours to 40mins

98
Q

Who was Brezhnevs successor

A

Yuri Andropov, spent most of his life on kidney dialysis machine and died 2 years later 1984

99
Q

Who was Andropovs successor

A

Konstantin Cherenkov, lasted 1 year and died in 1985

100
Q

Gerontocracy

A

Rule of elder people

Russia 1917-1991 (4 decks)

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