How did the Bolsheviks gain power, and how did they consolidate their rule Flashcards

Question

What did Lenin’s November Decrees promise?

Answer 1

.Peace with Germany . 8 hour day and 48 hour week for workers . Land given to peasants . Non-Bolshevik newspapers banned.

Answer 2

. The Bolsheviks seized control of Petrograd . The Red Guards stormed the Winter Palace . Once inside the Winter Palace, the Bolsheviks arrested members of the government . Kerensky fled Petrograd

Answer 3

. Lenin returns on the 23rd . He Convinces more cautious Bolsheviks that they should seize power . Trotsky organised the take-over of the city . Newspapers and Bolshevik leaflets advertised that it was going to happen

Answer 4

Reds (Bolsheviks), Whites (opponents of Bolshevism, including Tsarists, nobles, Mensheviks and SRs, supported by Britain, France, USA and Japan) and Greens (independent groups of nationalists, peasants and bandits).

Answer 5

. Lacked unity (peoples aims contradicted others) (some wanted the Tsar back; others wanted a constiuitunal governemtn or evolutionary change) . Whites were scattered around the central area- This made communications difficult . Discontent within the whites (commanders were cruel and treated their men with disrespect) . Generals did not trust each other- lead to them unable to co-ordinate attacks which enabled the reds to pick them off one by one . Whites looked like a proxy (weakened support as the red were fighting for their aims not the wants of foreign power) . Whites made it clear that they would restore the land to the old landlords- made losing support inevitable . White atrocities against civilians were widespread. Over 100,000 civilian execution in Finland alone

Answer 6

. Unified-1 aim with was to stay in power strengthened reds as everyone was fighting for the same/only cause . Reds portrayed themselves as defenders of Russia . Peasant made up most of the armies on both sides . However in the end the Reds had more peasant support than the whites as the reds said the peasant could keep the land

Answer 7

. Reds held the central area of Western Russia- this area was rich in industrial centres that produced munition and war supplies . Had control of the railway lines that connected Petrograd and Moscow to the rest of the city

Answer 8

. He built up the red army from nothing, introducing conscription for men over 18 years of age . He brought in nearly 50,000 experienced former Tsarits officers and appointed political Commissars(fanatical Bolsheviks) to each unit of men to make sure the officers and soldiers carried out their orders . He was personally very courageous. He had a special train which took him and his army of hand-picked soldiers to the places where fighting was the hardest.

Answer 9

. Lenin set up the checka (December 1917) . Lenin issued the November decrees . Held elections to choose a Constituent assembly . December decrees

Answer 10

. Liberal party, the cadets banned . All factories to be put under the control of workers committees . All banks taken by the government . The army to be more democratic- officers to be elected, no ranks or saluting . Church land to be confiscated by the state . Divorce made easier and marriages do not have to be in churches

Answer 11

Sailors at the Kronstadt naval base.

Answer 12

The measures the Bolsheviks adopted during the Civil War to share out Russia’s wealth and keep the towns and Red Army well fed and equipped.

Answer 13

The New Economic Policy (NEP)

Answer 14

. All large factorise were taken over by the government . Production was planned and organised by the government . Discipline for workers was strict and strikers could be shot . Surplus food was requisitioned . Resisters were shot . Food was rationed . Private and Free enterprise became illegal- all production and trade was controlled by the state

Answer 15

. Lenin desperately needed food for workers . Peasant unwilling to sell grain for worthless cash . Units of Cheka therefore sent out to seize food . Hoarders were punished severely . Peasant resisted, leading to bitter struggle . Many peasant produced less grain

Answer 16

. Encouraged foreign trade (Anglo-Soviet trade agreement in 1921 market the beginning of increased trade with the West which gave a great boost to the Soviet economy) . Production improved reaching pre-1914/war levels by 1926 . Some peasant became quite rich buying up land and animals

Answer 17

. State took control of industry, telling factories what to produce . Factories had been handed over to workers' committees in 1917, but not ran well . Money worthless (Ruble of 1920 1% of 1917 value) . By 1920, wages paid in goods not money

Answer 18

. To put communist theories into practice by redistributing resources and wealth . To ensure victory in the civil war by keeping towns and the Red Army supplied

Answer 19

. By 1921, Russian economy was in ruins . Industrial production had fallen disastrously under W.C . Cities in chaos: gangs of orphaned children roamed the streets, robbery common, stolen goods appeared on thieves' markers . Agriculture collapsed- distribution of war and grain requisitioning led to low harvests. Peasants saw little point in growing food . In 1921, even less grain grown, leading to horrendous famine, killing at last 5 million people . Massive international aid operation made - USA played a massive role . Lead to opposition to Lenin's rule

Answer 20

. Peasant were allowed to sell surplus grain for profit . Peasant paid tax on what they produced . Small factories were handed back into private ownership . Traders could buy and sell goods . Grain requisitioning was stopped . Larger industries e.g. coal, steel and transport, remained under state control. Some larger factories were allowed to sell their products

Answer 21

Lenin wanted to put an electric light in every home to replace oil lamps and candles.

Answer 22

. The peasant found prices for manufactured goods high and were unwilling, after 1925, to sell their grain for money . Many peasant remained poor and continued to use backwards methods of farming . Levels of unemployment remained a serious problem, particularly among young people . High crime rate associated with this . Many people were angry about the profiteering of the Nepmen and the growth of a class of rich businessmen