Initial Consolidation Flashcards
What political issue split Bolshevik figures such as Zinoviev and Kamenev from Lenin?
The issue of whether to lead a socialist coalition of the Soviet or as a single party
Why was the Constituent Assembly an initial concern for the Bolshevik party?
Since elections for the CA were due to take place in November 1917 and it was clear the Bolsheviks were not going to win a majority in the elections. This would delegitimise their right to rule.
What was the name of the organisation set up to govern Russia? What gave it an air of legitimacy?
Sovnarkom - it was created in the name of the All-Russian Congress of Soviets and its members were chosen by the central committee of the Congress of Soviets.
What type of democratic approach did Lenin adopt? What did he say to justify this?
Democratic Centralism
Lenin argued that the Bolsheviks were the only ones sufficiently educated in Marxism and revolution and that they knew the way to achieve a truly socialist society
How did Sovnarkom deal with the un-cooperative Civil Service?
The Senior Officers were arrested and Junior Officers were promoted in their places.
What was the decree on land?
The decree on land was that private ownership of land was abolished – land was to be distributed by the local commune
When did Lenin announce plans to collectivise agriculture?
February 1918
What were the problems with Sovnarkom’s handling of the land issue?
- Peasants who received their allocated land from the commune often treated it in a private manner, instead of working as a collective
- The distribution of land broke up larger farms which had economies of scale
- Lenin’s announcement to collectivise agriculture and the forced requisitioning of grain prompted more subsistence farming
How many peasant uprisings were there in European Russia between July and November 1918?
100
What was the decree on worker’s control? Which approach contradicted this?
Transferred power of the running of factories to factory committees, instead of bourgeois managers.
The policy of state capitalism however acknowledged that the bourgeoisie would still be needed during the transition period to socialism due to their experience and skill
How much did industrial output fall between 1917 and 1918?
2/3
What was the name of the Supreme Council of the National Economy set up in December 1917? What did it take over and do?
Vesenkha
Took over control of heavy industries (oil, steel and cal) and banks. Nationalised the railways and cancelled all foreign debts. Provided more central control over key parts of the economy and reduced the chaos on the transport system.
What did State Capitalism mean in practice?
Recognising the importance of the bourgeoisie; accepting that salaries would continue to vary based on skill and position; accepting some business would remain in private hands and that the factory committees would have to have a more supervisory role
How many Bolshevik party members were there in October 1917 and August 1918?
October 1917 = 40,000 members August 1918 = 7,000 members
When was the Cheka set up? What did they do and who ran it?
Cheka set up in December 1917. Felix Dzerzhinsky ran it. They had unlimited powers of arrest, detention and torture so sought to seek out any opponents to the Bolshevik regime
