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HTST 200 > Lecture 06 Bolshevik Revolution > Flashcards

Lecture 06 Bolshevik Revolution Flashcards

1
Q

What were the questions surrounding Russian identity in the 19th century?

A

Debate on whether Russia was European, Asian, or distinctly Russian.

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2
Q

What were the security dimensions of Russian expansion?

A

Russia’s large contiguous land mass and numerous neighbors, some of whom were aggressive, necessitated expansion for security.

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2
Q

What was a constant feature of Russian political and social life from the mid-15th century forward?

A

Expansion of the Russian Empire.

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3
Q

What were the economic implications of Russian expansion?

A

It left Russia with an abundance of natural resources and raw materials.

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4
Q

What was the “nationalities question” in the Russian Empire?

A

How to address identity in a large multinational, multiethnic, and multireligious empire.

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4
Q

How did the tsars of the mid-19th century address the “nationalities question”?

A

By suppressing other identities and emphasizing “Russian-ness.”

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5
Q

What were major events in 19th century Russia?

A

-Napoleonic Wars (1805-1815)

-Decembrist Revolt (1825)

-Crimean War (1854-1856)

-Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)

-October Manifesto

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5
Q

What characterized the ideology of the Tsarist state?

A

Firm autocracy that influenced political and economic development, alternating periods of great reform with stagnation.

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6
Q

What was the significance of the Crimean War (1854-1856)?

A

A military and political disaster for Russia, with European powers siding with the Ottoman Empire against Russia.

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6
Q

What was the Official Nationalities Doctrine introduced by Tsar Nicholas I in 1833?

A

-Orthodoxy

-Autocracy

-“Russian-ness”

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7
Q

What were the “Great Reforms” of Alexander II (r. 1855-1881)?

A

Reforms aimed to modernize Russia while preserving its status, driven by fear of peasant rebellion and public support for emancipation.

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7
Q

How did Marxism influence George Pelkhanov (1856-1918)?

A

He sought to apply Marxism to Russia with minimal adaptation, implying a prominent role for the state.

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7
Q

What was the Emancipation of the Serfs (1861 & 1864)?

A

Freed 50 million serfs, theoretically creating a mobile labor force to aid industrialization. In practice, serfs were not fully freed, and land redistribution stalled.

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8
Q

What were zemstvoes, created in 1864?

A

Local institutions focusing on communal issues, providing an outlet for the emerging middle and professional classes to express themselves.

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8
Q

Who was the last tsar of Russia and what were his years of reign?

A

Nicholas II (r. 1894-1917).

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9
Q

Why was Nicholas II considered unsuited to be tsar?

A

He was not temperamentally suited for the role, particularly in the Russian autocratic system.

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10
Q

How did Rasputin enter the Romanov court?

A

Rasputin entered the Romanov court due to his reputation as a healer who could help Tsarevich Alexei, who suffered from hemophilia.

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10
Q

What was Nicholas II’s belief about his role as tsar?

A

He believed the tsar served as the father of all the people.

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10
Q

Who was Nicholas II’s wife, and what was her influence on him?

A

German-born Alexandra, who converted to Orthodoxy and pushed Nicholas to take a more proactive stance, believing that Russia and its people “crave the sting of the whip.”

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11
Q

What were the effects of rapid industrialization and urbanization in Russia?

A

They led to increased demonstrations along class, ethnic, and religious lines.

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11
Q

What was the Khodynka Tragedy, and when did it occur?

A

On May 30, 1896, during a public festival marking Nicholas II’s coronation, a rumor about insufficient gifts caused a stampede at Khodynka Field, killing nearly 1,400 people.

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11
Q

What was the October Manifesto (1905)?

A

Following advice from Sergei Witte, Nicholas II signed the October Manifesto granting reforms, including the creation of an elected national Duma.

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12
Q

What was the significance of the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)?

A

It was a military, economic, and political failure for Russia, leading to further political demonstrations, including a strike by industrial workers in St. Petersburg.

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12
Q

What happened on Bloody Sunday, January 22, 1905?

A

Father Georgi Gapon led a peaceful protest to present a petition signed by 150,000 workers to the tsar at the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, but soldiers were ordered to disperse the crowd, resulting in a massacre.

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12
Q

What were the demands in the petition carried by the Bloody Sunday protestors?

A

-Political and economic reforms, including:

-Freedom of the press

-A progressive income tax

-Equality before the law

-Land reform

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13
Q

What did the Bloody Sunday protestors carry to symbolize their reverence for the tsar?

A

Religious icons and portraits of the tsar and tsarina.

13
Q

Why was the October Manifesto ultimately ineffective?

A

Nicholas II did not believe in the changes and rescinded the Duma a few months later.

14
Q

What were the main causes of the Romanov dynasty’s fall?

A

The fall was caused by both the First World War and growing public perceptions of corruption within the Romanov family, especially due to their attachment to Rasputin and political mismanagement.

14
Q

Who was Grigori Rasputin, and what role did he play in the Romanov family?

A

Rasputin was a faith healer who gained influence with the Romanovs, particularly due to his ability to predict the episodes of tsarevich Alexei’s hemophilia. He advised them on both personal and political matters.

15
Q

Why was Rasputin’s influence over the Romanovs controversial?

A

Rasputin’s influence was controversial because he was not only advising the Romanovs on policy but also because of rumors about his behavior and the growing public perception of his control over the royal family.

16
Q

What happened during Rasputin’s murder in December 1916?

A

Rasputin was murdered by Prince Felix Usupov, a member of the Romanov family. The botched murder served as a symbol of the dynasty’s failure, showing they couldn’t even handle his death correctly.

16
Q

What happened in the Russian Empire during World War I under Nicholas II?

A

While Nicholas II led the Russian army, the day-to-day administration of the regime fell to Alexandra. The domestic and political problems worsened, and the war compounded these issues.

17
Q

How did Alexandra’s German heritage contribute to the downfall of the Romanovs?

A

Whisper campaigns about Alexandra’s German heritage, coupled with her alleged improprieties with Rasputin, fueled public resentment and were seen as symbols of the corruption of the Romanov family.

18
Q

What rumors spread about Rasputin’s influence in Russia?

A

Rumors spread that Rasputin was the real power behind Tsar Nicholas II, manipulating both the tsar and tsarina on political matters.

18
Q

Who was Grigori Rasputin and what was his belief system?

A

Rasputin was part of an obscure religious sect that believed spirituality was achieved through sexual exhaustion, and that sin could be eradicated by committing as much sin as possible.

19
Q

What happened in Petrograd in March 1917?

A

In March 1917, massive demonstrations broke out in Petrograd against the autocracy, starting with a women workers’ protest for bread, and escalating as factory workers joined in.

20
Q

What was the significance of March 12, 1917, in Petrograd?

A

On March 12, the Petrograd garrison refused to break up the protests, which had grown to over 100,000 people. This was a key moment in the downfall of the tsarist regime.

21
Q

After Nicholas II abdicated, who took political power in Russia?

A

After the abdication, political power was divided between the Provisional Government, led by Prince Georgy Lvov, and the Petrograd Soviet.

21
Q

When did Tsar Nicholas II abdicate the throne?

A

Nicholas II abdicated on March 15, 1917, as a result of the pressure from the protests and military support for the demonstrators.

22
Q

What was the stance of the Provisional Government after the abdication of Nicholas II?

A

The Provisional Government agreed to continue fighting in World War I, though it was clear that the Soviet also held authority and influence.

22
Q

What was the significance of Order No. 1 issued by the Petrograd Soviet?

A

Order No. 1 (March 1, 1917) instructed soldiers and sailors to only obey orders that were countersigned by the Soviet, establishing the Soviet’s authority over military decisions.

22
Q

What event sparked the February 1917 demonstrations in Petrograd?

A

Factory workers in Petrograd initiated demonstrations, which contributed to the larger uprising leading to the collapse of the tsarist regime.

23
Q

Who headed the Provisional Government and what was its authority?

A

Alexander Kerensky (Socialist Revolutionary) headed the Provisional Government, which represented the elite of Russian society and held de jure (legal) authority.

23
Q

What were Lenin’s goals in the “April Theses”?

A

Lenin aimed to appeal to soldiers and present the Bolsheviks as the only alternative to the Provisional Government, while seeking to dismantle existing parties, bureaucracy, and establish socialism through revolutionary means.

23
Q

What were the two entities of the Dual Government established after March 1917?

A

The Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet.

24
Q

What were the characteristics of the Petrograd Soviet?

A

The Petrograd Soviet had diffuse leadership, large numbers, and de facto (actual) authority, as it controlled workers and insisted on countersigning all orders of the Provisional Government.

24
Q

What contradictions existed in Lenin’s April Theses?

A

Lenin sought collectivization over land redistribution, was not truly seeking peace but rather global socialist revolution, and justified any means to achieve his political ends.

24
Q

What was Lenin’s role upon his return to Petrograd in April 1917?

A

Lenin returned from exile and issued the “April Theses,” outlining the Bolshevik platform: “Land, Bread, and Peace,” “All Power to the Soviets,” and “Worker Control of the Means of Production.”

25
Q

How did the Bolsheviks recover after the failed coup in July 1917?

A

After their leadership fled or was arrested, the divided nature of Russian politics helped them. Kerensky feared a monarchist plot more than leftist plots, and many Bolshevik leaders were released on bail by September.

25
Q

What was the Kornilov Affair and its impact on the Bolsheviks?

A

The Kornilov Affair (September 10-13) was an attempted military coup. It created uncertainty about army loyalty and allowed the Bolsheviks to strengthen their position as protectors of revolutionary ideals.

26
Q

Why was time critical for the Bolsheviks in late 1917?

A

The Second Congress of Soviets was scheduled for October 25, and elections for the All Russian Constituent Assembly were set for November 12, limiting their opportunity to act.

27
Q

What was the significance of the Petrograd garrison in the Bolshevik plans?

A

The loyalty of the 240,000-strong Petrograd garrison was critical for the success of the Bolshevik coup.

27
Q

What strategy did Leon Trotsky favor for the Bolshevik seizure of power?

A

Trotsky, leading in Lenin’s absence, favored an offensive strategy to provoke the Provisional Government into actions that would discredit them as counterrevolutionary.

27
Q

Where was Lenin during the preparations for the Bolshevik seizure of power, and who led in his absence?

A

Lenin was in Finland, and Leon Trotsky assumed leadership of the Bolshevik coup attempts.

27
Q

What challenges did the Bolsheviks face after coming to power?

A

Governing Russia amidst ongoing war, political factionalism, and a disarrayed economy.

28
Q

What steps did Lenin take after the worldwide revolution failed to materialize?

A

-Attempted to end the war with Germany.

-Created the Communist International (COMINTERN) in 1919 to spread revolution and support national liberation movements.

28
Q

What domestic measures did the Bolsheviks implement to consolidate power?

A

-Created the Cheka (secret police) on December 20, 1917, to eliminate political opponents.

-Formed the Workers and Peasants’ Red Army to fight in the civil war.

29
Q

What was the outcome of the Russian Civil War (1917-1921)?

A

The Bolsheviks defeated the White forces and officially established the Soviet Union in 1922.

30
Q

How did Stalin secure his position as leader?

A

Stalin exiled and executed his opponents, consolidating power and using terror to divide groups.

30
Q

What happened after Lenin’s death in 1924?

A

A leadership struggle ensued, primarily between Leon Trotsky and Josef Stalin, with Stalin emerging victorious.

30
Q

What were the consequences of Stalin’s agricultural policies?

A

The collectivization of agriculture (1928-1940) led to the Terror Famine (1932-1933), causing an estimated 7-10 million deaths.

31
Q

What was the GULAG system, and what were its impacts?

A

The GULAG system of forced labor processed approximately 14 million people between 1929-1953.

-Soviet data (1993) reported over 1 million deaths in the GULAG.

-Independent estimates place deaths between 1.6 and 10 million.

31
Q

What were the Great Purges (1935-1938)?

A

A campaign to eliminate opponents in Soviet institutions, including:

-Communist Party.

-Government bureaucracy.

-Red Army.
Estimated 600,000-1.75 million were executed, and 19.6 million were arrested.

32
Q

When was the Communist International (COMINTERN) created, and what was its purpose?

A

Created in 1919, it aimed to spread communist revolution abroad and support national liberation movements.

HTST 200 (15 decks)

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