Lenin Flashcards
What stage was Russia in at the start of the revolution
Feudalist stage
What percentage of the population where peasants
80%
What was Lenin’s aim
To force through the revolution on behalf of the proletariat
What was his party called
Thee bolsheviks
according to Marx’s when should social Coe into place
After capitalism
What where the proclaimed aims if the revolution
‘Peace, bread and land’
‘All power to the soviets’
Dictatorship of the Proletariat
Dictatorship of the Proletariat
Karl Marx to describe the transitional stage between capitalism and communism. Once the bourgeoisie had been overthrown, they would need to be kept down by the proletariat to prevent a counterrevolution, using violence if necessary.
All Russian congress of soviets
Soviets were simply workers’ councils, and they represented workers’ control over industry. Soviets were set up all across Russia during the war years, and in 1917 local soviets elected hundreds of representatives from various parties to the All-Russian Congress of Soviets. This met twice during 1917, in June and October.
Sovnarkom
This was essentially the new Russian Cabinet following the October Revolution and was elected by the Congress of Soviets to represent it when it was not in session. The first Sovnarkom comprised 13 Commissars (like ministers), most of whom, like Stalin, were long-term supporters & associates of Lenin.
Constituent assembly
The purpose of the Constituent Assembly was for an elected body of representatives from a wide array of political parties to meet and draw up a new democratic constitution for Russia. This was something that had been demanded but always denied during Tsarist rule. The Assembly had been long awaited.
Decree on land (oct 1917)
Requisition of land from the church where peasants could claim it
(Loss of private property)
Decree on peace (oct 1917)
The immediate withdrawal of Russia from WW1
Worker’s decree’s (nov 1917)
An 8 hour day and max 48 hour week to stop exploitation
Decree on workers control (nov 1917)
Workers control their means of production
Separation of state and church (1918)
Nationalisation of the churches land
February 1917
February Revolution overthrows the tsar
• Lenin returns April - demands new revolution
• Bolsheviks seize power in
October Revolution
• They aim to build 1) socialism 2) communism
Tambov rebellion 1920-21
Red Army attacks on striking
Petrograd workers sparked a rebellion at Kronstadt.
• Kranstadt sailors demanded a series of reforms.
• Demands = free elections of soviets; release of political prisoners; abolition of Cheka.
• This was especially damaging as the sailors had supported
Bolsheviks in 1917.
Workers opposition
led by Alexandra Kollontai.
• Wanted to reintroduce workers’ control of industry & a greater role for trades unions.
Democratic centralists
• wanted more democracy, less centralisation.
• They sought a Dictatorship of Proletariat, not of the Party.
Government response to Kronstadt and Tambov rebellions
The Red Army crushed the
Tambov rebellion - 100,000 were deported to labour camps.
• Red Army and Cheka also crushed the Kronstadt rebellion.
• From Feb. 1921 the Cheka arrested 5,000 Menshevik & SR politicians.
• Leaders of the SRs were put on show-trial in August 1922; death sentences were commuted.
10th party congress 1921
This Congress used the ‘carrot and stick’ to stem the crises.
• To improve the economy Lenin introduced the NEP (more on this in future lessons).
• To deal with dissent within the Party, he passed a resolution, ‘On Party Unity’.
• This banned factions within the Party (Workers’ Opposition and Democratic Centralists).
When was the civil war
1918 - 1921
