Lenin (Oct 1917- Jan 1924) Flashcards
What percentage of the Russian peasantry were peasants?
77%
Issues that Lenin must face? (After october 1917)
Economy (it wasnt doing well 'cause of wwi) WWi (should russia leave the war?) Being true to communism Competition from socialists/tsarists What to do w/peasantry
Dealing with WW1
Lenin wanted to end the war at any cost but Trotsky wanted to turn the war into a revolutionary war.
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918)
- Russia withdraws but concedes vast areas of land to Germany in W.russia.
-could create factionalism within the party
- loss of international allies
- patriotic anger within the ppl
✔ Lenin can focus on economy now
What caused the kronstadt rebellion?(March 1921)
Sailors became disenchanted with bolsheviks due to their inability to supply enough food to the urban pop., restricted political freedom, harsh labour regulations
How did the Krontstadt rebellion end?
It was crushed by Trotsky but was forced to adopt a new economic policy
What caused the tambov rebellion? (1920-21)
The peasant resistance of grain confiscation
Impacts of the tambov rebellion
100 000 arrested
15 000 shot dead
Chemical weapons to fight peasants
Weaknesses of the Whites (civil war)
Comprised of too many different groups with varied aims
The leader, Kolchak, was too extreme
- causing SRs to switch sides= loss of peasant support
- he put in place anti socialist restrictions
Strengths of the Reds (civil war)
Trotsky was a strong leader
- harsh punishments (fear)
- used trade networks to go around the country to boost morale
Used Tsarist leaders but kidnapped loved ones to ensure loyalty
The red army held a central region
Main features of WC
- Grain requisitioning
- Banning of private trade
- Nationalisation of industry- administered by Vesenkha
- Reintroduction of labour discipline
- Rationning
Industrial failures of WC
Total output of finished products was just 12% of 1912 levels
Pop. Of petrograd fell from 2.2 million in 1914 to 0.6 million in 1920
Wages were 2% of their 1913 levels
Agricultural successes of WC
Cheka met the grain quotas expected of them, ensuring that the Red Army was fed
Agricultural failures of WC
Peasants violently resisted grain requisitioning .e.g. the decapitation of 12 members of a brigade that was collecting grain
Wheat harvests declined as peasants lost the incentive to farm
Peasants starved
Less than 1/3 of the urban diet came from state provided rations, the rest came feom the black market.
Political successes of WC
Red terror intensifies arrests, removing opposition
The execution of the tsar and his family aided Lenins control over the party through fear
The Cheka arrest 13 000 ppl (real number is closer to 300 000)
What was the Ban on Factions? (1921)
A ban on factions within the bolshevik party which increased the centralisation of power.
Why did Lenin abandon WC
- To revive the economy
- To build socialism. By 1921, it was clear that a European Communist revolution would not happen so he needed the NEP to build socialism without foreign aid
- To retain power. Lenin saw the NEP as an economic retreat to prevent a political defeat.
Main features of the NEP
- Factories employing <20 people were denationalised. Small factories were allowed to trade freely. Many were returned to former capitalist owners
- Large factories and major industries remained nationalised.
- Money was reintroduced
- Agricultural production is left to the free market. Peasants could buy, sell and produce freely. Grain requisitioning ended. Replaced by a tax.
What was the scissor crisis?
Coined by Trotsky
Greater food supplies drove down the the agricultural prices wheras industry recovered more slowly leading to industrial prices rose steadily rising. This gap between farmers’ incomes and industrial prices meant that farmers could not afford the necessary machinery for farming causing them to lose incentive to farm.
Successes of the NEP
✔ Political and economic stability
✔ Did lead to industial growth
Failures of the NEP
❌ Did not lead to rapid growth
❌ Scissor crisis
NEP fact about small industry
From 1920 to 23, factory output rose by 200% from a low base
NEP fact about large scale industry
In 1913, coal production was 29 million tonnes 27.6 million tonnes in 1926.
NEP fact about cereal production
Cereal production increased by 23% from 1920
Facts about labour discipline in WC
In 1918, the working day was 11 hrs
All able bodied people aged 16 to 50 were obliged to work
Harsh punishment for lateness
Facts about the NEPmen
The rise of the Nepmen brought about corruption and bribery
25 000 nepmen controlled 75% of trade
Grain production in 1913 vs grain production in 1920
1913: 80.11
1920: 46.1
Ideological failure!!!
Statistic about 1921 harvest in comparison to the 1913 harvest?
1921 harvest was just 46% of the 1913 harvest
How did the communist party view the NEPmen? How did their actions reflect this?
Viewed as parasites
Many arrested by cheka
Outcome of the 1918 constituent assembly elections
Bolsheviks only get 9m votes (24%) but the SRs get 21m votes
What happened to the constituent assembly?
Forcefully closed after 1 day
Decree on Land (1917)
Right to seize land from church/nobility, which largely helped his popularity
Was there a one party state in 1918?
No. Congress of Soviets had representatives from SRs and Mensheviks
Impact of the civil war
- Allowed Lenin to have more control over the economy
2. Politburo replaced Sovnarkom as decision making committee
Decree on Peace?
Commitment to leave WW1 and seek peace, resulting in Treaty of Brest Litovsk
What was comintern? Actions in Hungary?
Attempts to export revolution
1919 sent hundreds of agitators and gave communists aid. Regular contact with Kun (leader)
Actions of Comintern in Germany
Ruhr crisis (1923) red army mobilised to aid insurrection.
Effective German governance stopped these plans
Give an example of a decree. Were the decrees popular?
Decree on land gave peasants the right to steal land from nobility and the church
They were very popular
Who did red terror target?
Counter revolutionaries such as tsarists or priests who were impaled on stakes
Sovnarkom membership
13 members- 7 bolsheviks and 4 left leaning SRs
Politburo
7 bolsheviks
