Lenin's Russia Flashcards
1917-1924
Who led the whites?
Denikin - south
Kolchak - east
Yudenich - west
Who were the greens?
bands of discontented peasants who defended local territories from war communism.
Who was the Czech Legion?
czech soldiers who were crossing from the west to east with the aim of reaching allied territory and pressing the case for Czech independence.
Who were in the whites?
mensheviks
kadets
octoberists
tsarists
Who were in the reds?
Why did the whites army struggle?
as they were ‘top heavy’ with many officers from the old tsarist army but not enough soldiers.
Why were the whites disliked (army wise).
they were associated with old Russia, while the tsarist officers supported Russias former landowners.
What occurred in Nov 1917?
elections to the constituent assembly
How many votes did the bolsheviks gain in the nov 1917 elections?
9 million.
How many were in the white army compared to the red army?
1/3 million in whites
5 million in reds.
Why was Lenin popular in Jan 1918?
he closed down the constituent assembly
What party was set up in 1922?
the mental committee of the communist party. (bolsheviks)
What did the treaty of Brest-litovsk entail?
an ending to the First World War
What was Russia’s result of the treaty?
it lost, UKARAINE FINLAND AND POLISH AND BALTIC territories.
What occurred on the 1st march 1921?
the Kronstadt mutiny
What was the Kronstadt Mutiny?
rebellion towards Bolshevik regime from sailors who previously supported the reds, they wanted more economic freedom.
What occurred in 1919?
the Tambov revolt
What was the Tambov peasants’ revolt?
The Tambov Rebellion of 1920–1922 was one of the largest and best-organised peasant rebellions challenging the Bolshevik government during the Russian Civil War. The peasants refused to pay the poll tax and their opposition spread to surrounding villages in Essex and Kent.
How was the revolt put down?
by red army under Trotskys orders.
What was the ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’?
a dictatorship rule in the peoples interests until they were ready to take power for themselves.
What was the Cheka?
a tsarist secret police - its purpose was to destroy opponents of the bolshevik regime and to spread a network of terror across Russia.
How did people react to the use of the Cheka?
disliked and unpopular - associated with the old tsarist regime.
What did the first soviet declaration entail?
1- Russia to become a soviet socialist republic
2- Russia to be named as a classless society
3-no private ownership of property
4-elections would be based on a soviet system
5-universal suffrage would be granted.
What was the decree on land?
Oct 1917
land confiscated by landlords and the church was to be distributed amongst peasants.
What was the decree on nationalisation?
June 1918
enabled the state to takeover all factories of 10+ workers.
How did the lack of food production and importation affect Russia between 1918 and 1921?
5+ million died of starvation
What was the ‘militarisation of labour’?
a form of discipline enforced on workers and peasants - similar to what was inflicted upon the red army.
What was the decree on workers’ control?
nov 1917
recognised the takeover of factories by workers.
How did inflation affect Russia’s economy?
the rouble dropped in 1920 to 1% of its 1913 worth.
inflation had rose to 400% in 1917.
What was the ‘workers opposition’?
arguing for increased union control of the economy and the debureaucratisation of the party hierarchy
How much in reparations did Russia have to pay after the war?
3 billion
How was Russia’s agricultural sector affected after the war?
the grain harvest in 1921 was only 46% of its 1913 figure.
How much had industrial production drop by in 1921?
50%
How much had normal production dropped by in 1921 compared to prewar levels?
5%
What was state capitalism?
the government control production and nationalise industries - the government dominate the economy.
What did state capitalism?
1- partial nationalisation
2- aimed to increase popularity of communism
3- decree on land NOV 1917
4- decree on workers control NOV 1917
5- state control of capital businesses.
What was war communism?
march 1921
governmental control of the whole of the state - ultimately enforced authority over peasant communities.
Why was war communism introduced?
to attempt to abolish private ownership/property and to promote production.
Why was war communism introduced?
to win the civil war - to keep the red army well fed and supplied (the militarisation of labour) and to end inflation and to improve the economy.
What did war communism introduce to Russia?
1- the seizure of peasants grain
2-take over of factories
3-foreign debts cancelled
4-transport system improved
5-longer working hours
6-banks and railways organised by the vesenkha.
7-grain requisitioning and food rationing.
8-trade unions banned.
9-bartering goods through ban in currency due to inflation.
Was war communism successful?
ultimately no if the NEP had to be introduced -
although it did allow them to win the civil war, through grain requisitioning and for rationing and also by keeping the bolsheviks in power.
What was bartering?
Bartering is the exchange of goods and services between two or more parties without the use of money.
What were the results of war communism?
1- inflations rose (1920 rouble worth 1% of its 1913 value)
2-steel production dropped from 4.3 million tonnes to 0.18 million tonnes.
3-electricity production in 1921 dropped to 1/4 of its 1913 value.
How was the Cheka used in 1921?
to take peasant grain by force, through the use of terror.
What were some mentionable points about Trotsky?
commissar for war
superb leader
brought in ex tsarist officers to red army
kept soldiers fed, well supplied, mobile and able to win the war
held officer families hostage to ensure loyalty
What were some mentionable points about Lenin?
appointed Trotsky as commissar for war
highlighted efficient propaganda and campaigning
used Cheka in period of red terror
When did the reds win the civil war?
1921
Was war communism a success or a failure?
failure- the economic strength of Russia fell below the 1914 level.
What percentage of people moved from cities to the countryside between 1916 - 1920?
33%
What percentage were small factories producing of their 1913 total?
in 1920 only 43%
What percentage were larger factories producing of their 1913 total?
in 1920 only 18%
What percentage of coal was being produced in 1920 compared to its 1913 figure?
27%
What was the quote from Kronstadt mutiny?
‘lit up the reality like flash lightenign’
How many people died from lack of food/famine?
20 million.
How much was food production down from 1913?
33%
Why was requisitioning ultimately a bad idea?
peasants began to grow only for themselves so that the Cheka wouldn’t seize grain.
How much was steel production down from 1913?
4.3 million tonnes to 0.18 million tonnes.
