N of G- Opposition

Question 1

The populists (narodniks)

Answer 1

Intellectuals who criticised tsarist regime, popular socialism (Lavrov and Chernyshevsky)
Chernyshevsky’s “What is to be done?” had a profound impact on Lenin.
Lavrov organised 4000 uni students to politically educated countryside peasants- became more organised with the Land and Liberty formed in 1876. Scheme failed as group didn’t know whether to use violence or not.

Question 2

The People’s will

Answer 2

Emerged from the land and lib movement. Turned to revolutionary violence in 1879. 4 attempts to assassinate Alexander II, succeeded in 1881.

Question 3

SRs (Socialist revolutionaries)

Answer 3

1901
Focused on improving lives for the poorest in society. Led by Chernov, by 1905, split into moderate RW and radical LW. LW politically killed 2000 1901-05. RW gathered external support after 1905 rev. RW appealed to peasants, LW to industrial workers. BIGGEST THREAT TO TSARIST RULE BEFORE OCTOBER 1917 REVOLUTION.

Question 4

SDs (Social democrats)

Answer 4

1898
Founded in Minsk, focused around working-class consciousness. Initially drew in wc through focus on improving pay and reducing working hours. Signs of menshevik/bolshevik division by 1905.

Question 5

The Liberals

Answer 5

Westernisers. Supported by liberal ideas such as Zemstva emergence. Union of Liberation founded by Struve in 1904- focused on fairer land distribution, rep constituent assembly and improved conditions for industrial workers

Question 6

Kadets and Octobrists

Answer 6

Milyukov, developed after 1905 rev. Kadets significant in duma opposition. Octobrists emerged as more liberal. Supported the october manifesto.

Question 7

Opposition to the PG

Answer 7

Initially Bolsheviks
Ended up being the workers’ committees (opposed to the interim gov)
Paved the way to Bolshevik coup.

Question 8

What happened in the constituent assembly elections in 1917?

Answer 8

SRs won over Bolsheviks, Lenin used military force to end it. Justification was that elections were rigged.

Question 9

What was the impact of the Civil War?

Answer 9

Red Army victory. Lenin presented ‘One Party Unity” paper in 1921, banning all political parties and factions. This lasted to end of course.

Question 10

Who opposed Lenin from 1917? (internal)

Answer 10

Trotsky opposed the Treaty of Brest-litovsk

some people opposed war communism, this is why he switched to the NEP

Question 11

What did War communism do to internal opposition?

Answer 11

Considered harsh by some Bolsheviks. Lenin conceded to NEP, heightening tensions and widening divisions. RW favoured, LW saw as betrayal to revolution

Question 12

How did Stalin secure his position as Lenin’s health declined in 1924?

Answer 12

Troika clique with Zinoviev, Kamanev and Stalin- tried to combat Trotsky’s growing influence.
Stalin was gen secretary by 1924. Member of politburo, orgburo, cc and seretariat.

Question 13

how much did party membership drop by after purges?

Answer 13

10%

Question 14

what opposition to the Tsarist and communist regimes did peasants have?

Answer 14

educated peasants were the most involved
made up 80% of population so they were taken seriously with uprisings
opposition was present the whole period and was mainly due to land problems or food shortages

Question 15

what impact did the emancipation have on peasant attitudes?

Answer 15

a lot of disturbance
unrest quietened until 1890s
1900-1907 big problems and unrest due to redemption payments, land problems and rising prices

Question 16

what was the Black earth region revolt in 1906/7?

Answer 16

uprising by the peasants

initially put down with force then Stolypin put in land reforms to appease the peasants.

Question 17

how did the civil war impact peasant opposition to government?

Answer 17

rioting became prominent again - they wanted to better their position

NEP was put in place to appease them

Question 18

How did collectivization under Stalin affect peasants?

Answer 18

ignited unrest

thousands died as a result of policies

many peasants protested the requisitioning of grain by slaughtering their animals and setting alight to their crops

Question 19

how were workers treated throughout the period?

Answer 19

value of them increased as industrialisation increased

poor conditions but better pay and hours than land work

10 hour working day

under the communists they had more legal representation

there were many worker protests

Question 20

how did workers achieve their aims?

Answer 20

riots and strikes

best example of a strike is the Putilov works in St Petersburg

Question 21

how was the civil war a turning point for workers?

Answer 21

there was a huge number of casualties

Stalin used purges to remove disruptive union members

they generally accepted the 5 year plan

Question 22

how successful was the opposition from workers?

Answer 22

they were quite successful, they got;

average working day reduced to 7 hours in 1960s

working conditions and inspections

however they weren’t successful they never had control of living standards and were repressed with law and terror