New Leaders And Ideologies Flashcards
When was the October Revolution and what did it create
1917- a new Bolsheviks government who act first and justify later
Who did the Bolsheviks wish to influence by the revolution, how where they wrong
Wished that Germany would follow in their lead as they were in a good position for a revolution. Russia wanted peace with Germany, despite knowing that peace would only strengthen the government they wished to destroy
What did Trotsky began after the cease fire, what did it lead to
Trotsky began peace negotiations in December 1917, this led to Germany demanding large parts of Russia’s land
How was the Bolsheviks split after the 1917 revolution
What did Lenin want
Bukharin vs Trotsky
Bukharin- revolutionary war groups. Need for unity over ideology. Wanted to peruse war and spread communism but this would go against what the Bolsheviks had promised.
Trotsky- wanted neither peace nor war.
Lenin had a pragmatic view and argued to accept the German terms
What was the negative outcome of the October revolution
What did this set direction for
The treaty of Brest- Litovsk signed March 3rd 1918. After Lenin threatened twice to resign.
Set direction for “socialism at home” taking priority over spread of international revolution. Set foundation for statins later “soviet first” approach.
What approach did Lenin wish to take with the Bolshevik party and there ruling
A conventional Marxist view “hands of the people”. His slogan “all power to the soviets”
In his book “state and revolution” Lenin suggested how the people would see the government in their interests and support it. It also suggested the people managing their own affairs and a reduction in state bureaucracy.
What did Lenin do to support his “ all power to the soviets” slogan
How can it be argued that Lenin had little choice in this
Lenin’s land decrees (October)
Control in factories (November)
Peasants were already seizing land and workers already taking over factories.
How was the government initial ran after the abdication of Nicholas II
The Petrograd soviet shared powers with the provisional government in 1917
What did Lenin create when they Bolsheviks took over
What did this show
The Bolshevik only Sovnarkom
That Lenin had no intention on sharing power with other soviets particularly the Mensheviks and social revolutionaries despite their shared Marxist heritage.
How did the sovnarkom rule
Ruled by decree without seeking approval of the soviets. They met once or twice a day and the soviet met less frequently.
How long did the Soviet remain to meet?
Despite the sovnarkom, who kept their power
Until the 1930’s although they had little influence
The local soviets still kept their power but followed a new Bolshevik/ communists power structure
Who did Lenin allow to join the sovnarkom, why was this changed
Allowed some left wing SR’s to join in November but followed was protests for purely Bolsheviks only, zinoviev and kamenev resigned temporarily as they favoured a broad socialist governement
What evidence shows that there was disagreement towards the one party state
Why did Lenin not want this
Petitions from factories and army demanded a more broad socialist government and the railway men strike in November showed the want for a democratic government
Lenin feared that other socialists leaders would not work with him and would dilute his vision for he future
Why was the dispersal of the constituent Assemble in January 1918 significant
Showed Lenin’s vision for a one party state, furthermore showed his lack of tolerance for opposition when civilians demonstrated against the action and were fired at leaving 12 dead.
How did Lenin justify the dispersal of the constituent assemble
Lenin write in state and revolution that in order to provide dictatorship of the proletariat there needs to be a strong party. Lenin claimed that the Bolsheviks were working in coalition with the SR’s and this was a highly form of democracy.
However the shallow attempt of justification was shown when the coalition broke up.
Why did the coalition between the Bolsheviks and SR’s break up
The left wing SR’s walked out of the sovnarkom in protests against the treaty of Brest- Litovski
What title did the party adopt in March 1918
The communist party
What did Lenin believe that he could do alone
Make a utopian Marxists state become reality
What was created in December 1917
What did this confirm
The Cheka
Confirmed that the dictatorship of the proletariat would require the active repression of counter revolutionary enemies
What did the new communist party begin to be associated with
Terror and repression as the Bolsheviks fought against their political enemies including former tsarists to right wing SR’s in a period known as the civil war
What changes were made in response to the civil war
- the demand for obedience to the party tightened
- war communism was introduced to deal with food shortages
- terror was used to enforce new measures and eradicate opposition
- more centralised system of government
What reinforced that pragmatism was more important than ideology after the civil war
Lenin’s readiness to ‘change course’ after the war caused for him to have a change in heart and allowed for more capitalised practices for example the NEP which had small scale of capitalism within.
What problems came with Lenins change in heart
- Lenin refused to admit that he made any errors which meant that the party was ‘never wrong’
- Lenin successfully argued the ban of factions
How did the years of the civil war change the ideology of the Bolsheviks party regarding views towards ethnic minorities
Lenin had early supported ‘national self determination ‘ for ethnic minorities after the civil war this was abandoned and all independent movements were denounced as ‘counter revolutionary’
Georgia was crushed for trying to fight for independence by Stalin ( general secretary at the time) even though he was Georgian himself
Why was the Bolsheviks forced to overthrow an independent socialist regime in Georgia
During the years of the civil war Georgia had been in the hands of the Mensheviks. However after the war the Mensheviks were overthrow by the Georgian people in a Bolsheviks rise ( as Stalin told Lenin) and both Trotsky and Stalin were appalled when they heard that heavy fighting was taking place and that people were supporting the Mensheviks and independence, this lead to an independent socialist regime by armed forces
What features came into place between 1921 and 1924 which became key features in the Stalinist years
- fierce attack in churches
- tightened censorship
- powers of the secret police were extended
How were the Mensheviks and SRs treated after the civil war
- No mercy shows
- Martov ( leader ) left the country
- 5000 arrested for counter revolutionary activities
- 1922 - a group of imprisoned SRs were put to show trails and accused of plotting to assassinate Lenin = 34 leaders being condemned, 11 executed and the party outlawed
How did Lenin die
1918 Lenin was shot in the neck and although recovered in the year of 1922 he had 3 strokes which left him unable to speak and partially paralysed in 1923 he was mute and bed ridden and died Jan 1924
What was said in Lenins testament and why was it never read
Lenin wrote a testament to be read at his death, he did not nominate and future leader but criticised members of the politburo including zinoviev, kamenev, bukharin, Trotsky and particularly Stalin especially after the Georgian affair and after Stalin insulted his wife. Lenin referred to Stalin “ personal rudeness, unnecessary roughness and lack of finesse” suggesting that “ comrades should think of a way of removing Stalin from his post”
The testament was never read in public and instead the central committee decided amount themselves to suppress it and this played into statins hands
Who were the leader ship candidates after Lenins death
Zinoviev, kamenev, bukharin, Trotsky and Stalin
Who had most chance to succeed as leader when Lenin died and why
Trotsky
Had the army behind him, was a close associate with Lenin, Lenin said he’s the most able man in the central committee.
Arrogant and uncompromising personality
Discuss Stalin’s route to leadership
Stage 1
1922-24
- triumvirate alliance is formed between Stalin, Zinoviev and kamenev to get rid of Trotsky
- 12th party congress - a new enlarged cc was created and only 3 are strong supporters of Trotsky
- Stalin uses his position as general sec to gain support at a local level
- Lenin dies and Stalin gives Trotsky the wrong date for his funeral. In his absence Stalin makes a speech
Discuss Stalin’s route to leadership
Stage 2
1924-27
- Lenins widow gives his testament to the cc before the 13th party congress and Zinoviev and kamenev argue against its publication
- Trotskys speech in the party congress favours democracy but is defeated by stalins defeated and Zinoviev and kamenev blocs. Trotsky does not argue against because of the ban on factions.
- Trotsky publishes “lessons of October “ to show how zinoviev and kamenev have gone against Lenin and Stalin is not mentioned
- Trotsky is taking from his position as commissar of war
- 14th PC Stalin supports bukharin on the right and Zinoviev and kamenev attack Stalin and call for a vote of no confidence but they loose every vote as the delegates are largely Stalinist.
- creates a Stalinist - bukharin majority
- Zinoviev is forced to step down as leader of the Leningrad party for Kirov
- Zinoviev and kamenev join Trotsky and Stalin gets Zinoviev removed for ban of factions
- Zinoviev and Trotsky are expelled from the party and kamenev removed from central committee
Discuss Stalin’s route to leadership
Stage 3
1928-9
- Trotsky deported to a remote spot near he chinease boarder
- Bukharin contacts Trotsky in desperation and so Stalin has him removed through ban of factions
- Stalin has Trotsky deported to Constantinople
- bukharin is removed from his post as editor of the Pravda
- bukharin and his supports Rykov and Tomsky are removed from the politburo
- Stalin celebrates his 50th as soviet leader
From 1921 Why was there a split over economy in the communists party
Lenins new economic policy of 1921 allowed some private enterprise which had been controversial with some strict Marxists teaching
Who made up the left and the right of the party in 1921
What did the two different sides want for the economy
Left- Trotsky, Zinoviev and kamenev
Right- bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky
Left- abandon the NEP
Right- supported it
Why was there splits over nature of the leadership
Many of the party wanted to abandon central leadership principles. Many agreed that it was necessary in the civil way but not after 1924. Instead they sought collective controls, through a committee of equals - mainly by those who feared the dominance of Trotsky
How did Stalin benefit from Lenins decisions
- Ban of factions
- change from election to appointment writhing the party hierarchy
- growth of central control during the civil war provided them a frame work
