Political opposition to the Communists Flashcards
The Bosheviks faced pressure to join a ____ in 1917.
The ____ union, backed by the ____ and ____ union, threatened to cut off ____ and paralyse ____ ____ to Petrodgrad if the Bolsheviks did not hold talks with other parties.
Lenin forced to send ____ to talk about a coalition, and allow the ____ ____ elections to go ahead.
The Bosheviks faced pressure to join a coalition in 1917.
The railwaymen’s union, backed by the post and telegraph union, threatened to cut off communications and paralyse food supplies to Petrodgrad if the Bolsheviks did not hold talks with other parties.
Lenin forced to send representatives to talk about a coalition, and allow the Constitutent Assembly elections to go ahead.
Lenin engineered the ____ of coalition talks, and brought in the ____ ____ ____ as junior partners so that he could claim he to represent a large section of the ____
Lenin engineered the collapse of coalition talks, and brought in the Left Socialist Revolutionaries as junior partners so that he could claim he to represent a large section of the peasantry
The Bolsheviks only gained ___ seats in the Constituent Assembly, compared to ___ won by the SRs.
However, Lenin claimed that the Soviet government represented a ____ stage of ____
The Bolsheviks only gained 175 seats in the Constituent Assembly, compared to 410 won by the SRs.
However, Lenin claimed that the Soviet government represented a higher stage of democracy
The closure of the Constituent Assembly after only _ ____ helped support Lenin’s argument that it was a _____ parliamentary democracy and ____.
He was further supported by soldiers ____ on unarmed demonstrators, the first time this had happened since _____ _____
The closure of the Constituent Assembly after only 1 day helped support Lenin’s argument that it was a bourgeois parliamentary democracy and redundant.
He was further supported by soldiers firing on unarmed demonstrators, the first time this had happened since February 1917
Lenin was reluctant about forming a coalition because:
- His ____ and ____ ____ would mean he would likely be ____ by the other parties and ____ would probably have taken a major role
- Believed it would have ____ his Communist vision through ____ with other socialists
Lenin was reluctant about forming a coalition because:
- His personality and previous actions would mean he would likely be sidelined by the other parties and Kamenev would probably have taken a major role
- Believed it would have diluted his Communist vision through compromise with other socialists
Geographical factors helped the Bolsheviks crush opposition in the Civil War:
- Had central area - ____ and _____ - hub of ____ ____
- Had main ____ ____ - could carry on producing ____ ____
- Central area was _____ ____ - ____large numbers
- Whites ____ around the ____ - poor ____, moving ____ and ____, messages by ____
Geographical factors helped the Bolsheviks crush opposition in the Civil War:
- Had central area - Moscow and Petrograd - hub of railway network
- Had main armament factories - could carry on producing war materials
- Central area was heavily populated - enlisted large numbers
- Whites scattered around the edges - poor co-ordination, moving men and weapons, messages by horseback
Unit and coordination helped the Bolsheviks crush opposition during the Civil War:
- Bolsheviks had a ____, ____ command structure
- ____ whipped the Red Army into shape
- Whites made up of ____, ____ ____ - were they fighting for ____? Who knew. No real ____ strategy
- White generals would not ____ ____ - no ____ unity
Unit and coordination helped the Bolsheviks crush opposition during the Civil War:
- Bolsheviks had a single, unified command structure
- Trotsky whipped the Red Army into shape
- Whites made up of different, disunified groups - were they fighting for monarchy? Who knew. No real political strategy
- White generals would not work together - no military unity
Leadership played a role in how the Bolsheviks crushed political opposition in the Civil War:
- Trotsky took his special forces to parts of the ____ - ____ and ____ men
- Tough ____ - frequent use of ____ ____, especially for ____
- White leaders were ____ ____ e.g. ____
- White leaders were ____ - represented worst aspects of ____ ____ - ____ were frequent
- High levels of ____ and ____ in White Army - uniforms sold on ____ ____, ____ abuse, and use of ____ common
Leadership played a role in how the Bolsheviks crushed political opposition in the Civil War:
- Trotsky took his special forces to parts of the Front - inspired and rallied men
- Tough discipline - frequent use of death penalty, especially for desertion
- White leaders were second rate e.g. Kolchak
- White leaders were cruel - represented worst aspects of old order - desertions were frequent
- High levels of indiscipline and corruption in White Army - uniforms sold on black market, drug abuse, and use of prostitutes common
Support was important to Bolshevik crushing of political opposition during the Civil War:
- Peasants made up ____ ____ of both sides - Lenin _____ their right to the ____, while Whites would ____ it to ____
- Whites antagonised ____ ____ - separatist movements in ____ and ____ wanted more autonomy, Whites wanted to restore ____-____ _____ - White forces based in their ____
- The Bolshevik policy of ____ ____ lost them some support, however they seemed like best option to protect gains of ____ for workers and peasants, while Whites associated with ____ ____
Support was important to Bolshevik crushing of political opposition during the Civil War:
- Peasants made up main body of both sides - Lenin legitimised their right to the land, while Whites would restore it to landowners
- Whites antagonised national minorities - separatist movements in Ukraine and Georgia wanted more autonomy, Whites wanted to restore pre-1917 borders - White forces based in their territory
- The Bolshevik policy of War Communism lost them some support, however they seemed like best option to protect gains of 1917 for workers and peasants, while Whites associated with old order
Other factors also played a role in the Bolsheviks crushing political opposition in the Civil War:
- ____ support for Whites was half-hearted and ineffective - also gave Bolsheviks a ____ opportunity
- Reds made better use of ____ - ____ did not see how powerful it was
- Whites would take ____ from peasants
- ____ ____ were supporting Whites
- Reds offered a new ____ for workers and peasants
Other factors also played a role in the Bolsheviks crushing political opposition in the Civil War:
- Foriegn support for Whites was half-hearted and ineffective - also gave Bolsheviks a propanganda opportunity
- Reds made better use of propaganda - Denikin did not see how powerful it was
- Whites would take land from peasants
- Foreign invaders were supporting Whites
- Reds offered a new society for workers and peasants
