Question 2 (12 mark) Flashcards
Explain why the Provisional Government failed to deal with the challenges it faced in 1917.
- Order Number 1
- Alexander Kerensky
P1. lack of power and authority
Only temporarily set up until election was held; illegitimate
Had to share power with Petrograd Soviet (had control of railway, telegram and military)
Order no.1, PG can’t give military orders
P2. Kerensky’s failures
June Offensive - plan to push back Austrians = 200000 casualties, mutiny in army, low morale
Kornilov Revolt - let out Bolshevik prisoners, gave opportunity to start Red Guard
P3. Unpopularity
Failure to set up election = major distrust
Decision to continue war, P.S. withdrew support
Food shortages with peasants, 200% increase in wages but 400% increase in food price
Explain why Stalin introduced changes to industry.
- The scissors crisis
- The 1927 ‘war scare’
P1. to address any criticism
Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamanev criticised slow pace of industrialisation during power struggle
Driving soviet union would undermine any support to rivals in the communist party and their followers would fall in line with stalin
P2. problems with NEP
Production failed to increase
Scissors crisis - less food shortages, peasants made more grain, prices of products fall, factory goods more expensive so more scarce
NEP can’t pay for industrialisation, industry wouldn’t expand under it
So stalin starts his own process
P3. For more allied support from workers
Communist party claimed to be the party of the working class so looked to enthusiastic workers for support
Abandoning nep and building new industries showed working class represented soviet union
Encouraging new generation of young workers to embrace communism
Explain why the Reds were able to win the civil War by 1921
- The weaknesses of the Whites
- Trotsky’s leadership
P1. role of trotsky as bolshevik commissar for war
organised mobilisation kf red army into huge fighting force and used his commissars tk keep strict discipline in the army and to spread Bolshevik propaganda
P2. weaknesses of whites
Smaller and too spread out, had to travel long distances to supply army
Lack of natural and industrial areas meant limited supply
P3. increased support
achieved thru propaganda: british, french, japanese and US soldiers were sent to help whites and bolsgeviks used foreign intervention as propaganda by urging the russians to help the reds prevent foreign invasions -> msg that only B’s would look after russians
Explain why the role and status of women changed from 1917 to 1939
- Zehenotdel
- Industrialisation
P1. to appeal to communist ideas
Legal equality of men and women established in bolshevik rev
1920s (under lenin) equal rights to insurance, paid maternity leave and min wage for men and women
P2. women finished their work
Zehenotdel set up in 1919 to oversee womens freedoms (womens department in communist party)
By 1930 - disbanded, so changed because it wasn’t needed
P4. for support during 5 yr plans
Demands of plan meant women could join labour force
1940 - 41% of industrial workers = women, 1945 - 80% of collective farmers = women
Heavily represented stakhanovites in countryside, more rewards and increased education for women
Explain why the use of propaganda and censorship increased under Stalin
- ‘Official culture’
- Alexander Stakhanov
P1. Stalin needed to appear closer to lenin
Doctored images and photos, millions between 1924-29
Because lenin was leader when bolsheviks seized power and for the revolution
Had to appear close to gain popularity, named his ideas leningrad instead of stalingrad
P2. Industrialisation - stakhanovites
Mined over 100 tonnes of coal in one shift, rewarded for breaking targets
Inspired others to do the same, propaganda so 5 yr plans could be successful
P3. Official culture
Photos, art and literature to push idea that everyone is equal
Stalin portrayed as godlike father so he wouldn’t be questioned about removing rivals etc
Example; pictures of Stalin visiting children in farms, never even happened.
Explain why Stalin was able to increase industrial output by 1939
- Gosplan
- The 5-year Plans
P1. By increasing role and status of women
allowed women to be part of labour force to meet high demands of industrialisation
stakhanovite movement in 1935 also encouraged more people to work for rewards
by 1935, 40% of women were employed in large-scale industry
P2. By setting up new targets
Gosplan was the State for Committee planning
set targets for factory managers and workers, ensured they were achieved
5000 new factories created under Gsoplan between 1928-37
P3. Through successes in 5 Year Plans
1st (1928-33) completed in 4yrs and increased output of heavy industries
2nd (1933-37) increased output, stakhanovite movement in ‘35 encouraged workers
Explain why the Bolsheviks were able to establish control by 1924
- The Red Terror
- The Kronstadt mutiny
OR (kinda similar so i guess you can use both but change the red terror ev)
Explain how the Bolsheviks were able to secure their hold on power from 1917-1918
- The Decree on Peace
- The Constituent Assembly
P1. lots of support
Kornilov revolt -> saved from tsarist general, peasants HATED tsarist rule
Support from kronstadt sailors and petrograd garrison
Decree on peace (nov 1917) called for peace ‘without annexations or idemnities’, April thesis - peace, bread, land
P2. relying on Chekha for fear
Red terror campaign (officially became a policy in sept 1918) - painted bolsheviks as defenders of working class, arrested and executed bolshevik enemies
800000 arrested in 1920: 55000 arrested, 1800 executed in sep 1918
Result of lenin’s assassination attempt
P3. establishing control by showing power
Kronstadt mutiny - revolt by sailors against bolsheviks (feb 1921), shocking because they helped in october rev
Crushed by red army, showed that they were in control, force to be reckoned with OR
lenin ordered red guards to shut down the constituent assembly bc rhe SRs won wjth 53% and B’s with only 24% anf refused to lass the bolsheviks key decrees or accept principle of all power to the soviets
