Russia 1914-39 Flashcards
Describe the key features of the government of Russia under Tsar Nicolas II before the revolution in February 1917.
(6 marks)
- Tsar:
- Autocrat
- God made him king - therefore he has all power - Duma:
- Set up by Tsar
- Little to no power
- Representative that Tsar consulted - Discontent groups during and after WW1
- Peasants (80% of pop) wanted land - lived in extreme poverty
- Industrial workers (Moscow and Petrograd) lived in overcrowded conditions - long hours, little pay - Opposition
- Grew rapidly
- 7 groups opposing Tsar
- Constitutional Democrats (Cadets) - wanted Tsar but make him share power with Duma - Impact from WW played:
- Huge
- Political unrest
- Tsar left wife in control
- Tsar wife unpopular
- She did not tell the Tsar on the problems
- Unpopular due to German background
- Dismissed capable ministers and refused help from the Duma
Effect the effects of the terror by Lenin and Stalin
8 marks
Lenin:
- Got rid of old leaders (including Tsar + family)
- Made them agree to a crime they did not commit
- Red Terror - introduced after attempt assassination (Cheka)
- Do not know how many people were killed by the Cheka
Stalin:
- Plastered pictures of himself everywhere
- Forced parents to teach children about him and communism
- Made newspapers recognize him
Stalin and Lenin:
- Both used it to their advantage
- Used to secure communism
Explain why the Bolsheviks were able to seize power in October 1917
(8 marks)
- Provisional Government:
- Temporary
- Could not carry out important reforms
- No land to peasant (80% pop) - increase discontent in countryside
- Food shortages worsened in towns and cities - peasants were conscripted in war - Mistakes Provisional Government made:
- Stayed in war - people wanted peace
- Ordered army to launch new offensive - soldiers deserting in large numbers
- Very unpopular
- Similar reasons why the Tsar was forced to abdicate
- No one wanted to help - therefore helping the Bolsheviks - Why Bolsheviks were successful:
Lenin:
- Spent yrs planning/ organizing dedicated party ready for revolution
- April Thesis - helped immensely - what people wanted - peasants –> land - brought support
- 800,000 members at strategic places
- 1/2 army support
- Sailors important Naval base (Kkronstadt near Petrograd)
Explain how the role of women changed in the Soviet Union in the years 1928-38
- Role changed dramatically POSITIVE
- Made progress in area of employment
- Encouraged to work in nearly all areas
- Took roles that were only thought to be done by men before (e.g. engineering) - Negative:
- Remained 2nd class citizens
- >20% of Communist Party were women
- Very few rising to high positions in the party or government - Family
- Expected to work full time and raise a family - State helped - put in nurseries
Before Stalin:
- Not common for women to work
- 3 million women working (1928)
- Stalin saw women as vital resource in his plan to revolutionist the Soviet Union
- Working women increased to over 13 million by 1940
April Thesis:
What was it?
The speech that Lenin made when we arrived back in Russia from exile in Switzerland in 1917 - it became the political party policy of the Bolsheviks
April Thesis:
What did it call for?
- A worldwide socialist revolution
- An immediate end to the war
- An end to co-operation with the Provisional Government
- The Soviets to take power
- Land to be given back to the peasants
April Thesis:
How was it received?
- Delivered at a meeting with the Social Democrats
- The claimed he was ignoring the lessons of Marx - some thought he was out of touch for having lived abroad
- By the end of the month Lenin ensured that the April Thesis was a party policy
April Thesis:
What were the slogans?
‘Peace, Bread and Land’
All power to the Soviets
April Thesis:
Who did it appeal to?
SOLDIERS AND WORKERS who expectations and demands were moving ahead of the Provisional Government ability to satisfy them
April Thesis:
How did Lenin justify it?
- Believed that the bourgeoisie were too weak to carry through democratic revolution
- Believed that the problem between industrialist and employees was more acute due to low wages, bad conditions etc. would cause the start if a worldwide socialist revolution in a backwards country
- “Weakest link” theory - Russia = weakest link in capitalist chain - would break and spread to proletariat in other countries
- Thought that war was a catalyst for socialist revolution
- Thought that foreign proletariat’s would come to Russian proletariat’s aid and develop socialist conditions
April Thesis:
How did Lenin try to deliver bread?
BREAD - he didn’t. During war communism he only ensured that the Red Army were provided with food and nutrition so that they could win
April Thesis:
How did Lenin try to deliver peace?
PEACE- withdrawal from imperialist war
- Treaty of Brest Litovsk
- War Communism
- Decree of peace, signed in the 26th of October with a plea to other nations for a just peace with “NO ANNEXATIONS, NO INDEMNITIES”
April Thesis:
How did Lenin try to deliver Land?
LAND- land decree of November 1917- gave peasants the right to take over the estates of gentry and decided among themselves the best way to divide it, (they were doing this anyway)
How was Bolshevism received at the First All Russian Congress of Soviets in June 1917?
It was defeating 126 votes to 543, indicating that Bolsheviks policies did not represent the views of the Soviets at that time
Why was Lenin able to return from exile and what did this mean for him?
Early decrees on rights and freedoms made by the PG, freedom of speech and press allowed him to speak out against the PG. He seized this opportunity and launched the April Thesis which became the blueprint for revolution.
