Russia- The Bolsheviks In Power Flashcards
1
Q
What are the four most important decrees established by the Bolsheviks?
A
- Decree on Peace
- peace w out annexations or large fines - Decree on Land
- land from rich to poor - Decree on worker’s rights
- 8 hour day
- unemployment insurance for jobless.
- workers committees run factories - Decree on Nationalities
- own governments
- bolshevik control
2
Q
Why was the Constituent Assembly dissolved?
A
- Lenin held general election
- SRs won 53% of vote
- Declared parliament was backward
- not needed bcuz soviets
- Red guards shut it down
- Soon all other parties banned
3
Q
What was the constituent assembly?
A
- made by PG b4 revolution
4
Q
What was Lenin’s government called?
A
Sovnarkom
5
Q
How did Lenin suppress those who demonstrated for the Constituent Assembly?
A
- killed 100 ppl outside Tauride palace
- Two Cadets killed in hospital
6
Q
What year did all this happen?
A
1917
7
Q
What was the Cheka? When was it set up?
A
- Dec 1917
- Secret police
- killed bourgeoisie
8
Q
What happened to the tsar and his family?
A
- Initially stayed in Tsarkoye Selo
- Moved to Tobolsk by PG
- Moved to Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains
9
Q
Why was the tsar executed?
A
- pawn of white armies
- lenin was persuaded by a leading bolshevik
- Czech Legion had surrounded them
- little chance of safe evacuation
10
Q
How was the tsar executed?
A
July: Yakov and local Cheka take over
- Six Hungarians
- Nicholas and wife shot instantly
- Alexei shot
- Anastasia bayoneted
- faces disfigured with acid
11
Q
What treaty was signed with whom to hold Lenin’s April Theses? What year?
A
Treaty of Brest Litvosk - Feb, 1918
12
Q
Why was the treaty of Brest Litvosk signed?
A
- April Theses
- Main campaign
- German army advanced further
13
Q
What were the terms of the treaty?
A
- Land from Black Sea to baltic
- 3 bil. roubles
- most arable land
- 1/3 population
- coal, iron, mineral mines
14
Q
What were Russian reactions to the treaty?
A
- not happy w Lenin sacrificing national interest
- shameful peace
- so they were pissed
15
Q
What was the significance of the treaty?
A
- huge gamble
- reliant on Germany being defeated to regain shit
- peace. gave Lenin time to consolidate
- prompted CIVIL WAR
16
Q
What were 4 main reasons for the Civil War?
A
- Economic and social hardship
- Bolshevik reforms
- Constituent Assembly
- Treaty of Brest Litovsk
17
Q
Why did economic and social hardships prompt a civil war?
A
- B did NOT give ‘bread’ (food problem wasn’t solved)
- Little rations
18
Q
Why did bolshevik reforms prompt a civil war?
A
Decree of land lost nobles, landlords and church
Decree of peace lost Nationalists
Decree of Banking lost bankers and industrialised
19
Q
Why did the dissolution of the constituent assembly prompt a civil war?
A
SRs and Cadets against B
Political downfall
20
Q
Why did the treaty prompt a civil war?
A
Increased anti bolshevism
Lost. patriotic russians
- amount of reaparations were shocking
21
Q
Who were the main opponents of the Bolsheviks?
A
Czech Legion
The Whites
The Greens
Foreign powers
22
Q
Who were the Czech Legion?
A
- 42,000 soldiers
- Fought w Russia in ww1
- not welcomed by local soviets
- rebelled and took over Trans Siberian Railway
23
Q
Who were the Whites?
A
nobles, tsarists, nationalists, landowners
liberate and moderate socialists
wealthy industrialists
24
Q
Who were the Greens?
A
National minorities
wanted independence
25
Who were the Foreign powers?
US Britain France Japan (ex allies)
Feared spread of communism
Lenin left war and cancelled all loans
26
What year did the Civil war happen?
1918
27
Who was the white general in the north? What did he do? Who supported him?
- General Miller
- British support
- Based at port of Archangel
- Tsarist general
- Unsuccessful advance on Dvina River
28
Who were the white generals in the east? What did they do? Who supported them?
- Admiral Kolchak
- quarrelled with Czech Legion
- General Semenev
Japan support later withdrawn
Bad rep. raped and looted
29
Who were the white generals in the south? What did they do? Who supported them?
Denikin and Wrangel
French support
Failed Moscow offensive
30
Who was the white general in the west? What did he do? Who supported him?
- General Yudenich
- smallest army
- Brit support
- failed to secure Petrograd railway
31
What were the main strengths of the Bolsheviks?
- Trotsky
- Lenin
- War Communism and Cheka
- Propaganda
- Support of peasants
- Control of central area
32
Why was Trotsky important for Bolsheviks in the Civil War
- decided overall strategy
- restored trad officer system
- showed up at frontlines for support
33
Why was Lenin important for Bolsheviks in the Civil War?
inspirational apparently
central political figurehead
introduced Cheka
34
Why was War Communism and the Cheka important for Bolsheviks in the Civil War?
terrified Russians
more conscriptions
strict food rationing
35
Why was propaganda important for Bolsheviks in the Civil War?
- higher morale and dedication
- preserved Oct Revolution
36
Why was control of railways and central area important for Bolsheviks in the Civil War
more people to conscript
factories
winter palace arsenal
37
Why was peasant support important for Bolsheviks in the Civil War?
- most of population
38
What were the main weaknesses of the Whites?
- Foreign intervention
- Lack of unity
- Poor leadership
- Geography
39
Why was Foreign intervention a weakness for Whites in the Civil War?
- different aims
- halfhearted and ineffective
- propoganda weapon for reds
40
Why was lack of unity a weakness for Whites in the Civil War?
- no common political aim
- no trust between generals
- no strategy
41
Why was poor leadership a weakness for Whites in the Civil War?
- little loyalty fro soldiers
- corruption and indiscipline
- cruel officers
42
Why was geography a weakness for Whites in the Civil War?
- large, thinly populated
- no railways/ poor roads
- large distances
43
What was the Cheka?
Felix Dzerzhinsky
answered directly to Lenin
unlimited power from Lenin
44
What and when was the Red Terror?
between 1918 and 1919
execution and arrests
instigated by attempt on Lenin's life
imprisonment in concentration and labour camps
45
What was the politburo
lead Party
day to day decisions
initially five members
46
What was Lenin's role?
- realised a strong leader was required
47
How did Lenin die?
3 strokes over 2 years
died Jan 1924
48
Why was War Communism introduced? 1918
- Political (followed communist ideals)
- Economy (control of food)
- Social (shortage of necessities)
- Military (supplies)
49
What were features of War Communism?
- govt complete control of econ
- strict rationing
- inflation
50
Why was War Communism unpopular?
- widespread starvation
- fall in agri output
- forced food requisitioning
- famine
- kulaks
51
What was the Kronstadt?
- loyal naval base guarding petrograd
52
Why did Kronstadt rebel? What did they fight for?
- family affected by famine
- communist policy going down
- freedom of speech and protest
53
How did the govt react to the Kronstadt rebellion?
3 week struggle
quashed by red army
wake up call for Lenin
he abandoned war communism
54
What was Lenin's new economic policy? 1921
New Economic Policy
55
What were the reactions to the NEP?
- betrayal of Oct Rev
- 'temporary measure' and Kronstadt so accepted
56
What were key features of the NEP?
- could sell profit
- new rouble introduced
- foreign trade for industrial goods
- electrical power introduced
57
What were the effects of the NEP?
- food
- Nepmen private traders
- rapid recovery of villages
58
What were the shortcomings of the NEP?
- fierce debates
- Trotsky hated it
- increasing capitalism
- prostituition and crime up
59
How did agriculture and industry change due to the NEP?
grain harvest 92% increase
value of factory output 286% increase
60
What was the NEP scissor crisis?
- industrial goods are expensive and short supply
- food prices drop and high supply
61
How did employment for women change?
- men given preference for jobs
- unskilled labour
- 8hrs at work, 5hrs at home
62
How did marriage change for women?
- easier to divorce
- paid maternal leave
- legal abortion
- women left pregnant and divorce
- men initiated 70% of divorce
63
How did politics change for women?
male chauvinism prevented women rising up
numbers fell
64
Describe schooling
- compulsory
- no discipline
- teachers w no authority
- practical education
65
Describe youth organisations
- like boy scouts
- prep for entering communist parties
- Komsomol
66
How did art change?
- socialism realism
- life of workers, peasants as optimistc
- help everyone understand communist msg
67
How did writers change?
- must praise communism
- relative freedom
68
How did cinema change?
- political propaganda
- used to put ideas to the masses
69
How did theatre change
- Oct Revolution annual day
- reenactments of Winter Palace
70
How did Culture change?
- wanted full control
- move from noble art to collective culture
- idea of Lunacharsky's brother in law
