Russian Flashcards
0
Q
How was Russia Socially a backwards country in 1850?
A
82% of the people were peasants -> were in Serfdome; held back economic progress
Only 51% of people are Russian
Military was powerful but not very efficient as serf conscripts had to serve 25 years
No intelligentsia -> low literacy rate
Education was limited -> only one university
1
Q
How was Russia Geographically a backwards country in 1850?
A
Densely populated in the West of the Empire; sparsely populated in the East (cold climate and harsh landscape)
No natural boarders -> no defence
Underdeveloped in regards to transport -> no train lines and one metal road
The ports were situated in the North and could not be used in Winter
2
Q
How was Russia Politically a backwards country in 1850?
A
Autocratic government
Absolute monarchy
Church is orthodox -> believed in the divine right of Kings
Bureaucracy -> over half a million officials but was inefficient, slow and corrupt
Police were not separate from judiciary system
Strict censorship
3
Q
Who was the Tsar of Russia during the period of 1855-1881?
A
Alexander II
4
Q
What was the overall aim of Alexander II?
A
Deigned to streamline the autocracy - to make it more efficient in order to ensure its survival
5
Q
What were the aims of the Liberals?
A
Deigned to break down the autocracy and introduce a more relaxed constitutional system
6
Q
What was the situation in Russia at the beginning of Alexander II’s reign?
A
Emerging from defeat in Crimean War
Humiliated
No access to the Straits (lost ports in South)
National debt was high and rising
The army was shown to be inefficient
The central administrative was shown to be inept
Rise in peasant revolts
7
Q
What were the serfs and what were their rights?
A
Slaves of the landowners
Given some land yet landowners land took priority and so their land was neglected often
Landowners could administer justice to the serfs
They could send serfs to the army
8
Q
What did the people think about Alexander II accession to the throne?
A
Provided a new era of hope as when he succeeded the throne he freed political prisoners (Decembrists), granted liberties to Poland and Catholics and relaxed censorship
9
Q
What year did Alexander II emancipate the serfs?
A
1861
11
Q
Why did Alexander II choose to emancipate the serfs?
A
Serfdom is feudal -> holds back economic development
Tax system and reform of conscription necessitated a change in serfdom
Wasteful and inefficient use of agriculture (strip farming)
Strain on Russia’s international reputation
12
Q
What was the practical impact on the Russian peasant of becoming a free citizen?
A
They had the freedom to: Marry Own property Take legal action Engage in trade or business Not be sold/bought Choose a husband (women)
13
Q
What type of land were the peasants entitled to?
A
To smaller plots than during serfdom; also got their own plot surrounding their house
14
Q
How did the peasants pay for their land?
A
Government pay for 80% in the form of treasury bonds; peasants pay 20%
Peasants repay government advance in annual instalments over 49 years
15
Q
How was the distribution of land to peasants unfair?
A
Got less land than before.
Land was still strip farmed
They only got one type of soil quality
16
Q
What was the Mir?
A
The Mir was the group who controlled the peasants after their emancipation
They were in charge of land distribution and allocation
Could issue or withhold passports for peasants wishing to travel over 20miles
Decided on crop rotation
Held titles of land until redemption payments were finished
17
Q
Was the emancipation of the serfs a success?
A
No. Although the serfs now had their freedom from the landowners and access to their human rights
Their right to travel was restricted by the Mir who held the titles to their land and therefore were now in control of the Serfs
19
Q
How was the emancipation received by the Landowners?
A
They were annoyed by loss of serf labour and land
Didn’t receive compensation payments
Treasury bonds which they received for their land could loose value as the economy changed
20
Q
What was Alexander II’s motives in his legal reforms?
A
Avoid uprisings from below
Streamline the autocracy
21
Q
What legal reforms did Alexander II make?
A
1864
Borrowed heavily from Western Countries
Introduced independent judiciary system; equality before the law for all; trial by jury introduced; judges required to have a professional qualification - led to creation of intelligentsia
Led to potential critics of the regime
22
Q
What reforms did Alexander II make within the army?
A
Dmitri Milyutin - War Minister
Education programme introduced; all classes now subject to conscription; length of service reduced to 15years; conscripts chosen by ballot; most barbaric punishments abolished
Led to democratisation of the army
23
Q
What local reforms did Alexander II make?
A
1864
Zemstva was created (local council)
Members were elected and all classes COULD be represented
Multi-functional dealt with military conscription, public health, agriculture, education, supervising prison and hospitals
Duma was also created
24
Q
Up to 1866, how did Alexander II reform Russia?
A
Serf emancipation rights
Army reform - democratised, rise In literacy
Legal reform - impartial judiciary, salaried, professionals, censorship is relaxed
Education increased
25
Q
Up to 1866, how did Alexander II not reform Russia?
A
Agriculture - strip farming, redemption payments, Mir
26
What happened after 1866 in Russia?
The Period of Reaction - backward thinking
| Alexander II stopped reforming perhaps due to his new mistress or a failed assassination attempt
27
What were the implications of the Alexander II's period of reaction?
Tsar dismissed officials closely associated with the emancipation edict
Prominent radicals arrested for sedition, 1862
Revival of Imprisonment and exile to Siberia
Leading radical journals closed down
Zemstvas forbidden from communicating with each other
Police supervision of university intensified
Courts urged to interpret the law in favour of the government
28
What did the emancipation edict lead to?
Further Social and Political Consequences
Reform of the Legal System - landowner could no longer dispense local justice
Reform of the Army- the peasantry was no longer required to conscript
Reform of the Local Government - landowners could no longer claim a dominant position in local administration
29
Why was there a rise in revolutionary opposition in 1866?
The result of reforms
New openness in society as result of reforms
Period of Reaction
30
Who was revolting against the regime?
Students
Nihlism
Narodniks (Populists)
Land and Liberty
31
Why were the students revolting?
New censorships meant favourite authors are banned. Students studied abroad and got ideas from Mikhail Bakunin - overthrow regime, belief in self governing communities breaking state institutions.
On return set up new secret organisations and distributed pamphlets spreading new ideas.
32
Who were the Nihlists?
Someone who does not bow down before any authorities, who does not accept any principle on trust.
Wanted to challenge authority and the existing status quo
33
Who were the Narodniks?
Idealist young gentry. Populists.
Believed the future lay with the peasants and dressed as peasants and 'went to the people'
Some were arrested for going to the Tsar and the movement ended.
Remaining populists created the new movement: Land and Liberty
34
What was Land and Liberty?
Set up in 1878. Terrorist Organisation
| Primary Aim was to have a social revolution, get rid of monarchy and have a communist society
35
What happened to the Land and Liberty movement?
Split into two. The People's Will was part of the land and Liberty
36
What was the aim of The People's Will?
Wanted to win over the workers and thought terror was the answer.
Wanted popular representation through a National Assembly; Mir to administrate local and economic affairs; people should own the land; freedom of conscience, speech and association and universal franchise (everyone can vote)
39
How was the emancipation received by the peasants?
Took a long time for peasants to get information about emancipation yet heard rumours and were disappointed with eventual emancipation
Led to 400 outbreaks or peasant uprising in 1861
Discontent with the peasants
40
How much was Russia industrialised during Alexander II's reign?
```
Limited - modest expansion
Supported by foreign investment
Started building railway - led to urban expansion
1861- 1404km of track
1881 - 19957km of track
```
41
Who was Loris Melikov?
In 1880, he was made Law Minister
Job was to look at constitutional reform
Started to set up a popular assembly (parliament)
42
When was Alexander II assassinated?
1st March 1881
| The day he was supposed to sign the 'Coris-Melikovs' documents for constitutional reform
43
Who was Alexander II succeeded by?
Alexander III
44
What was Alexander III's personality?
```
Not internationally minded
Strict and foul-tempered
Strong
Educated by anti semiotic and reactionary professor
Never expected to be Tsar
```
45
What did Alexander III publish after his coronation?
Manifesto on Unshakeable Autocracy
Did not sure his fathers liberal ideas
46
How did Alexander III deal with his fathers assassination?
Executed 5 members of The People's Will assassins and arrested 10000 dissidents
Abandoned his father's plans for a new constitution
47
What did Alexander III's advisors say he should do about his fathers assassination?
Tolstoy - called for reform (executing them would breed more hatred)
Pobdenostev - reaction (should be punished and executed)
48
How did Alexander III display his highly nationalist ideals?
Russification
Poles - must adopt a Russian name and learn Russian; 100000 soldiers in Russia to keep order
Jews - encouraged attacks on Jewish communities, passed 'May Laws' which restrict their rights. One third will die; one third will flee and one third will convert
49
What did Alexander III do about the economy?
Vsyshnegradsky - 'we must go hungry but export'
Increased government income by 50% in ten years through tariffs on imports/increased exports of grain; massive famine killed 2,000,000
Witte - 'We must save Russia by rapid and forceful industrialisation'
Arranged a large loan from France at a favourable rate of interest
50
What was done about Agriculture and Peasantry?
Ignatiev - lower redemption payments, proposed a 'New Assembly of the Land' elected by all classes; was dismissed for being too radical.
Tolstoy - extended powers of the Mir; appointed 'Land Captains' who could overrule the Zemstva and imprison peasants; established a 'Nobles Land Bank' to help he nobles re-purchase the land they had lost during the emancipation.
51
What was done about Industry and the Proletariat?
Bunge - Introduced factory inspectors regulating the treatment of female and child workers. Only 300 for the whole of Russia.
Wanted to introduce trade unions - dismissed
52
What was done about education and censorship?
Delyanov:
Schools were ordered not to let poor children in as they should 'not be bought out of the social environment to which they belong'
New professors were appointed
'Un-Russian' books were banned and burnt
History teaching was banned
53
Who was the Minister of Finance from 1893-1903?
Sergei Witte
54
What did Sergei Witte need to do to retain Russia's 'Great Power Status'?
Needed money and knowledge
55
How did Witte get the knowledge?
Invited experts from abroad - Belgium, France, Britain, Sweden and Germany
56
How did Witte get the money to increase the economy?
```
Imposed heavy taxes and high interest rates
Limited imports
High protective tariffs (import tax)
Extensive loans from France
Rouble put on the gold standard
```
57
What did Witte do with the money?
Created Trans-Siberian railway (went from Mongolia to Vladivostok)
Encouraged internal migration, opening up Russia and uniting it as one country
Was NOT complete in 1914
58
What was the period of industrialisation known as?
'The Great Spurt'
59
By 1914, was Russia industrialised according to historians?
Some would say no - 'The Great Spurt' was exaggerated to make achievements look better
Others would say yes - by 1914 was way on its way to becoming a modern industrial state
60
What was the downside of industrialisation in Russia?
Led to urbanisation
Meant people were living in squalor as no health and safety
Increase in disease
61
Who succeeded Alexander III and when?
Nicholas II - 'The Last Tsar'
| 1894
62
What happened at Nicholas II's coronation?
'a doomed beginning'
Crowd agitated by Tsar coming to visit; approx 1400 were crushed to death. Tsar continued to celebrate his coronation.
Newspapers were banned from writing about it; people described it as an omen
63
What was the personality of Nicholas II?
Young and inexperienced
Reactionary
Believed in absolute autocracy
Advisor encouraged this view but acknowledged public's discontent
64
What opposition rose during his regime?
```
Populists
Social Revolutionaries
Social Democrats (Bolsheviks, Mensheviks)
Kadets
Octobrists
```
65
Why did Nicholas II face so much opposition in 1904?
Defeat in Russo-Japanese War (humiliation) - due to poor leadership and lack of supplies
66
What was the situation in Russia at the end of 1904?
Close to turmoil, lack of food, strikes etc, Social Revolutionaries are assassinating people close to the Tsar
67
What was the event that catalysed the 1905 Revolutions?
Bloody Sunday
68
What was Bloody Sunday?
St Petersburg - winter (jan), discontent, winter, no electricity etc.
20,000 people marched a petition to the Winter Palace - were patriotic and peaceful
Tsars soldiers opened fire and 100 were left dead.
People felt betrayed by the Tsar and it sparked revolution
69
What was the impact of Bloody Sunday?
Followed a rave of strikes and repulsions
St. Petersburg was paralysed
Tsars uncle was killers by SRs
70
How did the Tsar originally attempt to resolve the unrest?
3rd March - Tsar promises a consultative assembly (people can voice their opinions and are allowed more rights to religion and cancellation of so,e redemption payments)
71
What was the people's reaction to the consultative assembly?
This created more opposition and the intelligentsia created the Union of Unions. led by Paul Milykov. Theses are the future Octobrists
72
How did the Tsar then try to resolve the unrest?
19th August 1905 - Tsar promised an Imperial Duma
73
What was the Duma?
Duma was elected by an electoral college. (You vote for the voters but people can only vote if they have Property Qualification)
74
What was the public'a reaction to the creation of the Duma?
Ridiculed
75
What did the Tsar then do?
Calls in Sergei Witte. Negotiates Treaty of Portsmouth between Russia and Japan. Causes mutiny at sea
76
What happened in October 1905?
General Strike
| Communications are at a standstill, unrest spreads, imperial ballot and printers on strike
77
How did the Tsar attempt to deal with the General Strike and rising unrest?
Witte persuaded Tsar to create 'The October Manifesto' on 30th October
78
What did The October Manifesto state?
Gave freedom of conscience, speech, meeting and association
Reaffirming State Duma with a wider franchise
No law can come into operation without the approval of the State Duma
79
What was the impact of The October Manifesto?
Russia is now a constitutional monarchy
| It wins back the intelligentsia and officer classes in that army
80
Why did the Tsar survive in 1905?
Revolution is spontaneous without any clear motive or leader (Liberals - democracy, Peasants - Land and end of redemption payments, workers - better working conditions)
Timely concessions made by government (October Manifesto, End of Redemption Payments)
The Tsar's own revolution to survive
81
What were the consequences of 1905 revolution?
Gave revolutionaries a lesson on timings, tactics and organisations (Bolsheviks, Lenin etc)
Liberals (Kadets and Octrobrists) gain experience in government (Duma)
Government realised need for action (October Manifesto, end of redemption payments)
82
What were the main reasons for revolution in 1905?
Bloody Sunday - impact of industrialisation
Food Shortage
Clash between rising intelligentsia and autocracy
Peasants demanding land
Poor working conditions
83
When did The First Duma run from?
April-July 1906
84
Describe the First Duma.
Became known as 'the Duma of Lords and Lackeys'
All moderate/left-wing representatives as elections were boycotted by the radical socialist parties
Kadets dominated - demanded radical change, Tsar refused to accept these changes
Dissolved on 9th July as
Wasn't disturbances escalated in expectation of change
85
How did he Duma react to be dissolved?
In protest, 200 numbers of the First State Duma continued to meet and called on the people to protest and stop paying their taxes
86
How did the Tsar react to this protest?
Appointed Stolypin chairman of the Council of Ministers
| Stolypin made such frequent use of the gallows, hangman'a noose became known as Stolypin's necktie
87
When was the Second Duma in operation?
February - June 1907
88
Describe the Second Duma.
Double the number of Octobrists (government efforts)
Lots of radical parties - no middle ground - confrontational mood
Nicknamed 'Duma of National Anger'
Duma refused to pass a legislation Stolypin passed and so it was dissolved
89
What happened in between the Second Duma and the Third Duma?
Stolypin restricted the franchise. Only 1 in 6 men could vote.
90
When did the Third Duma run?
November 1907 - June 1912
91
Describe the Third Duma
Dominated by moderate Octobrists - string right wing dominance
Agreed to carry through major agricultural reform proposals
Some clashes with Stolypin
Stolypin's successor tried to ignore Duma
Duma becoming 'rubber stamp'
92
When did the Fourth Duma run?
November 1912 - February 1917
93
Describe the Fourth Duma
```
Reduction of Octobrists
Had little influence and was too divided
Refused to disband
Initiative moved to workers
WW1 makes it irrelevant
```
94
Were the Dumas a success or a failure?
Failure - lost Tsar support of Liberals and the intelligentsia
95
Who was Stolypin?
Minister of the Interior, 1906-1911
96
What were the good points about Stolypin?
Proposed toleration of the Jews
Land reforms - all state lands were made available to be bought by enterprising peasants, peasants were allowed to withdraw from their mir without needing consent
New peasant bank set up to help fund them
Peasants could now own land privately (not family land)
97
What proof was there that the peasants were content in 1914?
- didn't have to pay redemption payments
- could leave Mir
- own larger plots of land (no more strip farming)
- some were 'kulacks'
- corporal punishment was abolished
- peasants land bank set up
- new farming methods (more efficient)
98
What proof was there that the peasants weren't content in 1914?
- couldn't vote due to limited franchise
- some were 'mutzhik'
- redemption payments were abolished too late, many were in debt
- not many left the Mir (nowhere to go)
99
What proof was there that the workers were content in 1914?
- increased living standards (steady)
- legalised trade unions
- representation in 2nd Duma
100
What proof was there that the workers weren't content in 1914?
- Duma didn't affect workers (after 2nd)
- increased strikes
- still demanded better wages
- inadequate accommodation
- lived in squalid, slum areas (urbanisation)
- large loss of life at Lena Goldfield's protest
- lot of police interference in trade unions
101
What proof was there that the middle class was content in 1914?
- introduction of the Duma
- educational reform
- working with tsar (eg Octobrists)
- suppressed left wing
102
What proof was there that the middle class weren't content in 1914?
- Dumas were unsuccessful (rubber stamp)
- did not like the fundamental law of 1906 (Russia is one autocratic power)
- franchise removed their vote
103
To what extent was political opposition, violent and non violent, reduced in 1914?
- SRs tried to organise uprisings to no avail
- head of SR was a police spy
- Stolypin hanged revolutionaries
- loss of support for revolution
104
To what extent was political opposition, violent and non violent, not reduced in 1914?
- still alive and legal
| - had representation in the Dumas
105
To what extent had the economy grown by 1914?
- less than a third of strikes were due to economical reasons
- national debt dropped
- savings accounts grew
- annual growth was around 6%
- heavy industry improved
- improved communications (Trans-Siberian railway)
106
To what extent had the economy not grown by 1914?
- dependant in loans from France
- no consumer goods
- Trans-Siberian railway not finished
- poor working conditions
107
What was the original Russian feeling about war?
Enthusiasm
Rallied around the tsar, strikes ended etc
Lasted around six months
108
Why did the Russian opinion towards war change?
Lost key battles, once they had mobilised and moved into Germany
By the end of 1914 they are not winning or losing but casualties are high - not enough weapons for all soldiers
109
What happened to the frontline in 1914?
Stabilises until spring 1915
110
What happened in Spring 1915?
2-3000 miles of Western Russia is occupied by enemy troops. Russian troops are pushed back into Ukraine. By this time there were 4million casualties
111
What had now happened to the Russian army and home front?
Loyal army is dead/injured. Lack of moral in the army and at home. Soldiers are untrained and unprepared. Enthusiasm is low, press will begin criticising the army.
112
What happens to support to the tsar during this period?
Decreases. Liberals will now turn against the tsar.
113
How does the tsar choose to react to his loss of support and moral?
1) September 1915 - Tsar went to front line (he was then held personally responsible for any defeats)
2) left tsarina (German) in charge; rejected duma's request to lead. Tsarina appointed friends as ministers - hated by Russian people
3) rejects Dumas proposal of a 'Progressive Bloc' that would be an extension of the Duma run by the liberals to control war effort.
114
What was the affect of war on the Russian home front?
By 1916 - beginning to crack
The proletariat joins ranks or the disillusioned due to economic problems (shortage of fuel and food)
Disillusioned liberals and proletariat - dangerous mix
Inflation was rising, wages went up 100%, prices went up 300%
Peasants were content
115
Who demanded change?
```
The Kadets (liberals) led by Milukov, demanded change
They wanted a proper elected Duma that was no longer just a rubber stamp
```
Military are also anti-Tsar - losing war with no hope of survival
116
What did the extreme left wing parties want?
Revolution
117
What did the liberals want?
Constitutional government
118
What did the conservatives/upper class want?
Replace Nicholas II
119
What year was 'The Revolutionary Year'?
1917
120
What was Dual Power?
The tsar abdicates ending 300 years of Romanov rule
For 8 months there is a void of leadership, two new parties enter:
1) soviet of workers and soldiers - Petrograd soviet
2) the provisional government (middle class)
From feb-oct, these two bodies governed Russia, known as dual power
121
What was the Petrograd soviet?
General assembly of workers and soldiers
Each main industry would send a representative
Leftwing organisation
Sees itself as the head of the working class people
Goal is to create a constituent assembly
122
What was their first order of law?
To remove all ranks from th
123
Who was the Provisional Government?
Formed from an informal, temporary committee of the 4th Duma
Not formed from below
Dominated by Kadets, Octobrists and conservatives
Right wing
Rests of bureaucracy inherited from tsar
Also working towards the constituent assembly
124
How did the provisional government work together?
Possibility for conflict was high but were harmonious - due to SRs and Mensheviks as both believe Russia needs to experience capitalism and therefore happy to accept provisional government
125
What issues did the provisional government face?
The war
The land
National minority demands
The deteriorating economic situation
126
How did the provisional government deal with the problem of war and how successful was its response?
Launched 'The Summer Offensive' - war of conquest
Failure, summer offensive lasted 3 days. Desertion was high. People killed their officers. War policy I'm shreds
127
How did the provisional government deal with the problem of the land and how successful was its response?
Nothing, waited for constituent assembly
Result was chaos, peasants began land grabbing to claim their land
128
How did the provisional government deal with the problem of national minority demands and how successful was its response?
Made concessions for the Ukraines
Other than that they did nothing - believed Russia needed to stay together to remain a great power
It was not successful, caused discontent amongst minority groups
129
How did the provisional government deal with the problem of the deteriorating economic situation and how successful was its response?
Increased the price it paid for grain by 100%
Sent out punishment brigades into countryside to requisition grain
Didn't persuade peasants to bring grain; made peasants more hostile; war is still going on - resources channelled to army and situation was getting worse
130
How successful was the provisional government?
Very unsuccessful
People knew it was temporary
War made it worse
Rising strikes and class antagonism
131
Where was Lenin during this period?
In exile on Siberia, at time of tsar abdication word was sent for them to return to Petrograd
132
How did Lenin return to Russia?
Smuggled into Russia in a sealed train, Germans helped as they thought Lenin would bring an end to the war
133
What did Lenin do upon his return?
Proclaim the April Thesis to try and gain support for Bolsheviks (try and take power). It was a ten point programme
134
Why did lenin's thesis mark a change in Marxist theory?
Lenin wanted to jump straight to the dictatorship of the proletariat without experiencing capitalism (Marxist Leninism)
135
How did Lenin want Russia governed?
Soviet Power
| Knew he wouldn't get many votes in a democratic vote
136
What was Lenin's attitude towards war?
He was anti-war, he wanted peace
137
What was lenin's stance on the issuer of land?
He supported land seizures and believed all land should go to the peasantry
138
How was the army set up during the Provisional government?
General Kornilov was head of the army
Kronstadt was the biggest navel base. Is 15km from Petrograd - Kronstadt workers and sailors defy the provisional government and set up their own soviet. Tells Lenin and hate Bolsheviks their time has come
139
What were the July days?
3rd-6th July
Armed civilians on the street
Kronstadt revolutionaries arrive in Petrograd
Government calls troops back from the front; Lenin was not present and the soviets began to argue amongst themselves.
The revolution failed
140
What did the July days show?
Provisional government has control of the army - Korensky looks good
Opposition is divided
Lenin not yet present
141
How did the Provisional Government react to the Bolsheviks after July Days?
```
PG closed down Bolshevik press
Trotsky and Kamenov arrested
Lenin was exiled
Launched severe anti-Bolshevik campaign
Bolshevik future looks dim
```
142
What was the Kornilov affair?
Korensky calls Kornilov to march to Petrograd to restore order. Korensky then accuses him of a coup d'état so he gets all the socialist elements in the capital to resist him.
143
What was the impact of this?
Shows low credibility of PG
Bolsheviks have been given some responsibility - support for them increases as shown in elections for local Duma
Proves Russia will not go right wing
144
What happened after the Kornilov Affair?
The October revolution (1917)
145
How did the October Revolution play out?
Bolsheviks took control of the city. Very little fighting - provisional government had v. Little power.
146
How was Lenin responsible for the revolution?
Intelligence behind it- plan and timing. Theorist. He made the revolution Bolshevik through April thesis - Marxist-Leninism - simple, clear consistent message
147
How did other factors contribute to the revolution?
Trotsky and red guard executed the revolution (Lenin wasn't aware it was happening)
War
The July Days - previous failed attempt
148
How did the October revolution affect the ruling of Russia?
October revolution was a Petrograd affair, they has to make the whole of Russia Bolshevik. They began implementing soviets in all Russian cities. Only Bolsheviks and SRs allowed to remain in their original minister position.
Bolsheviks had support of the army (anti-war) and Cheka (secret police)
149
How did the Bolsheviks eradicate the newly formed constituent assembly?
Assembly elected SR leader as chairman.
Met once and then Bolshevik soldiers prevented it from meeting again.
It's closure was approved by the 2nd All Russian Congress of Soviets
150
What were some early decrees of the Bolsheviks?
Land was to be distributed among the peasants
Some nationalities were allowed to self govern
Education removed from the church
Titles on military abolished
151
How did Lenin remove Russia from WW1?
The treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Negotiated by Trotsky
Harsh to Russia
Germany got: 1/3 of European Land; 1.3million m2 of land; 62 million people; Ukrainian grain; 1/2 railway and 3/4 of their coal and iron
152
What was the Bolshevik economic policy from Nov 1917 to June 1918?
State Capitalism
153
What was State Capitalism?
Bolsheviks inherited huge economic problems. Exaggerated due to Brest-Litvosk treaty as they lost land (food), industry and infrastructure. Lenin has very little economic planning.
Had to sit through a period of state capitalism which was an anathema to envisaged communism.
154
What did state capitalism entail?
Gave peasants the land they had claimed (1917 Decree on Land)
Workers controlled the factories (1917 Decree on Workers Control)
They cancelled all foreign debts (affected France)
Banks and railways were nationalised (under state control)
Set up Goelero - got electricity to the masses
155
What happened in Russia after the Brest-Litovsk treaty?
Russia broke out into a civil war between the Bolsheviks (Reds), whites and the greens?
156
Who were the whites?
Mix of everyone
Liberals, former tsarists, nationalists and SRs
V. divided
Were all anti-Bolshevik
157
Who were the reds?
Bolsheviks
Stay in power
They had support of the workers and Red Army
158
Who were the greens?
Peasant armies
Wanted nationalism
Weren't that official
159
Which other countries got involved?
2wq
160
Why did the Whites lose the Civil War?
No sense of common purpose; v. politically diverse
Needed support from Allies, people saw them as puppets to the Alloes. Bolsheviks used it to their advantage
Lack of cooperation, suspicions between different groups, different motives.
Had meetings in Paris away from the action
Lack of commitment - lots of desertions from all armies. Peasants had doubts as leaders came from former ruling class.
Geographical division of armies - Trotsky could defeat them one by one
161
Why did the reds win?
They had control of Russian Railway centres
Trotskys leadership - went on armed train all round Russia increased support and moral. Spread propaganda round Russia
Controlled Russian heartland - industry and population, meant they had man power and munitions
End army was situated in highly populated areas - high conscription
162
What was war communism?
It was introduced during the Civil War. A reaction to wartime conditions justified in ideological terms.
163
What did war communism entail?
Industry bought under state control
Discipline was re asserted in the factories
Nationalism if industry saw a return to 'one man management'
Bolsheviks introduced internal passports to stop workers moving to the country
From 1918 grain was requisitioned fro, the peasants by the state. 'food brigades' were sent out from the towns to extract grain from the peasantry - where necessary violence was used
Peasants hid their food - harvested at night
Led to famine
Rationing was introduced which reflected Bolshevik priorities
Reed Army soldiers and workers in heavy industry got most, them civil servants and workers in light industry and then capitalists, landlords and peasants who were given 'just enough bread so as not to forget the smell of it'
164
What else was consolidated alongside War Communism?
The Red Terror
165
How was the Red Terror formulated?
Government formed during the war - Sovnarkov
1/2 million in Red army
1/3 joined during Civil war
Made their rule one of terror (civil War)
Created Cheka - suppression of sabotage, counter-terrorism and corruption. Job is to spread a network of terror across Russia.
166
What was Trotskys role in the Red Terror in the Civil War ?
Commissar for War
Believed in 'everything for the front'
Trotsky supervised Red Army - trained them
Wanted to gain support of exTsarist officers and had them followed to ensure they weren't working for the opposition
Trotsky tolerated no opposition - death penalty for desertion and disloyalty
167
How was Lenin responsible for Bolshevik consolidation of power?
```
Mastermind
Face of revolution
April Thesis
Timing
Closed down constituent assembly
```
168
How was Trotsky responsible for Bolshevik consolidation of power?
Strategist - executes the orders
Winter Palace - Red Army in the civil war
Brest-Litovsk treaty
169
What was the main show of rebellion against the Red Terror?
1921 Krondstadt Rebellion
170
What was the Kronstadt rebellion?
Mutiny among soldiers in a mass demonstration
They demanded: new soviet elections, establishment of freedom of speech and press for workers and peasants
Freedom of assembly for trade unions and peasant organisations
Release of political prisoners
End of special rations for communist party members
171
How did the Bolsheviks react?
60000 red Army troops stormed Kronstadt and killed revolutionary leaders - represents the end of popular revolution, destroyed by one of its products.
172
What was so important about Kronstadt revolution?
Soldiers demonstrating against Bolsheviks. This is who the Bolsheviks are supposed to represent - lost support of their own.
173
What happened at the 10th Party Congress in 1921?
Bolsheviks announced two new polices
1) Ban on Factionalism
2) New Economic policy
174
What was the ban on factionalism?
Got rid of sub groups of Bolshevik party. Everyone had to follow Bolshevik ideals.
175
What was the NEP?
New Economic Programme
1) Grain requisitioning was abolished. Replaced with gradual tac. surplus grain could be sold for profit
2) private enterprise restored in factories - private profit made legal
3) opened up trade agreements abroad
A retreat away from communism - creates a mixed economy (not our capitalism)
Bolsheviks still control banks, foreign trade etc
Caused unrest
176
What did the NEP result in?
Unrest.
Trotsky opposed it, described it as 'New Exploitation of the Peasantry'
Created a new class - NEPmen who made profit selling surplus
Remains in place until 1928
The NEP kick starts the economy. Industry takes longer to recover than agriculture. Agriculture prices start to fall
177
What was the problem with the divide between the cost of agriculture and industry?
'the scissors crisis'
The danger is that the peasants will lose the incentive to produce as they were selling their grain cheaply yet couldn't sell it on anything
By 1923 industry starts to recover and the blades of the scissors begin to close
178
When did Lenin die?
1924
179
What did Lenin say in his last testament about his successor?
Stalin is too rude
| Trotsky is too self assured
