Section 3: Chapter 13

Question 1

What was the Bolsheviks priority following the October revolution of 1917

Answer 1

To consolidate control
Marxist ideology became less important

Question 2

Initially, what were the bolsheviks ideologically divided on?

Answer 2

• Whether to end the war
• What type of government should be established

Question 3

Why did the Bolsheviks have to negotiate with the kaisers government in Germany?

Answer 3

• Oct revolution failed to spark workers revolutions
• To honour, promise of ‘peace’ - had to negotiate

Question 4

Why did negotiations with the Kaiser government in Germany cause divisions?

Answer 4

• Some wanted to pursue war
• Trotsky proposed ‘ neither Peace nor war’ - retreating if necessary while waiting for revolution in west
• Lenin - give into German territorial demands to bring peace/consolidate revolution

Question 5

The treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Answer 5

• signed on 3rd march 1918
• set a precedent: in future ‘socialism at home’ would take priority over international revolution

Question 6

ideological division over future government of Russia

Answer 6

• those in favour of broad socialist gov, creating coalition of Bolsheviks/other socialists
• those in favour of exclusively Bolshevik state (I.e. Lenin)

Question 7

Lenins establishment of exclusively Bolshevik ‘sovnarkom’ (cabinet)

Answer 7

• only concession was that a few left wing SR’s could join in nov 1917 (after monthly election - SR’s won most votes)

Question 8

what happened to the Sovnarkom in march 1918

Answer 8

• SR’s walked out in protest of the treaty of Brest-Litovsk
• russia = 1 party state
• became known as ‘the communist party’

Question 9

Lenin’s ‘ideological justification’ for early actions to preserve new state

Answer 9

• ## to achieve ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’ - repression of counter revolutionaries = essential