The Bolsheviks

Question 1

April Theses- April 1917

Answer 1

• Lenin
• there should be no co-operation with the Provisional Government
• the war should be ended immediately
• the land should be given to the peasants
• the Soviets should take power

Question 2

The Bolshevik Party’s slogan

Answer 2

“peace, bread, land”, support for the Bolsheviks began to grow

Question 3

What sparked the July Days?

Answer 3

Shortages continued because of the war. Kerensky launched a major attack on the Germans which led to a disasterous defeat

Question 4

July Days

Answer 4

• There were enormous demonstrations in Petrograd
• Sailors and workers poured out into the streets
• The Bolsheviks were not ready to seize power
• The demonstrations turned to rioting and troops were sent in to deal with them

Question 5

Autumn 1917- a second chance

Answer 5

Kerensky appointed Kornilov to lead the army. He ordered his troops to march on Petrograd
The people of Petrograd panicked
Kerensky also panicked and asked the Bolsheviks for help
Kornilov’s troops never arrived
The Red Army got to keep their rifles

Question 6

The time is right

Answer 6

• They won an overall majority in the elections
• The situation in the rest of Russia was deteriorating fast
• Lenin sent a message from his hiding place in Poland telling them to sieze power

Question 7

The Bolsheviks seize power

Answer 7

• planned a takeover on 7th November
• it was not a secret
• the red guards took control of trains etc but no one noticed

Question 8

The Winter palace

Answer 8

• the Aurora fired a blank shot to start the attack

- the red guards entered and the provisional government gave up

Question 9

Provisional government: war

Answer 9

• they decided to continue the war

- the war continued to go badly

Question 10

The Probisipnal Government: land

Answer 10

• they would not give the peasants land

- the peasants began to take over land themselves

Question 11

Political problems- PG

Answer 11

• Petrograd soviet was also very powerful
• Bolsheviks were also a big problem as they tried to take over the gov
• Soviets and workers were setting up in cities

Question 12

Problems in PG- economic

Answer 12

• industry: didn’t have many people to run the factories
• inflation
• peasants started to take Nobles’ land

Question 13

Problems- PG: military

Answer 13

• decided to continue the war
• soldiers continued to desert
• food and fuel shortages remained

Question 14

July Days- date

Answer 14

16-17th July

Question 15

Lenin’s actions in November

Answer 15

• 8hour working day
• employment insurance
• titles and class distinctions abolished
• women declared equal to men

Question 16

Lenin’s actions- December

Answer 16

• the Liberal Party and the Cadets were banned
• factories controlled by workers’ committees
• banks to be run by the government
• army to be more democratic

Question 17

why did Lenin shut down the Assembly?

Answer 17

they defeated his motion for the Assembly to have less power

Question 18

What was the Cheka?

Answer 18

secret police force

arrested people who spoke out against the government

Question 19

The treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Answer 19

• March 1918

- tried to spark an uprising against the Kaiser

Question 20

terms of the ToBL

Answer 20

-Russia lost:27% of its arable land
26% of its railways
74%of its iron and coal
-50 million Russian citizens were displaced

Question 21

Kronstadt Mutiny

Answer 21

• Trotsky’s forces stormed Kronstadt base
• heavy fighting
• large death toll
• had been loyal supporters
• well armed

Question 22

NEP

Answer 22

• peasants allowed to sell surplus grain for profit
• pay tax
• small factories handed back into private ownership
• private trading of small goods allowed