The nature of government: Lenin

Question 1

What was Lenin’s main task after the revolution?

Answer 1

To establish and preserve Bolshevik rule, he wanted Russia to be ruled by the Bolsheviks alone.

Question 2

What happened to the constituent assembly in November 1917?

Answer 2

In the elections, the Bolsheviks only got 23% of the vote, the SRs got 40%, so Lenin closed the assembly down after just one day, saying it was bourgeoisie.

Question 3

Give three early decrees passed by the Bolsheviks

Answer 3

1. The decree on land, which abolished property rights and began land redistribution. 2. The decree on peace which began peace negotiations. 3. The rights of the people of Russia which gave the right of self determination to national minorities.

Question 4

Give five more Bolshevik actions

Answer 4

1. All titles were abolished. 2. Church education was abolished. 3. The church was separated from the state. 4. Social insurance was introduced. 5. Women were declared equal.

Question 5

How did the Bolsheviks maintain control?

Answer 5

The closing down of the newspapers of other parties and the establishment of the Cheka.

Question 6

What was the red army?

Answer 6

The Bolshevik army, open to all but the bourgeoisie, they were trained by ex tsarist officers and were indoctrinated with Bolshevik ideas. The red army was maintained by Leon Trotsky.

Question 7

What happened to the justice system?

Answer 7

It was abolished in November 1917 in favor of revolutionary justice in which anyone suspected of being bourgeois was liable for arrest.

Question 8

What was the Cheka?

Answer 8

The secret police force created in December 1917 under Dzerzhinsky, it created widespread fear as personal vendettas were carried out under the guise of preventing counter revolution.

Question 9

What did the Cheka do in 1918?

Answer 9

They carried out the red terror, the number of people executed was reported as 6,000, but it was closer to 50,000.

Question 10

What was sovnarkom?

Answer 10

Council of People’s Commissars established after the October Revolution and focused on creating the USSR. It was the cabinet of the communist government made up of 13 to 20 People’s Commissars. It issued the Bolsheviks decrees.

Question 11

What was the politburo?

Answer 11

A small, elite group of Bolsheviks responsible for formulating government policy, it dominated the central committee.

Question 12

What was the orgburo?

Answer 12

It organized party affairs, maintained order and dealt with opposition.

Question 13

What happened to opposition to the one party state during the civil war?

Answer 13

It was eradicated by the Cheka, anyone wanting to get involved in politics had to get permission to join the Bolshevik party.

Question 14

What happened to the party after the civil war?

Answer 14

It became more hierarchal, centralized and nepotistic. Those who found careers in the party as nomenclature were chosen based upon their socio economic background.

Question 15

How did the Bolsheviks use propaganda?

Answer 15

Slogans such as “peace, bread and land” were used to communicate their ideas, they used pamphlets, posters and newspapers.

Question 16

What was the cult of personality?

Answer 16

The idolization of a leader as a hero, this was epitomized by the embalming of Lenin’s body with it being displayed in red square, the naming of Leningrad and the constant usage of images of Lenin.

Question 17

What initial opposition did Lenin face?

Answer 17

Kamenev, zinoviev and rykov initially called for a coalition with other left wing groups, but Lenin bullied his Bolshevik colleagues out of considering this.

Question 18

Which two of Lenin’s actions caused the most opposition?

Answer 18

1. The signing of the treaty of B.L, many felt like it was an unpatriotic betrayal. 2. The introduction of war communism was seen as too harsh by many of Lenin’s colleagues.

Question 19

Why did the peasants revolt?

Answer 19

They wanted to better their position and despised the grain requisitioning put in place under war communism. Some fought with the whites in the civil war, others created their own green armies. Concessions were granted to them in the NEP.

Question 20

How did the civil war change the position of workers?

Answer 20

Many died in the civil war, leading to a growth in the number of peasants becoming industrial workers, this led to the workforce becoming less educated and less interested in politics.