Topic 1-Communist Government in the USSR 1917-85 Flashcards
Lenin, Stalin, De-Stalinization under Brezhnev
What was the revolution that started everything?
The October Revolution saw the establishment of the worlds first communist state.
When was The October Revolution?
1917
Who are the Bolshevik Party? When were they first established?
Established in 1903 as one of several revolutionary groups that wished to bring about change in Russia.
What regime that was outdated collapsed in 1917 after WW1?
The Tsarist Regime which was increasingly outdated and repressive.
How did the Bolshevik Party manage to seize power in 1917?
The Bolsheviks saw the chaos in 1917 as an opportunity to seize power and put their aims in place
What were the Bolsheviks Party’s aims?
To get rid of the upper and middle classes who exploited the workers and peasants under the capitalist system that had developed with the industrial revolution
What did the Bolsheviks think that capitalism should be replaced with?
Believed Socialism should replace Capitalist system through which a gov rep resenting workers would improve living and working conditions
What did Karl Marx believe?
He wrote about his socialist thoughts. He believed that Capitalism should be replaced with Socialism.
What is a Proletariat?
A term used by Karl Marx to represent the industrial workers who were a new class that had emerged as a result of the industrial revolution
Who are the bourgeoisie?
Owners of factories, industries and shops who own the means of production
How did the Bolshevik Party want to lead?
They wanted to be a dictatorship for the Proletariat to promote socialism by government control over the economy in the interest of the workers.
What was the government that was after the Tsar and got taken over by the Bolshevik Party?
The Provisional Government. At the time it was taken over it was a small party of 300,000 members
What did the Bolshevik Party claim they would do? Did this work?
They claimed they would set up a democratic system that would rule on behalf of the people, for the people but by 1921 it was clear that in reality they had established a one-party state where all other political groups were banned.
What difficulties did the Bolshevik Party face when trying to secure power?
-They were a relatively small group
-Although the Bolsheviks claimed to represent the Proletariat and peasants they didn’t have enough support to lead a popular revolution
What were the groups that opposed the Bolsheviks?
-Other left-wing groups who were denied a share of power by the Bolsheviks such as the Socialist Revolutionaries (SR’s) and the Mensheviks who were fellow Marxists
-Groups on the right (Tsarist supporters) and liberal groups who often represented the interests of the middle class. They feared the Bolsheviks would take over and challenge the rich and privileged within Russia
-Nationalist Groups within the Russian empire such as Ukrainians, Poles and Finns who saw the collapse of the Tsarist Regime as a chance to assert their independence
What did other left-wing groups like the Mensheviks and the SR’s believe would happen with the Government?
They hoped that they would be given a share in the new government. Lenin made it clear that there would be no sharing of power.
What is the Constituent Assembly?
A parliament elected by the people of Russia. It was seen as the first step by many politicians as the first step in forming a democratically elected government.
What happened when the SR’s and Mensheviks called the Constituent Assembly?
The assembly was to be democratically elected and this played to the strength of the SR’s who were able to mobilize their support among the peasantry.
What were the Votes for the Assembly? Who’s favor were they in?
The results were not in the Bolsheviks favor. The gained 175 seats in the Assembly wither over 9 million votes but the SR’s emerged as the largest single party with 410 seats and 21 million votes
Why did Lenin dissolve the Assembly after only one meeting?
To keep the assembly would clearly pose a threat to the Bolshevik Party.
How was the destruction of other political parties taken out?
-The removal of the vote from the bourgeoise classes such as employees and priests which stripped the opposition parties of a possible reservoir of support
-Mensheviks + SR’s found it difficult to publish their newspapers due to the Bolshevik imposed restrictions
-Left-wing SR’s lost all influence when they walked out the government in march 1918 out of protests
-In march 1918 the Bolshevik party named itself the communist party by which all other parties were banned
-In April 1921 Lenin decided to arrest all Mensheviks and SR’s
Who were the SR’s?
A group committed to democratic socialism who believed in the right for groups to govern themselves e.g. peasant organizations
Who were the Mensheviks?
A communist group who were more modern than the Bolsheviks. They had split from the Bolsheviks in 1903 over differences of policy. Prepared to work with the bourgeois in order to bring about gradual reform. Had a larger membership than the Bolsheviks in 1917. They demanded a role in the government in the form of a coalition but Lenin refused
When was the treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
1918
What was the treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
The treaty to Russia out of the war at a great cost. Russia lost control of the Baltic States which were Lithuania, Estonia and Latavia, Finland Ukraine and parts of the Caucasus Region. It was a humiliation and the only way to restore Russian Pride was to overthrow the Bolshevik Regime and reject the treaty.
What did the Treaty do for oppositions of the Bolshevik Party?
It gave the oppositions a necessary spur to fight against the Bolsheviks. They were known as the whites. It offered foreign help as the allies were willing to offer resources to keep the Bolshevik party to rejoin the fight.
Who were the Whites?
Those who opposed the Bolsheviks during the civil war of 1918-20. Largely conservative groups within Russia who didn’t want the old social order to change. The leaders were generals and military leaders from the Tsar’s armed forces
Why did Lenin pull out of the war and sign the treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
He was aware that something that brough about the collapse of the Tsarist Regime was the resources used in the war so he thought that if he wanted to focus on other things he needed to pull out to focus on the government.
What was the time period the Russian Civil war took place in?
1918-21
Who were the Reds?
The Reds were the Bolsheviks and their supporters. The Bolshevik forces were known as the Red Army . Bolshevik supporters was made up from the industrial workers and many peasants who saw the Bolsheviks as their best gain from the Revolution.
Who did the White opposition include?
The Tsarists, liberals, military leaders unhappy with Russia pulling out of WW1, national minorities seeking independence and members of the Mensheviks and SR’s parties who had been denied an involvement in the government
Who emerged victorious from the Russian Civil War?
It was looking like the Whites would win as they were the better side but in the end the Reds were victorious.
How did the Reds win against the Reds?
This was largely due to the better organization of the Reds in military, economic and political terms.
Why was the Whites leadership bad?
This was because the Whites were and amalgam of different groups united by only their desire to get rid of the Bolsheviks which was the opposite to the Reds. These divisions were reflected in the military strategy of the Whites as cooperation was limited and didn’t help when the Whites fought.
Who can a lot of the credit go to for the Reds winning the Russian Civil war?
A lot of the credit can go to Trotsky as he became a commissar for war in early 1918 and he turned the Red army into an effective fighting force
What did the Bolsheviks use an extensive amount against their oppositions?
An extensive use of terror against their political opponents.
What was the Tenth Party Congress?
The civil war was all but won when the Tenth Party Congress was held. The civil war had seen a huge growth in party membership from 300,000 at the end of 1917 to over 730,000 by 1921 in the Bolshevik party
When was the Tenth Party Congress?
It took place in 1921
Why did Lenin put forward a ban on the formation of factions within the party?
He did this in the attempt to attempt to impose the view of the leadership of the party
What did this measure of Lenin banning factions become called?
One Party Unity
What was the penalty for those breaking this rule?
Expulsion from the party
In 1921 what were the two Revolts the Bolshevik Party had faced?
Kronstadt Mutiny and the Tambov Rising
What was the Kronstadt Mutiny of 1921?
A revolt by sailors previously loyal to the Bolsheviks. Mutiny (Rebellion group) of sailors stationed at Kronstadt naval base against the Bolshevik Government orders
What was the result of the Kronstadt of 1921?
It resulted in them being brutally crushed by the Red Army
What was the Tambov Uprising of 1921?
It was a major peasant uprising against the Bolsheviks. A peasant uprising in the Tambov area of central Russia that was sparked by the Bolshevik units requestioning grain for use in the cities and in the armies.
What was the result of the Tambov Uprising of 1921?
The peasants managed to build their strength by forming a Green army and establish control over an area. It took over 50,000 Bolshevik troops to put down the revolt.
What were both uprisings going against?
The Bolshevik leadership which meant they couldn’t take their position for granted
Who were the Sovnarkom?
The Council of Peoples Commissars and took the role of a cabinet of top government ministers who were in theory responsible for making key decisions and giving government orders.
How many members in total were there in the Sovnarkom? Who were they elected by?
There were around 20 members in total and they were elected by the Central Executive Committee (Group Below). It was a small group that could make quick decisions
How often did the Sovnarkom meet in the Civil War to make quick decisions?
It met on a daily basis during the civil war
Who were the Central Executive Committee and what was their role?
Larger group elected by the Congress of Soviets (Group below). Their task was to oversee the work of the government and its administration
Who were the All-Russian Congress of Soviets?
Supreme law making body of the state. All laws issued by the Sovnarkom had to be approved by the congress. It was in theory a highly representative body made up of members elected by the local soviets.
