Topic 4: Bolshevik consolidation of power and civil war Flashcards
What was the Bolsheviks’ primary aim after the October Revolution?
To consolidate their power and create a socialist state in Russia.
What was the Cheka?
The Bolshevik secret police, established in December 1917, to suppress opposition and enforce Bolshevik policies.
What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
A peace treaty signed in March 1918 between Bolshevik Russia and Germany, ending Russia’s involvement in World War I at the cost of significant territorial losses.
Which territories did Russia lose under the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
Ukraine, Finland, the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania), and parts of Poland and Belarus.
Why did the Bolsheviks agree to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk despite its harsh terms?
Lenin believed ending the war was essential to focus on internal consolidation and fighting the Civil War.
What were the “Red Guards”?
Armed workers and soldiers loyal to the Bolsheviks who helped secure their control during the October Revolution and early stages of consolidation.
Who were the main opponents of the Bolsheviks in the Russian Civil War?
The Whites (a coalition of monarchists, liberals, and moderate socialists), foreign interventionist forces, and nationalist movements.
What were the key factors that led to the Russian Civil War?
1.Opposition to Bolshevik rule.
2.Dissolution of the Constituent Assembly.
3.Economic collapse and famine.
4.Nationalist movements in former empire territories.
What was the role of Trotsky in the Civil War?
Trotsky served as the Commissar for War and organized the Red Army into an effective fighting force.
What was War Communism?
An economic and political system implemented by the Bolsheviks during the Civil War to control resources and supply the Red Army.
What were the key features of War Communism?
1.Grain requisitioning from peasants.
2.Nationalization of industry.
3.Banning of private trade.
4.Centralized control of the economy.
What was the “Red Terror”?
A campaign of political repression and violence conducted by the Bolsheviks to eliminate opposition during the Civil War.
Why did foreign powers intervene in the Russian Civil War?
To oppose Bolshevism, protect their interests, and reestablish the Eastern Front against Germany during World War I.
Why did the Bolsheviks win the Civil War?
1.Superior organization and leadership, particularly by Lenin and Trotsky.
2.Control of central areas like Petrograd and Moscow.
3.Use of propaganda to gain support.
4.Disunity among White forces.
What was the significance of the Kronstadt Rebellion?
A 1921 uprising by sailors against Bolshevik policies, which was brutally suppressed, highlighting discontent with War Communism.
