(U2) Lenin’s Russia 1917-24 Flashcards
What was the initial political issue experienced by Lenin after taking power?
- The Bolsheviks were forced to allow the constituent assembly elections
- this created the possibility of the Bolshevik control being undermined - illegitimate leaders
When were the constituent assembly elections held?
What were the results (3 major parties)?
- November 1917
- Bolsheviks 9.8m votes
- Kadets - 1.8m votes
- SRs - 17.1m votes
Why was Lenin against the idea of sharing power (coalitions)?
He believed it would dilute communist policies, e.g. the idea of class consciousness would be undermined
When did the constitutional assembly meet?
Where?
What happened? (3)
- Jan 5th 1918
- Tauride palace
- armed Bolsheviks placed around the building
- Jan 6th - palace locked and surrounded by Red guards
- Lenin announced the assembly had been dissolved
How did Lenin justify shutting down the constitutional assembly?
- claimed the SRs and Kadets rigged the elections
- claimed the Bolsheviks were more legitimate and representative
When did Russia agree an armistice with Germany? (WWI)
Why did this infuriate the allies?
- December 1917
- obviously withdrawal left them vulnerable, but they were already suspicious of the new govt being communist
What policy did Trotsky use while negotiating the Brest-Litovsk agreement?
why?
How did the Germans respond?
- ‘neither war nor peace’ - essentially he tried to prolong the negotiations
- he believed communist revolutions would occur across Europe and the war would therefore end itself
- out of anger, resume their offensive into Russian territory
What were the broad terms of Brest-Litovsk (for Russia) (6)
and
When was it signed
Signed March 3rd 1918:
- 32% of agricultural land lost
- large areas of European territory lost
- 75% coal and iron mines lost
- 33% factories lost
- 26% of rail network lost
- 60 million people lost territorially
Despite Brest-Litovsk being so harsh, why were the Bolshevik govt still confident?
Germany was losing the war, it would probably be overturned
What was State capitalism? (3)
- transition stage on the way to full economic communism
- Government assume ownership of most profit making organisations
- temporary fix to be replaced after Bolshevik consolidated their position
What were the policies of state capitalism? (3)
- cancelled all foreign debt from former governments
- Council of National economy (Vesenkha) oversaw nationalisation of banks and railways
- Land decree passed October 1917 abolished right to privately hold large farms or estates
What were the affects of state capitalism? (4)
- Depended on middle class to transition to state capitalism
- without state approval workers seized control of factories from owners
- many Bolsheviks believed Lenin compromised too much
- proved ineffective by early 1918
Why was War Communism introduced (5)
- create new economy to curb increased food shortages and large movement from urban areas to rural ones
- helped to blame peasants for falling agricultural production
- provide armed forces basic supplies to fight civil war
- allowed Bolsheviks to take tighter grip on power
- harsh and unpopular but most Bolsheviks accepted as necessary for government to gain control of economy
What were the features of War Communism (10)
- made Russia have centralised planned economy
- Foreign trade brought under government control
- Any private business nationalised
- banned private business in principle
- strikes banned
- all major industries nationalised
- rationing Introduced
- railways under government control
- surplus food confiscated from peasants e.g. grain requisitioning
- seized by ‘special punishment’ squads left peasants with very little
What were the affects of War Communism? (5)
- 5 million died due to famines
- 70,000 rebelled in Tambov rebellion against Bolsheviks - killed 140,000 civilians in retaliation
- Kronstadt Naval base gave government demands calling for end to War Communism
- operated under slogan ‘soviets without Bolsheviks’ and developed into rebellion
- Trotsky retaliated with merciless attack with high causalities on both sides 500 rebels executed on spot
