Week 4-7 Syllabus Dot Point Notes Flashcards
Who fought in the Russian Civil War?
he Reds (Bolsheviks) vs. the Whites (anti-Bolshevik forces), with involvement from Greens (peasant militias) and foreign powers.
What caused the Russian Civil War?
Opposition to Bolshevik rule after the October Revolution, including Tsarists, liberals, anti-Bolshevik socialists, and foreign powers.
What did the Decree on Land do?
Redistributed land from landlords to peasants.
What did the Decree on Peace call for?
An end to WWI.
What was the purpose of the Decree on Workers’ Control?
Allowed workers to run factories.
What was the Cheka?
he Bolshevik secret police, created to eliminate opposition.
Who were the Whites?
A mix of monarchists, liberals, and anti-Bolshevik socialists, supported by Britain, France, the USA, and Japan.
Who were the Greens?
: Peasant militias fighting both Reds and Whites.
How did nationalist movements contribute to the conflict?
Ukraine, Poland, and other regions fought for independence from Russia.
What were the consequences of the treaty?
Russia lost huge territories (Ukraine, Belarus, Baltic states) and one-third of its population.
What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
A peace treaty between Bolshevik Russia and Germany ending Russia’s involvement in WWI.
What role did Trotsky play in the Civil War?
Leader of the Red Army, using strict discipline, conscription, and ex-Tsarist officers.
What was War Communism?
A policy of total state control of resources to support the war effort.
What was Trotsky’s Train?
A mobile headquarters from which he directed battles.
What was the Red Terror?
A campaign of political repression by the Cheka.
What methods were used during the Red Terror?
Mass executions, imprisonment, and forced labor camps (early form of the Gulag system)
Who were the targets of the Red Terror?
Whites, political rivals, Tsarist supporters, and suspected enemies.
Why did the Bolsheviks win the Civil War?
Unity, control of key areas, Trotsky’s leadership, and White disorganization.
What was created in 1922?
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) under Bolshevik control.
Name three key features of War Communism.
Nationalized industries and banks
Grain requisitioning (seizing food from peasants)
Private trade was banned
What was the impact of the NEP?
Economic recovery, better living standards, but some Communist opposition.
What was War Communism?
A policy to centralize the economy during the war.
What were the effects of War Communism?
Economic collapse, peasant uprisings, and urban unrest.
What is Communism?
A classless, stateless society with shared ownership of production (Marxist theory).
