Russia Topic 4- Defending Bolshevik Revolution

when did constituent assembly first meet and when were they closed?

5 Jan 1918, closed on 6 Jan 1918 under orders of Lenin

how many anti bolshevik demonstrators gathered on 5 Jan 1918 and how many were killed by Bolsheviks?

50,000

10 were killed after Bolshevik troops opened fire

was Lenin’s action popular?

with radical workers but majority of population did not support

why did workers embrace sovnarkom

issued a decree on workers control, decreed a maximum 8hr working day

% of Russian land lost at Brest-Litovsk

27%

% of population lost by Russia at Brest-Litovsk

26%

% of coal and iron ore lost at Brest-Litovsk?

74%

internal consequence of Brest-Litovsk for Bolsheviks

leadership fell into disarray

Trotsky- proposed Russia rejected treaty but stop fighting

Lenin threatened to resign if treaty wasn’t signed

when was Brest Litovsk signed

March 1918

left SRs reaction to Brest Litovsk

stormed out of Sovnarkom due to land losses

middle class reaction to Brest Litovsk

appalled and established that their aim now was to overthrow the Bolsheviks

defined role of the Cheka

suppression of counter revolution and sabotage across Russia

how many people worked for Cheka by 1921

150,000

how did the Cheka operate?

operated outside the framework of ordinary law- arrested and punished as it saw fit

suspects often punished without trial

only accountable to Sovnarkom

when were the Kadets outlawed?

Nov 1917

What did the Bolsheviks do in April 1918 to suppress

expelled Mensheviks and SRs from the soviets

how many Mensheviks/SRs fled Russia or were imprisoned by Cheka

2 million

when was wave of ‘red terror’ unleashed?

Aug 1918

how many people executed by Cheka in 1918

10,000

what is estimated number of people killed by Cheka between 1918-1921

high as 200,000

how did Cheka transform Russian politics?

ended press freedom, freedom of speech and opposition groups

how did changing economic policy of Russia reflect Lenin’s changing objectives?

Short term- wanted to stabilise economic growth

From 1918 wanted to win Civil War

After 1921 wanted to stabilise regime

when was state capitalism?

Oct 1917- July 1918

who controlled Russian nationalised industries?

Veshenkha- centralised body, made up of experts

how did Veshenka plan on stimulating growth?

establishing discipline by offering workers higher, ensuring properly managed factories and coordinating and planning economic production

why was state capitalism unpopular amongst workers?

government kept wages low, ended workers control and employed former factory owners to manage factories- life for workers remained similar to before the revolution

when did Lenin introduce war communism?

mid 1918

two elements of ‘food dictatorship’

grain requistioning and rationing

what was made compulsory in 1919 under war communism

work was made compulsory for able bodied people aged between 16 and 50

how did government abolish the market?

abolish money through hyperinflation, trade was made illegal and there was completed nationalisation\`

what was economic consequence of war communism?

economic catastrophe as it destroyed incentives to work

what did industrial workforce number at in 1917 compared to early 1921

1917- 2.6 million

1917- 1.2 million

when was Tambov revolt

Aug 1920- June 1921

Tambov Revolt

peasants in Tambov led a rebellion against grain requisitioning. By Jan 1921 they numbered 40,000- deployed guerrilla tactics

how did Lenin and the government respond to Tambov?

it was brutal, thousands sent to labour camps, poisoned gas was used and villages were attacked

when was Kronstadt mutiny?

March 1921

what did mutineers in Kronstadt publish?

15 point manifesto, condemned Bolsheviks abuses of power and called for restoration of other socialist parties and trade unions

where did Kolchak lead forces?

Siberia

result of Kronstadt mutiny

lasted a fortnihgt, 50,000 soldiers sent to suppress them. Embarrassing for Bolsheviks as they lost some of their strongest supporters

what key reforms did Trotsky implement to red army?

• established commanders

• deserters faced death penalty- general tight discipline enforced

how did Trotksy display immense skill in dealing with Kronstadt?

deployed army across the lake winter ice and mutineers were crushed

when were constituent assembly elections?

12th and 15th Nov 1917

where did Bolsheviks poll strong and where did they poll weak?

major cities- Moscow and Petrograd

Rural areas- SRs more popular

what did Lenin call constituent assembly?

illegitimate and unrepresentative and an instrument of bourgeoisie democracy

consequence of closing constituent assembly

Right SRs left and moved to eastern Russia- formed own alternative government called Committee of Members of Constituent Assembly

Why did Lenin need a quick settlement?

Russia was open to German invasion without a settlement

promised peasants/workers peace so needed to follow up on this to retain credibility

wanted freedom to focus on internal enemies

why was state capitalism introduced?

economy in dire condition

workers and peasants expected Bolsheviks to urgently address grievances

left wing Bolsheviks wanted swift transition to socialism

state capitalism policies

private ownership monitored by state

programme of nationalism

decree on land

decree on workers control

Supreme Council of National Economy

decree on Land

Nov 1917- legitimised 1917 land seizures

Influenced by SR land policies, helped convince left SRs to join Bolsheviks

Decree on Workers control

Nov 1917- industrial workers given a say in how factories were run

Supreme Council of National Economy

Dec 1917- supervise/manage industry and economy

what were aims of War Communism?

maximise industrial production and feed cities

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why was War Communism introduced?

access to resources slump in industrial output

shortages

peasants unwilling to sell food

first step of NEP

March 1921- Lenin abandonment of grain requisitioning

4 main features of NEP

tax in kind

private small scale businesses- legalised

commanding heights under state control

state controlled industries expected to trade at profit