A level Revolution and Dictatorship

What were the theoretical problems with State Capitalism?

-No control over food production

-Central control of economy led by inexperienced Bolsheviks

-Not communist

What was NEP called by some Bolsheviks?

‘New Exploitation of the Proletariat’

Size of the Red Army at the start of the Civil War

5 million

Who were the Slavophiles under Tsar Nick II?

Those who believed in Russia maintaining its traditional beliefs/values

Who were the 'westerners' under Tsar Nicholas II?

Those who believed Russia could be improved through ideas and values from the west

Main reform of Alexander II?

Emancipation of serfs,

Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)

Should have been easy Russian victory, but Japan won. Led to 1905 Revolution

Bloody Sunday

1905; peaceful march by around 150,000 russians turned deadly when Czar's guards fire on crowd, killing hundreds

1905 workers strikes

400,000 in response to Bloody Sunday

Set up 'soviets' to direct the strikes

Railway workers strike

1905 Potemkin mutiny

Sailors mutinied amidst the 1905 chaos

Effects of the 1905 Revolution

General unhappiness

Beginnings of workers/peasant orgs.

Loss of Tsar's power

Economic motives not political

Most still loyal to Tsar

ARMY STAYED LOYAL

WWI impact on economy

- War credits introduced

-Food supplies decrease

- 300% rise in cost of living

-Jan 1917, nearly 150,000 workers strike against war in Petrograd

WWI impact on Tsar

-Reasserted autocracy following 1905 concessions (duma dissolved)

-Nationalist spirit weakened with losses (such as Battle of Tannenburg)

-1915 taking control of military

-military began to lose faith

February Revolution

90,000 workers joined the International Women's Day march and went on strike

violent street demonstrations begun in February 1917 in Petrograd, that led to the abdication of the tsar and the establishment of a provisional government.

Factors suggesting pressure from below led to Tsar's abdication

-Increasingly violent and uncontrollable strikes

-Wide nature of opponents

>women, middle class, ordinary soldiers

-Though mostly only in Petrograd

Factors suggesting pressure from below led to Tsar's abdication

-Duma set up the Provisional Committee that undermined him (direct challenge from politicians)

-High-ranking officers supported the Duma

-Leaders with experience were a genuine alternative

Factors suggesting the Tsar himself led to his abdication

-Failures as military commander

-Never wanted to be Tsar

-Family in Petrograd

-Freely abdicated

What was Dual Authority

Sharing power of Provisional Government and Petrograd Soviet

Provisional Government

-Temporary government until elections could take place

-Formed from former Duma members

-Mostly liberals

-Kerensky made Justice Minister

-Prince Lvov made first PM

Petrograd Soviet

-Popular with industrial workers and soldiers

-made of soldiers and workers (mostly soldiers in 1917)

-Delegates to soviet elected by factories

-Formed by Menshevik intellectuals

-March went from 1300 to 3000 members

-Executive Committee made decisions

Why was the Provisional Government weakened from the beginning?

It was not elected, and had no constitutional authority

It was also made up of perceived ex-tsarist politicians

What was Order no.1

Petrograd Soviet told soldiers to form committees, take control of weapons and only obey orders from the Prov Gov when they do not contradict Soviet decisions

Why was order no.1 so significant?

-Forced Dual Authorities to work together

-Gave the Soviet the ultimate say

>they controlled weapons and army

-showed weakness of Provisional Government

Positives of Dual Authority?

-Elites no longer in sole charge

-A government who can (in theory) effectively run the country

-PG and Soviet represented a wide range of groups

-Only meant to be short term

-Real people had a say in the Soviet

Negatives of Dual Authority?

-Only a short term measure

-Guaranteed instability due to opposing forces running the country

-Soldier dominated Soviet

-Unelected

-Society had no real choice

-No representation for majority of Russia (peasants)

-STILL AT WAR

How did people feel about Dual Authority at its conception?

-Excited and relieved

-'entering a period of real freedom'

-willingness to avoid anarchy

Progressive Dual Authority measures

-Amnesty for political prisoners

-Legal recognition of trade unions

-8 hour day for industrial workers

-Full civil and religious freedoms

-Preparations for an election of Constituent Assembly

Dual Authority were short-termist

Favoured populism in Petrograd, and remained in the war

How did the Provisional Government deal with the War?

-Kadets/modern socialists wanted to continue war (didn't want to lose territory the allies' financial aid)

-Mensheviks and SRs wanted negotiated peace

-Said they would only fight a 'defensive' war (didn't happen)

-This attitude led to anti-war demonstrations in Petrograd and War Ministers' resignation

-The JULY OFFENSIVE

What was the July Offensive?

-now MoW Kerensky launched huge offensive

-Failed as thousands Russians killed

-Russia lost territory

-Led to the moderate socialists in the PG losing credibility with soldiers and workers

-Drove soldiers to the Bolsheviks leading to the JULY DAYS

How did the Provisional Government deal with land and the peasants?

-PG refuses to distribute land for free

-Peasants seized the land

-Government did nothing

-July 1917 237 RICH ESTATES were siezed

-Tried to make peasants agree to fixed grain prices (when peasants refuse, army sent in)

-ultimately left for the future Constituent Assembly to decide

How many rich estates seized by peasants in July 1917?

237

Why did the PG clash with the peasants?

PG attempted to control them using laws and force. PG were self-interested when trying to protect the interests of the rich

How did the Provisional Government deal with the status of minorities?

Disagreed, ultimately left for the future Constituent Assembly to decide

- they did concede to Ukrainians

Showed how divided they were, and became Unable to effectively make decisions

How did the Provisional Government deal with Social reform for the workers?

-Increased wages

-No dramatic decisions

-Growth in PG supported factory committees

-Increase in strikes due to growing inflation caused by the war

-Workers blamed PG not war for the inflation

How did the Provisional Government deal with the economy?

-Grain crisis

-Factories shutting down due to low resources

-Again, PG does nothing

Why was the Provisional government unable to solve the problems they faced?

-Public expectation impossible to satisfy

-Inflation/lack of resources caused by the war

-Internal division (could have left the war had it not been for division)

-Ultimate lack of power compared to the Soviet

What problems did Lenin face at the time of his return to Russia in April 1914?

-Bolshevik minority in the Soviet

-Dual Authority was generally popular in April

-Too radical (upset moderates and threatened the allies)

-Opposition to war left him labelled as 'anti-natoinalist'

-Soviets unprepared to run Russia

-Provisional Government in control

What does Lenin claim credit for in April 1917?

Anti-war demonstration in Petrograd which forced Milyukov to resign

Despite Lenin taking credit for the Petrograd April anti-war demonstrations, what happened at the 'All-Russian Congress of Soviets' in June?

It passed a vote of confidence in the PG by a huge margin

How radical was Lenin's interpretation of Marxism?

-Power kept out of hands of workers

-Made presumtions about how capitalism would develop

-New form of government

-Centralised power

-Removing the idea of inevitability of Marxism

but

-Still wanted same result

-Aim is speed more than anything else

-Practical solution to a political THEORY

What was Lenin's 'April Theses'

- All power to the Soviets

- Peace: the war should be brought to an immediate end

- Land: should be taken over by the state and re-allocated to peasants by local soviets.

- Bread: promised an end to the hardship of war

How did Lenin get support for his policies within the Bolshevik Party?

-Compromise

-Persuasion

-Threats of resignation

-Appeals to rank and file

-Abandoned the call for the IMMEDIATE overthrow of PG

This unified the party

How did the Soviet attempt to outmanoeuvre the Bolsheviks in June 1917?

-Called for a mass demonstration of Soviet support

- This backfired when Bolshevik banners dominated the demonstrations

-Gaining Bolshevik popularity

What were the 'July Days'?

-2nd/3rd July Cadet ministers and Lvov resign

-4th July 20,000 sailors from Kronstadt naval base begin demonstration in Pgrad demanding Soviet take power

-PG loses control

-Bolsheviks unable to seize power (Lenin thinks they are unprepared) so attempts to convert sailors to peaceful protests

What did Lenin's Bolsheviks do during the July Days?

-Lenin remained neutral and encouraged sailors to turn peaceful

-Some Bolsheviks supported both sides

-Some Bolsheviks helped government clear demonstrators from Peter and Paul Fortress (to radicals this is a betrayal and linking Lenin to government)

-Many sailors carried Bolshevik slogans and therefore angered the PG

Consequences of the July Days

-PG releases letter suggesting Lenin was in the Pay of the Germans and had come back to undermine war effort

-Lenin flees to Finland

>perceived by some as indicisive and weak, and others as violent

-Pravda shut down

-Kamanev and Trotsky

-Kerensky becomes PM 8th July

How popular was Kerensky when he took power?

-Seen as a unifier

-Popular lawyer who advised workers on their rights

-Generally popular

What was the Kornilov Affair/Coup?

-August 1917, Kerensky appoints Gen. Kornilov commander-in-chief of army

-Kornilov marched troops towards Petrograd claiming he was backed by Kerensky to rid Bolsheviks and establish Military Dictatorship

-At insistence of Soviet, Kerensky released Bolshevik prisoners (including Trotsky) and armed them to guard the city

Consequences of Kornilov Affair?

-Kerensky seen by the right as a traitor who 'abandoned' Petrograd to the Soviet

-Seen on the left as in league with Kornilov

-Showed Kerensky and PGs weakness

What issues faced the PG before July 1917?

1. Peasants seizing land- no control/authority

2. Anti-war demonstrations in Petrograd

3. Key resignations and progressively more radical socialist members

4. Failure of the attempt to outmanouvre the Bolsheviks via demonstrations

What was Lenin's position by July 1917?

-Power and influence had declined

-PG see him as enemy

-Key Bolsheviks were arrested

-Bolsheviks failed to support the workers and sailors during July Days- disappointing many who supported them

-Unable to influence/spread ideas

-PG has new strong leader

-Seen as friend of the Germans

What were the causes of the February Revolution?

-News of bread rationing brought strikes

-20,000 workers locked out of Putilov Steel Works after pay talks collapsed

-Revolutionary ideas (striking crowds singing 'La Marseillaise')

-66,000 soldiers mutinied

-Mensheviks set up Petrograd Soviet

-Tsar ordered Duma to dissolve but 12 members refused (Provisional Committee)

-Tsar's inconsistency

-War exhaustion

How was the February Revolution different to the 1905 Revolution?

-Tsar less conciliatory, immediately using force

-Army does not remain loyal to Tsar this time

>Certain regiments refuse to obey orders

What were Lenin's thoughts of October 1917?

Reffered to it as a coup

What was the Soviet interpretation of the October Revolution?

-By October, Bolsheviks had won support of the people

-Workers in all cities supported the Bolsheviks

-Soldiers supported the Bolsheviks

-Peasants had been won over by Bolshevik policy of land distribution

What was the Western interpretation of the October Revolution?

-Most ordinary Russians were poorly educated and manipulated by Lenin

-Workers were a minority of population; Bolsheviks only had support in major cities

-Soldiers' support was patchy and short-lived

-Peasants stayed loyal to the SRs

-Lenin led a group of power-hungry intellectuals to seize power by force

Bolshevik actions following the October Revolution?

-Took over State Bank Reserves

-Took control of 17 provincial capitals

-Defeated Kerensky's opposition forces, taking Moscow by early November

-Proclaimed Soviet Government

How did Lenin deal with Bolsheviks who were unhappy with the new government? (Kamenev, Zinoviev, Rykov)

Ultimatum- join him or leave the party

(all three left)

What was the impact of the Bolsheviks in both the 1905 and February Revolution?

Barely anything at all- Lenin was in exile during both

What were the major 3 decrees of the Sovnarkom?

-Decree on Land (peasants right to take the land as they saw fit)

-Workers' Control Decree (factory committees right to control production and finance)

-Declaration of the Rights of the Peoples of Russia (gave right of self-determination to national minorities, even though they didn't have control there anyway)

Important initial policies (not major decrees) of Sovnarkom?

-Maximum 8 hour day for workers

-Ban of opposition press

-Decree on Peace (led to Brest-Litovsk)

-Women declared equal to men

-Nationalisation of Banks

-Church land nationalised

Strengths of Bolsheviks by October 1917

-Growing in support/membership

-Shown strength defending Petrograd from Kornilov

-Seen as opposite to PG

-Strong leadership

-Workers were turning against the Soviet

Weaknesses of Bolsheviks by October 1917

-Still small in size

-Lenin is still out of country

-Pravda shut down

-Blamed for July Days

What allowed the Bolsheviks to launch the October Revolution?

-Kerensky attacked them before they had even initiated an uprising

>shut down Pravda

> Restricted power of newly formed Military Revolutionary Committee (Trotsky)

-This gave them the excuse to act on grounds that Kerensky's actions 'betrayed the principles of the February Revolution'

Why were the Bolsheviks so successful in the October Revolution?

-Winter palace guarded by cadets

-Petrograd Soviet attendance was around only a few hundred, allowing the Bolsheviks to dominate it

>Kerensky had nowhere to turn for support

-PG had no significant military forces to call upon

>Red Guards just had to walk in the back entrance of Winter Palace

-All other parties had accepted February Rev. as 'the genuine' one, so did not want further revolution

-Bolshevik commitment

-Kerensky feared Tsarist uprising more than a Bolshevik one

>1917 Kornilov more threat than Lenin

-Lenin took the opportunity

What was the Menshevik position by October 1917?

-Feb Revolution was the Bourgeoise revolutionary stage before proletariat revolution

-Russia did not possess large enough proletariat to begin second stage

-Worked with other parties to consolidate Feb Revolution first

4 Factors in the causation of the October/November Revolution

-Lenin's leadership

-Kerensky's failures

-Kornilov affair

-Socio-economy due to WWI

Why did the October Revolution not take place earlier?

Both PG and Bolsheviks overestimated each other, and neither wanted to strike first (though PG did in the end)

Why was the Bolshevik seizure of power in October only the beginning- not end- of the Revolution?

-Had tenuous grip on power (only in Petrograd)

-Most people (including some Bolsheviks) expected the formation of a socialist coalition

-Did not have majority support across the country (though they did in the Soviet)

Why did the 'moderate' SRs walk out of the first session of the All-Russian Congress of Soviets following the takeover?

-All seats of Sovnarkom were to go to Bolsheviks and extreme left-wing SRs (leaving them in full control of the Soviet)

How was Sovnarkom created?

-Lenin used his majority in Soviet to vote on limitations of Soviet power

-Voted to create a new executive

>Soviet of People's Commissars (Sovnarkom)

-Legitimised Bolshevik dictatorship

-Sovnarkom gave no say to the Soviet on any major matters

How did Sovnarkom rule?

by decree

What was the effect of Sovnarkom on Soviet structure?

-Soviets no longer had any major power

-Still retained local/minor juristiction

How did Lenin use decrees initially?

-To appease the people

-Deliver on their promises

This helped him survive short-term but created long-term problems

What were the long term problems caused by Sovnarkom decrees?

-Territory/resource loss from peace deal

-Peasants seizing too much land

-Workers stopped producing what Bolsheviks wanted them to

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918)

-Russia gave up areas of land making up over 25% their population

-300 million Roubles to Germany

(nullified later in Treaty of Rapallo)

What was the purpose of Sovnarkom?

-To removee all non-Bolshevik voice from decision making

How did the Bolsheviks deal with the threat of Centre right and socialism following October Rev.?

Shut down newspapers

How did the Bolsheviks deal with the threat of opposition politicians?

-Bolshevik sailors beat 2 Kadets to death

-Arrested them

How did Bolsheviks deal with the threat of other Socialists?

-Compromised on sharing power

>Left-Wing SRs brought into Sovnarkom

-Went ahead with elections

How did the Bolsheviks deal with the threat of the bourgeoisie?

-Class warfare

-Changing language

>'Burzhui' seen as 'anti-russian'

-Made them scapegoats

This appealed to the lower classes in particular

How did the Bolsheviks deal with WWI?

- Left war in Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

-Huge losses

-Nearly 25% population lost in Treaty

What was the effect of Lenin leaving WWI?

-weaker economy

>less industry (population and resources)

-National shame

-Less secure borders

but

-Lenin seen as man of his word

-Secret sense of relief (behind national shame)

-Lenin gambled again

-Lenin can focus on consolidating power

-The army can be used for his purposes

Short-term effects of Bolshevik consolidation after October 1917?

-Increased ability to rule and make decisions

-Decreased list of problems

-People more content

Long-term effects of Bolshevik consolidation after October 1917?

-Postponing the issues not fixing them

-Further conflicts

Why did Lenin oppose democracy?

He felt it gave power to the elites- it is most beneficial for those at the top of society

What was 'Revolutionary morality'?

-The idea that Lenin's repressive actions were justified in order to achieve long-term communist utopia

What was 'Revolutionary morality' similar to?

The Tsar claiming he could do as he pleased due to being appointed by god.

This was a concept the Russian people were used to

How quickly and what was the significance of Lenin calling elections?

-Within 2 months of his leadership

-PG never called elections at all

-41M voted which suggested people wanted democracy

Dictatorship of the Proletariat

Marx's theory of a proletariat controlled world following the taking from the wealthy; eventually it will wither away into a classless society.

Who were the potential opponents of Lenin's regime by 1918?

-Other socialists

-Middle classes

>ex-PG politicians

-Tsarists

>Religious leaders

>elites

-Western Nations

>Feared communism

>wanted Russia back in the war

-Local groups

>Soviets and democrats

-Nationalists

>Army leaders

>Accusations of Lenin's ties with Germany

What was the ultimate death toll of the Civil War?

around 10 million

Strengths of the Bolsheviks in the Civil War

-Trotsky used his train to constantly rally troops across the fronts

-Brought supplies of uniforms & guns

-Brings in Red Army discipline

>Corporal Punishment

>Decimation

>Used Cheka to shoot deserters

-Bolsheviks had A UNITED CAUSE

-Controlled industrial heartland

Who were the Cheka?

Lenin's secret police

When were the Cheka established?

December 1917

Weaknesses of the Bolsheviks during the Civil War

-limited impact of Trotsky

-high desertion (1921 4 million had deserted)

-Poorly disciplined

-Most troops were peasant conscripts

>Went home to harvest during harvest season

Strengths of the White Army in the Civil War

-Surrounded the Bolsheviks

-Outnumbered Bolshevik troops

-Experienced leadership

-International support

Weaknesses of the White Army in the Civil War

-Lack of unity/refusal to work together

-Physical distance between major forces

-Ill disciplined

>Czech Legion

- Lack of industrial power or transportation

-Famine in rural Russia

-Ethnically diverse

-DID NOT ALL WANT SAME THING, JUST TO RID BOLSHEVIKS

-DISUNITY

Nature of the Green Army(s) during the Civil War

-Peasant armies most concerned with protecting their own area/land from other armies/peasants

>often deserters from other armies

-Often bandits who raided and looted their neighbours

-Attacked any army who came near them