History A Level Paper 3: Russia and its Rulers - The Nature of Government

A set of 35 review flashcards covering ideology, government structure, repression, censorship, propaganda, and reform under the Tsars and Communist rulers from History A Level Paper 3.

Which ideology did the Tsars follow, and which institution upheld it?

The Tsars followed the ideology of autocracy, which was upheld by the Russian Orthodox Church.

What were the 'three pillars' of autocracy created by Pobedonestsev?

Autocracy, Orthodoxy and Nationality.

How did Lenin modify Marxism regarding the historical stages of revolution?

He believed he could skip the bourgeoisie stage of the revolution by creating a dictatorship of the proletariat to guide society to a Communist utopia.

How did Stalin's ideology differ from Lenin's regarding society's superstructure?

Stalin re-imposed a 'superstructure' on society whereby his state would plan the road to socialism, whereas Lenin had removed the old Tsarist superstructure.

What ideological shift occurred under Khrushchev during De-Stalinisation?

He moved back to a more party-based ideology, removed the cult of personality around Stalin, and freed society to express further opinions.

Which three bodies originally comprised the Tsars' advisory system of government?

The Council of Ministers, Committee of Ministers, and Imperial Chancery.

How was the Tsarist central government simplified after 1905?

It was reduced to just a Council of Ministers that passed laws through the elected Duma and State Council.

Why did the Tsar dissolve the first two Dumas within months of their election?

They did not support his ministers well.

What power did Nicholas II secure for himself under Article 87 of the 1906 Fundamental Laws?

It enabled him to make decisions without the Duma.

What was the official tier-based Soviet electoral system established by the Communists?

Elections moved through village, town, provincial, and regional Soviets to the All-Russian Congress of Soviets, from which the cabinet Sovnarkom was chosen.

In reality, how was authority exercised within the Communist Party structure?

The Politburo dominated the Central Committee and told Sovnarkom what to do, with orders passed down and managed by leading cadres and approved nomenklatura.

Which bodies controlled and organized the Communist Party during Lenin's reign?

The Ogburo and Orgburo.

What was the purpose of the 1924 Lenin Enrolment, and what was the reality of official appointments?

It aimed to get more peasants into the party, but in reality officials tended to be old bourgeoisie managers.

Which two bodies theoretically granted minority representation under Stalin's 1936 constitution?

The Soviet of the Union and the Soviet of Nationalities.

Which state organizations did Stalin use for economic planning and international links?

GOSPLAN for economic planning, and COMECON and Cominform for international links.

What administrative changes did Khrushchev make to party control?

He removed old Stalinist supporters like Beria, gave more decentralized control to party officials, kept the Presidium, and placed more emphasis on the Politburo.

How did local government under the Tsars compare to local government under the Communists?

The Tsars had local government in the form of the Zemstvo with limited powers, whereas Communist local governments were Soviets controlled by the party.

How were political cases handled within the Tsarist judicial system?

Political cases were dealt with directly by the Tsar and Ministers, despite the Senate having some trial by jury and non-bribery of judges.

What concept of justice did the Communists follow, and what major events did it lead to in the 1930s?

They legalized terror and followed revolutionary justice, which led to the Show Trials during the 1930s.

What were the names of the secret police organizations under the Tsars?

The Third Section, and the Ohkrana after 1881.

How did the Third Section punish opposition members?

By placing people in administrative exile or in prison as 'Guests of the Tsar' in Siberian camps.

Which specific tactic did the Ohkrana use to sabotage political opposition?

Sending in Agents Provocateur, such as in the case of Father Gapon and Bloody Sunday.

What repressive measures did the Provisional Government use under Kerensky?

It used Punishment Brigades, while Kerensky assumed a more dictatorial role.

Who led Lenin's Cheka, and what was its role during the Civil War?

It was led by Dzerzhinsky to administer the Red Terror and root out class enemies.

How did the number of people in Stalin's Gulags compare to prisoners in Siberia in 1901?

There were $40\text{m}$ people passing through Gulags compared to $3{,}900$ in Siberia in 1901.

What were the fates of the three NKVD leaders: Yagoda, Yezhov, and Beria?

Yagoda was purged, Yezhov was purged after unleashing the Great Terror, and Beria was executed by Khrushchev.

How did Khrushchev reallocate secret police powers after dismantling the NKVD?

He gave ordinary police powers to the MVD, while international espionage became the role of the new KGB.

Which two strikes or protests did the Tsars suppress using the army?

Bloody Sunday and the Lena Goldfields strike in 1912.

Where did Khrushchev deploy the Red Army to suppress revolts in satellite states?

In East Germany in 1953 and Hungary in 1956.

What proportion of Red Army officers did Stalin purge prior to World War II?

Stalin purged $40\%$ of officers before WW2.

Which three Russian rulers presided over periods of Glasnost?

Alexander II, Nicholas II, and Khrushchev.

Which two official newspapers did Lenin use to spread Communist ideas after closing non-Bolshevik press?

Pravda and Izvestiya.

Under Stalin, what organisation were writers required to join and what artistic doctrine were they forced to follow?

The Union of Soviet Writers, forced to adhere to socialist realism.

What were the primary motivations behind Tsarist reforms such as Emancipation and Stolypin's Agrarian Reforms?

To appease opposition, as well as to modernize and catch up with the West economically and militarily.

Which Communist economic reform was unique in being totally attributed to appeasing opposition?

The NEP (New Economic Policy).