Russia KT3

Sovnarkom

The Council of People’s Commissars established by Lenin on 26th Oct 1917 to be the main government organ of the Bolsheviks, directed by the Congress of Soviets.

Decrees

Legal orders issued by Sovnarkom, such as the Decree on Peace and the Decree on the Rights of the People of Russia, to enact significant changes in Russia post-revolution.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

A treaty signed in March 1918 where Russia agreed to cede valuable territories to Germany, resulting in significant territorial losses and resource depletion.

State Capitalism

Economic system adopted in November 1917 to manage demands of war, where the state took control of the economy until it could be transitioned to the proletariat.

Cheka

The secret police established to eliminate opposition to the Bolshevik rule, later restructured as the State Police Administration (GPU) after the Civil War.

Constituent Assembly

A democratic body formed in Nov 1917, disbanded by Lenin in Jan 1918, leading to opposition from liberals, SRs, and Mensheviks.

Opposition

Groups opposing Bolshevik rule, including Mensheviks, SRs, and liberals, who regrouped to counter the Bolsheviks' actions and policies.

Will of national minorities

National minorities, like Ukrainians and Georgians, mobilized against the Bolsheviks to maintain their independence gained through the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.

Consequences of WW1

The aftermath of WW1 in Russia, including food shortages, migration of workers, and economic challenges, leading to the introduction of 'War Communism' by Lenin.

Reds winning the Civil War

Factors contributing to the victory of the Reds, such as strong leadership under Lenin and Trotsky, effective organization, and control over resources and logistics.

War Communism

The first version of the Soviet planned economy aimed at directing all efforts towards the demands of the army, nationalizing industries, militarizing labor, and replacing money with universal rationing.

Red Terror

A period marked by intensified state violence and repression, including mass arrests, executions, and exclusion of certain political groups, in response to opposition and threats to the Bolshevik regime.

Kronstadt Rising

A rebellion in February 1921 at the Kronstadt naval base by sailors and workers demanding more freedom, which led to a harsh suppression by Trotsky with significant casualties and marked a turning point towards the New Economic Policy.

Greens

Anti-Bolshevik forces led by Nestor Makhno aiming to establish a society where political and economic control rested with local peasant groups, operating against the Communists in 1918 but ultimately defeated by the Red Army in 1919.

Death of the Tsar

The execution of Tsar Nicholas II, Tsarina Alexandra, and their children in 1918, preventing the Whites from using the Tsar as a rallying point and risking turning public opinion against the Bolsheviks due to their brutality.

White Army

Anti-Communist forces in the Russian Civil War, characterized by disunity, lack of a clear political strategy, and internal conflicts, making it difficult for them to cooperate effectively against the Communists.

New Economic Policy (NEP)

Introduced in 1921, it ended grain requisitioning, allowed elements of capitalism and free trade, and aimed to provide stability in the Soviet economy after the Civil War.

Kulaks

Farmers who expanded their farms under the NEP, were permitted to buy/sell surplus goods, and were seen as a wealthier class in the countryside.

Lenin's Testament

Fragmentary notes by Lenin addressing concerns about Stalin, including issues like the treatment of national minorities, democratizing the central committee, and succession within the party leadership.

Cult of Personality

Lenin's revered status as a key figure in the Communist Party, seen as a father-like figure with a strong influence on party members and government decisions.

One Party State

Political system where only the Communist Party was allowed, controlling the government, key positions, and elections, leading to a lack of political pluralism.

Nomenklatura System

Introduced in 1923, it designated key party and government posts to be filled by loyal Bolsheviks, emphasizing party loyalty over expertise, creating an elite group within the government.

Ban on Factions

Prohibition on party members forming independent groups, ensuring unity under Lenin's leadership and making decisions by the Politburo binding for all Communists.

Gulag System

Established in 1918, it consisted of labor camps to contain opponents of the regime, reflecting the harsh repression of dissent in the Soviet Union.

United Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR)

Formally established in 1924, it brought together various Soviet republics under central control, maintaining Russia as a one-party state with limited autonomy for the republics.

Lenin's Legacy

Reflects his strengths like political opportunism, intellectual abilities, and commitment to Marxism, as well as his weaknesses such as ruthlessness, suppression of opposition, and hindrance to democratic development.

Trotsky

Accused of factionalism and expelled from the party in 1927, his political career ended.

Stalin

Opposed expelling Trotsky, gained power within the party, and became the Secretary of the Party in 1922.

Stalin's Rise to Power

Stalin's control of the Party apparatus in the provinces and strategic appointments of supporters led to his growing popularity.

Triumvirate

Stalin, Kamenev, and Zinoviev formed an anti-Trotsky bloc during Lenin's illness, with Stalin taking control of Lenin's recovery.

Stalin's Leadership

Stalin pledged to continue Lenin's revolution after his death in 1924, eventually establishing a full dictatorship in the 1930s.