Government: Lenin to Yeltsin 1917-91

Flashcards covering key events, policies, and figures from Lenin to Khrushchev, focusing on government structure, power struggles, and reforms in the Soviet Union.

What was the Women's Death Battalion's role in the October Revolution, 1917?

They opened up the gates, unintentionally aiding the Bolshevik's seizure of power.

What was the key outcome of the Bolshevik's dissolution of the Constituent Assembly in January 1918?

It consolidated Lenin's power by removing a democratically elected body that favored the SRs.

What action did Lenin take to minimize opposition after dissolving the Constituent Assembly?

He used the All-Russian Congress of Soviets and ignored calls for a socialist coalition.

What was the significance of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, 1918?

It ended Russia's participation in World War I but resulted in significant territorial losses and national humiliation.

What internal conflict did the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk lead to within Russia?

It led to the Russian Civil War between the Red Army (Bolsheviks) and the White Army (anti-Bolshevik factions).

What groups comprised of the White Army during the Russian Civil War?

The White Army consisted of tsarist supporters, provisional government supporters, bourgeoisie, left-wing parties (Mensheviks and SR), nationalists, and allies of WW1.

How did the Bolsheviks' centralized control benefit them during the Civil War?

Better communication, efficient order execution from Petrograd, same ideology, and organization.

What methods did Lenin use to centralize power during and after the Civil War?

War Communism, political centralisation through the Party nomenklatura, and terror to suppress opposition.

What was the Tenth Party Congress of 1921 significance?

Lenin banned factions within the party as a result of dealing with external opponents giving way to internal opponents.

What was the cause and outcome of the Tambov Revolt (1920-21)?

The revolt was caused by peasant uprising due to grain requisitioning. It was brutally crushed by Bolshevik troops.

What were the Kronstadt sailors demanding during the Kronstadt Mutiny?

The Kronstadt sailors demanded free and fair elections of new soviets; political prisoners should be released.

Why introduced the NEP reforms at the 1921 Party Congress?

Lenin recognized that the people were deeply dissatisfied with the regime and the NEP liberalized the economy.

How did the resolution 'On Party Unity' strengthen Lenin's position?

Banning factions inside of the Party and making opposition to his policies difficult to organize.

What was the Cheka and its role in Bolshevik terror?

The Cheka was a secret police force that operated outside the law to suppress counter-revolution, sabotage, and speculation.

What was the Nomenklatura System introduced by the Bolsheviks?

A way to ensure more committed Communist bureaucracy. A list of approved party members suitable for jobs in the government.

What was the purpose of the Soviet Constitution of 1924?

To set up the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) that power centralised under the Party in Moscow.

How did the Politburo gain prominence over the Sovnarkom?

The Politburo met up daily and became more important than the Sovnarkom.

Describe Lenin's attitude toward personal power

Preferred a collective leadership where ideas were discussed but had serious power. He dismissed all allegations of a personal dictatorship as 'utter nonsense'.

What were key aspects of Lenin's legacy upon his death in 1924?

Creating a Dictatorship of the Proletariat, The institution of the Nomenklatura system and replacement of workers; government and specialists.

What role did the Lenin Enrolment play in Stalin's rise to power?

Stalin made the jobs and filled them with members who swore loyalty to Stalin.

How did Stalin exploit the idea of 'Socialism in One Country' to remove political opponents?

Stalin was able to make claim that Trotsky, Zinoviev, and Kamenev were Trotskyites.

What was the Chistka from 1932 to 1935.

New purge of party membership was carried out the removal of officials who were concerned with the new 5 year plan and agricultural collectivisation.

Describe what led up to the Murder of Kirov in 1934

Kiroy was murdered by Leonid Nikalyev Kirov was becoming more popular in the Party he became more popular in the Party even gaining more votes than Stalin himself.

What was the purpose and the outcome of the Trial of the 16, 1936?

The outcome led to the execution of Zinoviev, Kamenev and 14 of their supporters.

What made the Soviet constitution of 1936 a facade?

Only candidates from the communist party could stand, and it didn't matter who voted only who counted the votes.

What change that emphasized stalin's power during ww2.

From 1928, Stalin had been the most powerful man in the Communist Party and in 1941 Stalin became Chair of Sovnarkom – the most senior committee in order to ensure better co-ordination of government.

In what ways did Stalin promote effective government during the war.

Ended mass terror to help them work more efficiently during war and grew state power to let State Ministers make important decisions.

How did Stalin encourage competition between party and state after WW2?

Appointing rival personnel to key positions in the Party and State, and shifted power from the Party to the state.

How might The Leningrad Affair, 1949 have been part of a struggle to replace leadership?

There were officials to the senior officials, rivals to Stalin and the death of Zhdanov may have impacted his removal.

One way that Stalin used was to test loyalty of his allies.

He did this was to imprison or sack the wives and daughters of the senior figures in the government

What did Nikitia Khrushchev focus on reforming the soviet system?

Key features of decentralisation included: By 1961, half of those executed during Stalin’s reign were rehabilitated and regular Presidium meetings.

How was labor used prior to Khrushchev's reforms?

Prison labor was no longer used and Gulag population dropped from 2.4 million in 1953 to 1.6 million in 1956.

How far was K’s reforms of the government successful to the extent extent of de-Stalinisation

Khrushchev biggest political achievement was ending the use of terror.

Why did Stalin remove Kirov from control.

Was not good friends with his allies eg Mao from China who was Pro- Stalin.

Why was Khruschev removed.

Unpopularity of Khrushchev: economic mistake and humiliating backdown during the Cuban missile crisis, and problematic behaviour (loose cannon).