Chapter 5- consolidation of communist dictatorship Flashcards
(20 cards)
1
Q
why did the Bolsheviks need to establish one party control
A
- came to power claiming they were acting in the interests of working class
- encouraged people to think revolution was a popular rising
- concept of, ‘western democracy,’ didn’t exist and so they wouldn’t compete for votes, and allow for different views and policy to exist
2
Q
How did Lenin propose to consolidate Bolshevik power?
A
- require repression of counter revolutionary elements
- In his, ‘State and revolution,’ published in 1917 he argued that revolutionary morality justified strong action
- believed he was acting in the interests of the working class and this was all the justification needed
3
Q
how did the constituent assembly votes turn out?
A
- Lenin permitted these to take place in November 1917
- 41 million votes were cast
- Srs won 410 seats and 53% of the vote, Bolsheviks 175 with 24%
4
Q
Early problems with the constituent assembly
A
- Lenin declared, ‘we must not be deceived by the election figures. Elections prove nothing.’
- When the assembly met on the 5th Jan 1918, Kadets had been outlawed for expressing approval for Alexei Kaledin, a cossack general who has begun a counter-revolutionary rebellion in the don region
- Bolsheviks proposed meeting be run by LWSR Maria Spiridovna but were overrun by RWSR choosing Chernov
5
Q
how was the assembly closed
A
- constituent assembly forcibly closed and when civilians protested, 12 were killed
- contradicted marxist power to the people but Lenin wrote for a need for a strong party to provide for the dictatorship of the proletariat
- Lenin claimed his party was acting in the interests of the people
6
Q
Lenin quote about constituent assemby
A
’ the dissolution of the constituent assembly means the complete and open repudiation of democracy in favour of dictatorship,’
7
Q
secondary political control exerted by the Bolsheviks
A
- increasingly difficult for Mensheviks and SRs to exist
- decree on the press Oct 1917 curbed their ability to publish own newspapers
- bourgeoisie lost their right to vote in the new government structure in July 1918
- 1921 all other political parties banned
8
Q
problems with the war when the Bolsheviks came into power
A
- they had promised peace but Germany was occupying a lot of Russian territory and would demand big successions.
- Trotsky did not want peace but Lenin was not as concerned
9
Q
why did Lenin wish for peace
A
- ideologically, Lenin thought the revolution would engulf Germany and German workers would join their comrades in Russia
- Lenin knew russians could not stop the Germans and there had to be a compromise
10
Q
first stage of war negotiations
A
- Trotsky negotiated armistice December 1917 but the Bolsheviks were divided
- Bukharin led revolutionary war group wishing to fight to defend socialism but others saw this as a betrayal of their promise for peace
- Trotsky dragged proceedings out because he hoped Germany would have its own revolution, calling his approach neither peace nor war.
- this angered German negotiators who knew propaganda was being used to stir up mutiny in German army. Hindenburg said Russia was acting like the victor
11
Q
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
A
- Germans began to renew advance into Russia so the treaty signed 3rd March 1918 and ratified by emergency congress
12
Q
terms of the treaty
A
- Russia lost massive territory such as Finland, Ukraine, Poland and Germany and AH declared they would be able to determine the future fate of these territories
- 62 million people lost and 2 million sqkm of land that produced 1/3 of agriculture
- 75% of iron and coal supplies gone, Russia paid 3 billion roubles in reparation
- Russia divided- Lenin said it was robbers peace but many LWSRs disagreed strongly
13
Q
how did Lenin push through the treaty
A
- Lenin threatened to resign twice
- Trotsky, Stalin and Zinoviev supported Lenin although Trotsky unwillingly
- Bukharin and Kamenev voted against the terms and it was only agreed by a majority of one
14
Q
effect of the treaty
A
- set precedent that socialism at home was more important than international revolution
- confirmed Russia would be a one party state as LWSRs walked out of Sovnarkom in protest
- Bolsheviks formally adopted the title the, ‘Communist Party,’ in March 1918
15
Q
Decrees in first months of 1918
A
- Jan 1918 workers in charge of railways
- Red guards demobilised and new Red army out of workers and peasants created
- March 1918 capital moved to Moscow
16
Q
religious attack
A
- church and state separated and Church’s judicial powers, assets and right to own property seized.
- religious printing press closed down and clergy disenfranchised with no civil rights
- Priests drafted into Red army and some prominent bishops imprisoned
- Gregorian calendar adopted in Feb 1918
17
Q
industry and land decrees
A
- Land given to those who would use it for good of community not profit
- socialisation of land essentially- which had been popularised earlier by the SRs.
18
Q
1918 constitution
A
- Russian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic proclaimed in July 1918
- stated power was with All-Russian Congress of Soviets made of deputies from elected local soviets
-Central Executive Committee would oversee power and elect Sovnarkom
19
Q
limitations to the democracy of the constitution
A
- vote reserved for toiling masses and, ‘exploiting classes,’ were excluded
- workers vote weighted five to one against peasants for election of ARCS
- In reality Sovnarkom was chosen by the communist party.
- Congress would only meet at intervals so Sovnarkom still had power
- Structure centralised and party was the focus of power
20
Q
problems after the constituion
A
- principle of, ‘he who does not work does not eat,’ threat to Russians who relied on ration cards
- Constitution welcomed non Russians but many did not want to be part o Russia and whether they should be forced or not became a debate
