New Leaders And Ideologies

Question 1

When was the October Revolution and what did it create

Answer 1

1917- a new Bolsheviks government who act first and justify later

Question 2

Who did the Bolsheviks wish to influence by the revolution, how where they wrong

Answer 2

Wished that Germany would follow in their lead as they were in a good position for a revolution. Russia wanted peace with Germany, despite knowing that peace would only strengthen the government they wished to destroy

Question 3

What did Trotsky began after the cease fire, what did it lead to

Answer 3

Trotsky began peace negotiations in December 1917, this led to Germany demanding large parts of Russia’s land

Question 4

How was the Bolsheviks split after the 1917 revolution

What did Lenin want

Answer 4

Bukharin vs Trotsky
Bukharin- revolutionary war groups. Need for unity over ideology. Wanted to peruse war and spread communism but this would go against what the Bolsheviks had promised.
Trotsky- wanted neither peace nor war.

Lenin had a pragmatic view and argued to accept the German terms

Question 5

What was the negative outcome of the October revolution

What did this set direction for

Answer 5

The treaty of Brest- Litovsk signed March 3rd 1918. After Lenin threatened twice to resign.
Set direction for “socialism at home” taking priority over spread of international revolution. Set foundation for statins later “soviet first” approach.

Question 6

What approach did Lenin wish to take with the Bolshevik party and there ruling

Answer 6

A conventional Marxist view “hands of the people”. His slogan “all power to the soviets”
In his book “state and revolution” Lenin suggested how the people would see the government in their interests and support it. It also suggested the people managing their own affairs and a reduction in state bureaucracy.

Question 7

What did Lenin do to support his “ all power to the soviets” slogan

How can it be argued that Lenin had little choice in this

Answer 7

Lenin’s land decrees (October)
Control in factories (November)

Peasants were already seizing land and workers already taking over factories.

Question 8

How was the government initial ran after the abdication of Nicholas II

Answer 8

The Petrograd soviet shared powers with the provisional government in 1917

Question 9

What did Lenin create when they Bolsheviks took over

What did this show

Answer 9

The Bolshevik only Sovnarkom

That Lenin had no intention on sharing power with other soviets particularly the Mensheviks and social revolutionaries despite their shared Marxist heritage.

Question 10

How did the sovnarkom rule

Answer 10

Ruled by decree without seeking approval of the soviets. They met once or twice a day and the soviet met less frequently.

Question 11

How long did the Soviet remain to meet?

Despite the sovnarkom, who kept their power

Answer 11

Until the 1930’s although they had little influence

The local soviets still kept their power but followed a new Bolshevik/ communists power structure

Question 12

Who did Lenin allow to join the sovnarkom, why was this changed

Answer 12

Allowed some left wing SR’s to join in November but followed was protests for purely Bolsheviks only, zinoviev and kamenev resigned temporarily as they favoured a broad socialist governement

Question 13

What evidence shows that there was disagreement towards the one party state

Why did Lenin not want this

Answer 13

Petitions from factories and army demanded a more broad socialist government and the railway men strike in November showed the want for a democratic government

Lenin feared that other socialists leaders would not work with him and would dilute his vision for he future

Question 14

Why was the dispersal of the constituent Assemble in January 1918 significant

Answer 14

Showed Lenin’s vision for a one party state, furthermore showed his lack of tolerance for opposition when civilians demonstrated against the action and were fired at leaving 12 dead.

Question 15

How did Lenin justify the dispersal of the constituent assemble

Answer 15

Lenin write in state and revolution that in order to provide dictatorship of the proletariat there needs to be a strong party. Lenin claimed that the Bolsheviks were working in coalition with the SR’s and this was a highly form of democracy.
However the shallow attempt of justification was shown when the coalition broke up.

Question 16

Why did the coalition between the Bolsheviks and SR’s break up

Answer 16

The left wing SR’s walked out of the sovnarkom in protests against the treaty of Brest- Litovski

Question 17

What title did the party adopt in March 1918

Answer 17

The communist party

Question 18

What did Lenin believe that he could do alone

Answer 18

Make a utopian Marxists state become reality

Question 19

What was created in December 1917

What did this confirm

Answer 19

The Cheka

Confirmed that the dictatorship of the proletariat would require the active repression of counter revolutionary enemies

Question 20

What did the new communist party begin to be associated with

Answer 20

Terror and repression as the Bolsheviks fought against their political enemies including former tsarists to right wing SR’s in a period known as the civil war

Question 21

What changes were made in response to the civil war

Answer 21

• the demand for obedience to the party tightened
• war communism was introduced to deal with food shortages
• terror was used to enforce new measures and eradicate opposition
• more centralised system of government

Question 22

What reinforced that pragmatism was more important than ideology after the civil war

Answer 22

Lenin’s readiness to ‘change course’ after the war caused for him to have a change in heart and allowed for more capitalised practices for example the NEP which had small scale of capitalism within.

Question 23

What problems came with Lenins change in heart

Answer 23

• Lenin refused to admit that he made any errors which meant that the party was ‘never wrong’
• Lenin successfully argued the ban of factions

Question 24

How did the years of the civil war change the ideology of the Bolsheviks party regarding views towards ethnic minorities

Answer 24

Lenin had early supported ‘national self determination ‘ for ethnic minorities after the civil war this was abandoned and all independent movements were denounced as ‘counter revolutionary’
Georgia was crushed for trying to fight for independence by Stalin ( general secretary at the time) even though he was Georgian himself

Question 25

Why was the Bolsheviks forced to overthrow an independent socialist regime in Georgia

Answer 25

During the years of the civil war Georgia had been in the hands of the Mensheviks. However after the war the Mensheviks were overthrow by the Georgian people in a Bolsheviks rise ( as Stalin told Lenin) and both Trotsky and Stalin were appalled when they heard that heavy fighting was taking place and that people were supporting the Mensheviks and independence, this lead to an independent socialist regime by armed forces

Question 26

What features came into place between 1921 and 1924 which became key features in the Stalinist years

Answer 26

- fierce attack in churches - tightened censorship - powers of the secret police were extended

Question 27

How were the Mensheviks and SRs treated after the civil war

Answer 27

- No mercy shows - Martov ( leader ) left the country - 5000 arrested for counter revolutionary activities - 1922 - a group of imprisoned SRs were put to show trails and accused of plotting to assassinate Lenin = 34 leaders being condemned, 11 executed and the party outlawed

Question 28

How did Lenin die

Answer 28

1918 Lenin was shot in the neck and although recovered in the year of 1922 he had 3 strokes which left him unable to speak and partially paralysed in 1923 he was mute and bed ridden and died Jan 1924

Question 29

What was said in Lenins testament and why was it never read

Answer 29

Lenin wrote a testament to be read at his death, he did not nominate and future leader but criticised members of the politburo including zinoviev, kamenev, bukharin, Trotsky and particularly Stalin especially after the Georgian affair and after Stalin insulted his wife. Lenin referred to Stalin " personal rudeness, unnecessary roughness and lack of finesse" suggesting that " comrades should think of a way of removing Stalin from his post" The testament was never read in public and instead the central committee decided amount themselves to suppress it and this played into statins hands

Question 30

Who were the leader ship candidates after Lenins death

Answer 30

Zinoviev, kamenev, bukharin, Trotsky and Stalin

Question 31

Who had most chance to succeed as leader when Lenin died and why

Answer 31

Trotsky Had the army behind him, was a close associate with Lenin, Lenin said he's the most able man in the central committee. Arrogant and uncompromising personality

Question 32

Discuss Stalin's route to leadership Stage 1 1922-24

Answer 32

- triumvirate alliance is formed between Stalin, Zinoviev and kamenev to get rid of Trotsky - 12th party congress - a new enlarged cc was created and only 3 are strong supporters of Trotsky - Stalin uses his position as general sec to gain support at a local level - Lenin dies and Stalin gives Trotsky the wrong date for his funeral. In his absence Stalin makes a speech

Question 33

Discuss Stalin's route to leadership Stage 2 1924-27

Answer 33

- Lenins widow gives his testament to the cc before the 13th party congress and Zinoviev and kamenev argue against its publication - Trotskys speech in the party congress favours democracy but is defeated by stalins defeated and Zinoviev and kamenev blocs. Trotsky does not argue against because of the ban on factions. - Trotsky publishes "lessons of October " to show how zinoviev and kamenev have gone against Lenin and Stalin is not mentioned - Trotsky is taking from his position as commissar of war - 14th PC Stalin supports bukharin on the right and Zinoviev and kamenev attack Stalin and call for a vote of no confidence but they loose every vote as the delegates are largely Stalinist. - creates a Stalinist - bukharin majority - Zinoviev is forced to step down as leader of the Leningrad party for Kirov - Zinoviev and kamenev join Trotsky and Stalin gets Zinoviev removed for ban of factions - Zinoviev and Trotsky are expelled from the party and kamenev removed from central committee

Question 34

Discuss Stalin's route to leadership Stage 3 1928-9

Answer 34

- Trotsky deported to a remote spot near he chinease boarder - Bukharin contacts Trotsky in desperation and so Stalin has him removed through ban of factions - Stalin has Trotsky deported to Constantinople - bukharin is removed from his post as editor of the Pravda - bukharin and his supports Rykov and Tomsky are removed from the politburo - Stalin celebrates his 50th as soviet leader

Question 35

From 1921 Why was there a split over economy in the communists party

Answer 35

Lenins new economic policy of 1921 allowed some private enterprise which had been controversial with some strict Marxists teaching

Question 36

Who made up the left and the right of the party in 1921 | What did the two different sides want for the economy

Answer 36

Left- Trotsky, Zinoviev and kamenev Right- bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky Left- abandon the NEP Right- supported it

Question 37

Why was there splits over nature of the leadership

Answer 37

Many of the party wanted to abandon central leadership principles. Many agreed that it was necessary in the civil way but not after 1924. Instead they sought collective controls, through a committee of equals - mainly by those who feared the dominance of Trotsky

Question 38

How did Stalin benefit from Lenins decisions

Answer 38

- Ban of factions - change from election to appointment writhing the party hierarchy - growth of central control during the civil war provided them a frame work