Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
98 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
What was Russian Society like before the revolutions? |
Backward, "the sick man of Europe" 90% of Russia was peasantry 60% of Russia were illiterate Wealth concentrated in a small elite |
|
|
How was Russia governed under the Tsars? |
Autocratic rule by Tsar and his elite Russia had a Parliament, Duma, but Tsar didn't use it Nicholas 2 did not want to rule |
|
|
What was the impact of WW1 on Russia? |
Food shortages 1.7 million deaths Poor organisation of army, constant defeats Tsar's wife ran the country poorly |
|
|
What was the February Revolution? |
1917, republicans staged a coup Tsar Nicholas was forced to abdicate Army refused to fight, and some even mutinied Established a provisional government |
|
|
What was the October Revolution? |
1917, Lenin staged a coup of the Government Gained support of the Army Provisional government removed |
|
|
What was Lenin's adaptation of Marxist ideology? |
Dictatorship of the Proletariat, where the Bolsheviks took over the country and facilitated communism. |
|
|
What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk? |
The agreement to pull Russia out of World War 1, signed in 1918. |
|
|
What were the terms of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk? |
Russia would surrender unconditionally The Baltic States would be given to Germany Independence of Ukraine recognised |
|
|
When was the Russian Civil War? |
1918-1921 |
|
|
What were the causes of the Russian Civil War? |
The Bolsheviks had made lots of enemies The new government was unstable and would be easy to topple The WW1 Allies were concerned about the "permanent revolution" |
|
|
Why did the Reds win the Civil War? |
Control of the railways Control of most factories in industrial centres Supported by the already-formed Red Army |
|
|
How did the Civil War lead to a one-party state? |
Lenin dismissed the Constituent assembly, and ruled a "dictatorship of the proletariat" by decree |
|
|
What was the Red Terror? |
A campaign of murder and torture lead by the Cheka in 1918 in Moscow and Petrograd, after a failed assassination attempt on Lenin. |
|
|
What was the Red Army? |
A Bolshevik-controlled army formed in 1917 from the Imperial Russian army. |
|
|
What was War Communism? |
A doctrine used during the Civil War to ensure military success through measures such as control of factories and grain requisitioning. |
|
|
How did the Russian Civil War change the Communist Party? |
They began to rely on intellectuals and the middle class to run the state and help win the Civil War. |
|
|
What were the early problems the Bolsheviks faced in 1917? |
Reactionaries trying to launch a counter-coup SRs had a majority in the Constituent Assembly Revolution concentrated in cities, not country |
|
|
How did the Bolsheviks deal with opposition from the left in 1917? |
Allowed them to participate in the Assembly SRs had junior roles in the new government |
|
|
What was the constituent assembly? |
A lower house of 703 elected representatives formed to legitimise Lenin's control over Russia. |
|
|
When did Lenin call the constituent assembly? |
November 1917 |
|
|
What were the results of the constituent assembly elections? |
SRs - 380 deputies Bolsheviks - 168 deputies |
|
|
What was the All-Russian Congress of Soviets? |
A body of delegates representing every Soviet in the USSR, and the sole parliament of the USSR after 1918. |
|
|
How did Lenin deal with other political parties after the Civil War? |
February 1921, Cheka authorised to destroy opposition parties 22 SRs put on trial in 1922 and sentenced to exile |
|
|
When did the Bolshevik Party become the Communist Party? |
The Tenth Party Congress, 1921 |
|
|
When was the Tenth Party Congress? |
March 1921 |
|
|
What was the Kronsdat Mutiny? |
A 1921 rebellion at the Kronsdat Naval Base, under the banner "Soviets without Communists" |
|
|
What was the Tambov Uprising? |
A 1920 uprising of 50,000 peasants against grain requisitioning. |
|
|
What was the ban on factions? |
A decree that outlawed belonging to a faction that opposed Lenin - deliberately vague on details and used to purge enemies of the state. |
|
|
When was the ban on factions announced? |
The Tenth Party Congress, in 1921, during the speech "On Party Unity". |
|
|
What is democratic centralism? |
The idea that the Communists should allow varied debate on policy, but once a policy was agreed on, should be upheld by the entire party. |
|
|
What were the three tiers of the State under Lenin? |
Sovnarkom The All-Russian Congress of Soviets Local workers' councils, or Soviets |
|
|
What was the Central Executive Committee? |
A central body of 100 members who 'governed' Russia on a day-to-day basis. |
|
|
What were Lenin's first 4 decrees? |
The October 1917 Decree on Land The October 1917 Decree of Peace The November 1917 Worker's Decree The April 1918 Decree of Worker's Control |
|
|
What was the Politburo? |
A committee of around 7 members formed in October 1917, and consisting of Lenin's key allies. |
|
|
What was the nomenklatura? |
A system of patronage where high-ranking communists controlled appointments of lower-ranking communists. |
|
|
What was the Soviet Constitution of 1924? |
A document that entrenched the Communist government in power, with a centralised rule. |
|
|
When did Lenin die? |
January 1924 |
|
|
When did Stalin emerge as undisputed leader of the Soviet Union? |
1929 |
|
|
What was Stalin's role in the Communist Party before 1924? |
General Secretary of the Politburo, an administrative position. |
|
|
Who were Stalin's main rivals for power? |
Zinoviev Kamanev Trotsky Bukharin |
|
|
What were the main issues in the post-Lenin power struggle? |
Collectivisation vs industrialisation Permanent revolution vs socialism in one country Lenin's true heir |
|
|
What is permanent revolution? |
An ideology, supported by Trotsky, that said that the USSR should incite a world revolution. |
|
|
What is socialism in one country? |
An ideology, supported by Stalin, that said that the USSR should become a strong, isolated communist state. |
|
|
What was the triumvirate? |
An alliance of Zinoviev, Kamanev and Stalin against Trotsky in 1923, ended when Stalin betrayed Zinoviev and Kamanev. |
|
|
What was the duumvirate? |
An alliance of Bukharin and Stalin in 1925, ended when Stalin betrayed Bukharin. |
|
|
What were the Chistkas? |
Peaceful purges, run by the Cheka, that did not end in executions. |
|
|
What was Lenin's secret testimony? |
A document Lenin wrote before he died, that was concealed by Stalin, then concealed by the rest of the Politburo, as it was critical of all of them. |
|
|
When was the Great Terror? |
1935-1938 |
|
|
What were the show trials? |
Trials of Stalin's enemies to defame them and make an example of their 'disloyalty'. |
|
|
What was the Yezhovshchina? |
The most severe and deadly part of the Great Terror, led by Yezhov. |
|
|
What were the causes of the purges? |
Economic Issues Stalin's loss at the Congress of Victors Opposition within the Politburo The murder of Kirov |
|
|
What was the Stalin Constitution of 1936? |
A theoretically democratic constitution that rearranged Soviet government, but had Stalin and the Communist Party firmly in control. |
|
|
What opposition did Stalin face before 1934? |
Kirov and supporters within the Communist Party Peasants opposed to collectivisation Minority groups such as the Church |
|
|
When was the murder of Kirov? |
December 1934 |
|
|
Why was the murder of Kirov important? |
It was the death of Stalin's only threat to power It prompted the Great Terror |
|
|
What were the secret trials? |
The trial and usually execution of Red Army Generals in 1937, who Stalin believed were disloyal. |
|
|
When was the Trial of the 16? |
1936 |
|
|
Who were the 'stars' of the Trial of the 16? |
Zinoviev and Kamanev |
|
|
When was the Trial of the 17? |
1937 |
|
|
When was the Trial of the 21? |
1938 |
|
|
Who was the 'star' of the Trial of the 21? |
Bukharin |
|
|
What was a Kulak? |
A peasant who profited from the relaxing of controls on the market, and became richer. |
|
|
What were the limits on Stalin's power? |
Refusal of party members to work efficiently Passive resistance by the Soviet Population |
|
|
What was High-Stalinism? |
The postwar period, when Stalin had zero opposition to his policy. |
|
|
What were Khrushchev's early reforms? |
Virgin Lands Campaign, 1953 Massive house building Anti-Bueracracy campaign Destalinisation, Secret Speech |
|
|
Who were the contenders in the power struggle after Stalin's death? |
Khrushchev Molotov Malenkov |
|
|
What was Malenkov's claim to power after the death of Stalin? |
Loyalty to the bueracracy Support from the Party |
|
|
How did Beria try to take control after the death of Stalin? |
Seize control of the Politburo through the secret police Failed, he was executed |
|
|
Why did Khrushchev emerge as leader of the coalition? |
Malenkov's industrial policy failed The politburo installed Khrushchev as First Secretary |
|
|
What were Beria's reforms? |
Reduce the power of the MVD Release poilitical prisoners and dissidents Allow republics to speak their native language` |
|
|
What was de-Stalinisation? |
The process of reversing many of Stalin's reforms to the Communist party and the USSR, undertaken by Khrushchev. |
|
|
When was the Secret Speech? |
20th Party Congress, February 1956 |
|
|
What was the Secret Speech? |
A speech given by Khrushchev to the 20th Party Congress, massively criticising Stalin personally. |
|
|
What was not criticised in the Secret Speech? |
The Party itself, of the country. Only Stalin and his policy was attacked.
|
|
|
What was Gosplan? |
The State Planning Committee, responsible for economic planning in the USSR. |
|
|
What were Khrushchev's final reforms? |
Removal of Stalin's body from display Fixed term jobs for the Party Splitting of the Party into two halves |
|
|
What was democratisation? |
The policy of involving workers in the political process, by expanding party membership to 11 million and introducing fixed terms for Party positions. |
|
|
What was decentralisation? |
The devolving of power to local economic councils. |
|
|
What was the Anti-Party group? |
A group of the Presidium, led by Malenkov, who tried to oust Khrushchev, which failed as Khrushchev had the support of the Central Committee. |
|
|
How did Khrushchev fall from power? |
The Presidium privately denounced him, used the Central Committee to oust him, and publicly he stepped down due to ill health. |
|
|
When did Brezhnev become leader of the USSR? |
1964 |
|
|
What was the key theme of Brezhnev's government? |
Stability and Stagnation |
|
|
What was the initial aim of Brezhnev's government? |
To reverse Khrushchev's reforms, undergoing de-destalinisation |
|
|
Who was Kosygin? |
The premier of the USSR who ruled in a duumvirate with Brezhnev. |
|
|
What was 'trust in cadres'? |
The discouragement of promotions and demotions in the government, to ensure there was no patronage. |
|
|
Who were the Dnepropetrovorsk mafia? [Dne-pro-petro-vorsk] |
The group of Ukranian party leaders who took on senior positions in the government. |
|
|
Which of Khrushchev's reforms did Brezhnev abolish? |
Brezhnev recentralised the economy He ended the split between agriculture and industry He reestablished the superiority of the party |
|
|
What is subjectivism? |
The ethical idea that there is no such thing as morality. |
|
|
What is first among equals? |
A principle of cabinet government, where every member of a cabinet is equal, but a single leader is looked to for guidance and advice. |
|
|
When was the Brezhnev constitution published? |
1977 |
|
|
What did the Brezhnev constitution establish? |
The supremacy of the party over the state.
|
|
|
What is an oligarchy? |
Rule by the nobility, usually the richest or most influential members of a society. |
|
|
What was the gerontocracy? |
As party members did not move jobs, they simply aged in their own jobs, and there was no fresh talent. |
|
|
Why did corruption exist during the Brezhnev period? |
Officials could not get promoted, and so they used other means to become rich. |
|
|
What corruption existed during the Brezhnev period? |
Party officials sold their goods on a black market, including Brezhnev's daughter. |
|
|
Who were the two leaders after Brezhnev? |
Andropov, died 1984 Chernenko, died 1985 |
|
|
What did Andropov achieve during his leadership? |
Anti-corruption campaign Economic reforms focusing on labour discipline Abandonment of 'trust in cadres' |
|
|
What did Chernenko achieve as leader of the USSR? |
Nothing, Gorbachev did most things on his behalf. |
