I am revising for an upcoming exam and I have to discuss Russia & the Soviet Union from 1917-1945, one of the syllabus points is the Bolshevik Consolidation of power from 1917-1934 and since I use palm cards to help me study, there isn't a lot of room to fit. I don't want anyone to go into a lot of detail, but more help me in the right direction for what you lovely people believe are the main points I should include on the palm card. (I have 16 lines if it helps)
Thank you!
They main point why the bolsheviks really gained traction was their opposition to the war. The Social revolutionaries, which were the largest party, could have ended the war, like the Bolsheviks later on, but they didn't for various reasons (among them their alliance with the liberals). This even led to a split among themselves. So I think the stance on the war is one of THE main points.
Up until 1934 the other main points are obviously the end of the Civil War and the crushing of the Opposition within and after that time, and with Lenins Death and Stalins ascension the destruction of any possible party opposition. Also the extremly rapid industriaisation under Stalin.
It is kinda hard to take only a few points of that given timeframe since so much happened and a lot of stuff is really important as it took a lot of follow-ups.