Problems in American Democracy Part 23

4. To what extent was the bolshevist const.i.tution liberal?

5. To what extent did it restrict the suffrage?

6. What did the bolshevist const.i.tution say concerning a "red" army?

7. Explain the phrase, "dictators.h.i.+p of the proletariat."

8. How did the bolshevists suppress democracy in Russia?

9. Outline the steps by which the bolshevists destroyed capitalism.

10. What were the effects of this destruction?

11. Why did Lenin return to capitalism?

12. Was bolshevism given a fair trial?

13. What was the fate of bolshevist propaganda beyond Russia?

REQUIRED READINGS

1. Williamson, _Readings in American Democracy_, chapter xv.

Or all of the following:

2. Bloomfield, _Modern Industrial Movements_, pages 295-302.

3. Bolshevist const.i.tution, reprinted in the above reference, pages 243-258; copies may also be secured by writing to _The Nation_, New York City.

4. Brasol, _Socialism versus Civilisation_, chapter iii.

QUESTIONS ON THE REQUIRED READINGS

1. What occurred in Russia on October 28, 1917? (Brasol, page 113.)

2. What was the substance of the bolshevist announcement of the overthrow of the Kerensky government? (Brasol, page 114.)

3. What was the att.i.tude of the menshevists toward the bolshevists after the latter had seized control in Russia? (Brasol, pages 120- 122.)

4. What opinion did the bolshevists express with regard to world civilization? (Bolshevist const.i.tution, chapter iii.)

5. In what body did the const.i.tution vest supreme control over the bolshevist government? (Bolshevist const.i.tution, chapter v.)

6. What was the food situation in bolshevist Russia? (Brasol, page 129.)

7. Discuss the output of coal and iron under bolshevist rule. (Brasol pages 132-133.)

8. Describe agricultural conditions under the bolshevists. (Brasol, pages 133-135)

9. Describe the condition of transportation in bolshevist Russia.

(Brasol, pages 135-141.)

10. What were the results of the bolshevist attempt to fix prices by governmental decree? (Brasol, pages 154-155.)

11. What was the att.i.tude of bolshevism toward the peasants?

(Bloomfield, page 297.)

12. What was the relation between bolshevist theory and bolshevist practice? (Bloomfield, pages 299-300.)

TOPICS FOR INVESTIGATION AND REPORT

I

1. Make as thorough a study as the time allows of material appearing in newspapers and magazines, between November, 1917, and the present time, on the subject of bolshevism. (Consult newspaper files, and also the _Readers' Index to Periodical Literature_.)

(a) Cla.s.sify the material according as it consists of direct quotations from bolshevist leaders, or of indirect quotations.

(b) Cla.s.sify the material according as it is favorable to bolshevism, unfavorable, or neutral.

(c) Cla.s.sify the material according as it consists of reports of persons who had themselves actually investigated the situation in Russia, or reports based upon hearsay evidence.

(d) What conclusions do you draw from this study?

II

2. The essential elements of the bolshevist const.i.tution.

3. Bolshevist propaganda in the United States. (_Hearings before a sub-committee of the Committee on the Judiciary, U. S. Senate_.

Government Printing Office, Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C., 1919.)

4. Att.i.tude of the United States government toward bolshevism.

(_Memorandum on certain aspects of the Bolshevist Movement in Russia_, Government Printing Office, Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C., 1919.)

5. Bolshevism and the Russian trade unions. (_Current History Magazine_, published by the New York _Times_, September, 1920.)

6. The character of Lenin. (Bloomfield, _Modern Industrial Movements_, page's 203-271.)

7. Return of the bolshevists to capitalism. (Bloomfield, _Modern Industrial Movements_, pages 291-295.)

8. Socialist attempts to explain or justify the failure of bolshevism.

(Brasol, _Socialism versus Civilisation_, chapter iv.)