Lenin and Bolshevik problems 1917

Question 1

How to govern Russia

Answer 1

• Lenin seized power so many people would be opposed this i.e tsarists, PG.
• Since Lenin and allies were academics they only ever discussed what they would do not if they were successful meaning no plan for the future
• results from constituent assembly(CA) stated that Bolsh only had 24% of vote whereas SRs had half which was a problem
• set up the Sovnarkom (commisars from Bolsh party) - day after votes came in Lenin met with CA on the 6th jan and used red guard to dissolve CA holding them at gunpoint stating that vote was rigged not reflecting the Russian people
• shuts down all opposition by arresting Mensheviks , kadets setting up hierarchy like tsar
  76% of pop feel votes have been ignored and Gorky sees Lenin as trickstar
• Although decision was decisive it created problems like civil war and growth of opposition and seen as inflaming.
• people are angry as they believe votes ignored - opposition since only 24% Bolsh votes.

Question 2

How to keep control

Answer 2

• Since 76% didnt vote for Bolsh they needed to keeo control
• rebranding of the aspects from tsar - okrana=cheka
• role was fotn them to counter Bolsh oppposition
• Other party leaders arrested and put into labour camps/tortured
• detached part of cheka kills the tsar and his family as they posed a threat.
• cheka targeted upper class and put them in labour camps and by 1924 their was 315
• used Red army to control areas and the workers
• DECREE - all non bolsh newspapers banned
• used extreme methods to get rid of opposition and supress as much as he could taking strong control so no future threats could pose a problem
• Tsarists angry and people whose family in labour camps also.

Question 3

War against Germany

Answer 3

• if they kept fighting food shortages would be inevitable - peasants demanding land reform
• Bolsh went to Brest-Litovsk to negotiate peace and Lenin signed peace treaty otherwise they’d march on PetroG
• 1/3 of European Russian land was lost , was extmly devastating
• was very humiliating as they’ve lost sig amount of land from signing treaty

Question 4

Food shortages

Answer 4

• treaty of Brest-Litovsk meant sig loss of land including Ukraine meaning they lost a lot of grain
• food shortages were a huge problem and had no agricultural policies

Question 5

land issues

Answer 5

• peasants were eager for land reform and re distribution of land
• Lenin abolished private property and set up ways to distribute land.
• successful as it stopped to seizers of land appeasing them as it genuinely gave them what they wanted
  HOWEVER
• angered the ruling class as land taken sparking civil war