Lenin in Power

1. What was the Sovnarkom?
The Council of People's Commissars. It immediately began giving what Lenin promised, peace, bread, and land.

2. Why was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk bad for Russia?
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was bad for Russia because it suffered huge losses, including a third of it's land, just over half of it's industry, 89 percent of it's coal mines, a quarter of it's agricultural land, and was charged with a massive fine of 300 gold million roubles.

3. Who were the "Whites"?
A group of Bolshevik opposers from inside and outside of Russia.

4.. Read Source 3. What evidence does it provide of Lenin's
a) political skill
He saw an obstacle that had to be overcome, and he stated his intentions of overcoming this obstacle without clearly stating the ruthless methods he had in mind.

b) ruthlessness
The Bourgoisie was an obstacle that was against Lenin's rise, and his plan was just to get rid of the middle class members that got in his way. He had no mercy and was fully prepared to kill anyone that might get in his way to absolute power.

5. Use Sources 5 and 7 to describe how the Civil War affected ordinary people.
The ordinary people of Russsia hated the Bolsheviks, because the Red Army would send armed soldiers to forcibly take their grain, and punishment for military offense was death. People were arrested frequently, and held in prison for months without trial. The middle class was completely oppressed, and weren't allowed to sell things or run their businesses. People all over Petrograd died from starvation. Also, people were in a war zone, and if the fighting reached their village, they paid a price for doing nothing wrong to whichever side wins over the village in battle. The common people were suffering during the civil war.

6. "Most Russians saw the Bolsheviks as the lesser of two evils." With reference to Sources 5, 7, 13 and 16 explain whether or not you agree with this statement or not.