Lenin in Power

1. Read Source 20. What aspects of War Communism are the sailors most angry about? Would you expect peasants in Russia to feel the same?
The sailors are most angry that the Russian people, expecting better freedom, were only thrown into worse slavery and suffering, and their hard working country had turned into a country of war. The Russian symbol of a working country, the sickle and hammer, had become the bayonets and barred windows of the Communists. Peasants in Russia most likely feel the same. They were hoping for bread, peace, and land, but all they got was more suffering, starvation, and war.

2. Does the evidence of Source 23 prove the NEP was a success? Explain your answer with reference to Sources 22, 24 and 25
Source 23 shows that the NEP was, in fact successful. Source 22 shows Lenin's talent with words in the way he assures the people that it has good intentions, and that it was meant to prepare the people for communism. Source 24 shows high hopes for the NEP. It shows confidence that the NEP will rebuild Russia, and says that the future is bring because of it. However, the conditions for the workers were not improved. Wages were still low and the work was still difficult. This meant nothing to Lenin, though, because he was ruthless and had no sympathy whatsoever for the people.

3. From all you have found about Lenin, do you agree with Source 26? Why or why not?
Lenin did a lot to change Russia, and completely turned it around. He led a revolution, changed the government, then started heading Russia towards communism. He was ruthless, and used brutal methods, but he hanged Russia, and helped to rebuild it with his NEP. He did indeed help Russia, however evil he was at times.

How did the Bolsheviks consolidate their rule?
4. Write an explanation of how the Bolsheviks made their rule more secure. Mention the following:
-The power of the Red Army
-Treatment of oppostion
-War Communism
-The New Economic Policy
-The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
-The victory in the Civil War
-The Promise of a new society
-Propaganda
-Is any one of the above factors more important than any of the others? Explain.

The Bolsheviks consolidated their rule by granting the people some reforms to make them happy, but including other reforms to grant them ultimate power. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk got Russia out of the war, with massive costs, and brought peace to Russia. The Bolsheviks promised to revolutionize Russia, bring a new, better society, and make life for everyone better I'm general. All throughout the Bolsheviks' quest to gain support, they were feeding the media tons of propaganda, which convinced many people and gained the Bolsheviks more support, and therefore more power. Then they began to use force to gain their power. Their Red Army collected goods from the people, and punished those who disobeyed. Any opposition was treated with brutality, and eliminated by the Red Army. The practice of War Communism kept the Red Army supplied, because people were forced to give up food and supplies, and all business was controlled by the state. As a result, the Red Army was able to win the Civil War and crush the opposition to their rule. However, the people were extremely unhappy, and Lenin eventually decided to issue the New Economic Policy, a temporary policy to build up Russia's economy. He said it was like taking a step back in order to get a running start and jump further, which in turn would gain him even more power.