The Bolsheviks (and Lenin) in
Power: The Final Frontier
Today’s Objective: Did the Bolsheviks succeed
in keeping the people happy between 19171924?
Today’s Outcome – By the end of the lesson I will have
further enhanced my paragraph writing skills, learnt
about War Communism and the NEP AND experienced the
life of Katalina, a Russian peasant.
Starter: How effectively did the Bolsheviks
rule Russia initially, in comparison to the
Tsar?
You have 2 model paragraphs that answer this
question, but they have been muddled up.
You need to sort out the correct order of
them, stick them into your books in the
correct order and then colour code the PEEA
(Point – Evidence using knowledge – Evidence
using source – Analysis) and underline the
evaluation of the source/s.
The Bolsheviks began their rule very differently to the Tsar’s reign, as they
immediately kept their promises and listened to the people’s needs. The Bolshevik
decrees were passed in November and December of 1917 and were designed to keep
the peasants and workers happy, make life easier for the Russian people, yet also
allow the Bolsheviks to maintain a strict degree of control. For example, they reduced
the working day to 8 hours and the working week to 48 hours. They additionally made
divorce easier and allowed marriages to take place without a priest. The impact of
these decrees was commented on by a diplomat (in his diary) living in Russia at the
time. ‘We are living in a madhouse, and in the last few days there has been an
avalanche of decrees... A law is being made to take away even their children from the
bourgeois... In this way differences in education, which are contrary to the sacred
dogma of equality will be avoided, by degrading them all to the same level that is to
say that lowest level of all.’ This source suggests that the Bolsheviks were changing
society rapidly; however, he is unsupportive of these changes. As a foreign diplomat
he would not be used to a communist system and clearly did not approve of some of
the socialist policies adopted by the Bolsheviks. In this sense the source does not
present an impartial view and needs to be treated with caution. An alternative
opinion is presented in this Bolshevik source. ‘Every genuinely democratic power
must, in the domain of education, in a country where illiteracy and ignorance reign
supreme, make its first aim in the struggle against this darkness. It must acquire in the
shortest time universal literacy...it must introduce universal, obligatory, and free
tuition for all.’ Although clearly partial to the Bolsheviks, this source shows their
determination to make Russia a more equal society and give the people, in particular
the peasants what they wanted. This evidence does suggest that the Bolsheviks initial
style of rule was effective in comparison to the Tsar’s, as they were prepared to listen
to the people’s complaints of inequality and illiteracy and did keep their promises
(despite drastic changes) by issuing their decrees which addressed some of the
problems facing the people.
Additionally, the Bolsheviks ruled Russia effectively initially in comparison to the Tsar
because they ended the war which had been plaguing Russian society. Lenin put Trotsky
in charge of negotiating a peace treaty with Germany and Lenin was determined to make
this happen, as it had been one of his promises in the April Thesis. The Treaty of Brest
Litovsk was signed in March 1918 and its terms were harsh. For example, Russia lost 34%
of its population, 32% of its agricultural land and 54% of its industry. It did however
demonstrate Lenin’s single minded leadership and his skill as a politician, as he hoped
that Russia would gain this back when the allies defeated Germany. He recognised that
the terms were severe, but also recognised that the Russian people were exhausted with
the war effort, he therefore, listened to their needs, unlike the Tsar. The following source
from a German soldier demonstrates how harsh the treaty was. ‘The final peace treaty
has been signed with Russia. Our conditions are hard and severe, but our quite
exceptional victories entitle us to demand these…in the last week we have captured the
following men and items of equipment: 6,800 officers, 54,000 men, 2,400 guns, 5,000
machine-guns, 8,000 railway trucks, 8,000 locomotives, 128,000 rifles and 2 million
rounds of artillery ammunition. Yes, there is still some justice left.’ This source, whilst
presenting a clearly one sided view, favorable to Germany, is still useful for indicating
how hard it was for the Bolsheviks to sign this treaty and shows how determined Lenin
must have been to stick to his promise of peace. It is therefore clear that the Bolsheviks
initial rule contrasted considerably to the Tsar’s rule and despite the Treaty of Brest
Litovsk not necessarily being viewed as successful, due to its harshness, it did
demonstrate Lenin’s willingness to address the people’s needs, as the First World War
had drained Russia economically and physically.
Recap from last lesson
• What had Lenin done since seizing power and
what events had occurred in the period up to
1921?
1. Decrees
2. Holding elections and then closing down the
Constituent Assembly
3. Signing Treaty of Brest Litovsk
4. Outbreak of Civil War
5. Red Terror
Lenin’s final Frontier:
War Communism and the NEP
War Communism
This was the name of the harsh economic
measures that the Bolsheviks adopted during
the Civil War.
It’s aims were (1) to put communist theories
into practice by sharing out the wealth of the
country among the people and (2) to help with
the Civil War by keeping towns and the Red
Army supplied with food and weapons.
What did it involve?
• All large factories were taken over by the
government
• Discipline for workers was strict and strikers
could be shot
• Peasants had to hand over surplus food to the
government. If they didn’t they could be shot
• Food was rationed
• Free enterprise became illegal
Consequences of War Communism
It caused terrible hardship.
Peasants refused to
cooperate in producing
more food because it was
just being taken away from
them. This led to food
shortages, which along
with bad weather in 192021 caused a terrible
famine. Some estimates
suggest that 7 million
Russian people died. There
were even reports of
cannibalism.
Summary of War Communism
1. It was the harsh economic measures that the Bolsheviks
adopted during the Civil War.
2. Its aims were to put communist theories into practice by
sharing out the wealth of the country among the people and to
help with the Civil War by keeping towns and the Red Army
supplied with food and weapons.
3. The peasants were treated really harshly as a result of this
policy, for example, they had to hand over surplus grain and if
they didn’t they could be shot. Whether you were an efficient
peasant or a lazy peasant, you were both left with the same – it
took away incentives.
4. It also effected the workers as all large factories were taken
over by the government and discipline for workers was very
strict. Striking workers could be shot.
5. As a result of the peasants rebelling and not cooperating with
the Bolsheviks (plus bad weather) there was a famine in 1921
and it is estimated that 7 million people died.
Kronstadt Naval Mutiny
In February 1921, these harsh policies sparked
a mutiny at Kronstadt naval base. The sailors
at Kronstadt had been supporters of Lenin and
the Bolsheviks, so their mutiny was a
significant sign to Lenin that he had upset the
people with his harsh policy. The Red Army
crushed the mutiny and thousands of the
sailors were killed, but Lenin did stop and
review his policies as a result of this event.
NEP (New Economic Policy)
• In March 1921 Lenin announced some
startling new policies which he called the NEP.
It brought back a little bit of capitalism
(opposite to communism) for some sections of
Russian society.
• The government now only took 50% of surplus
grain leaving the peasant with the other half
to eat and sell for money - this rewarded hard
working peasants (see picture).
Consequences of NEP
• It created stability and people were won over to the
Bolshevik cause and Lenin used this popularity to enable
him to crush any existing opposition.
• It did however create internal opposition within the
Bolshevik Party as some members felt it was a betrayal of
communism. Lenin however persevered with the policy,
claiming it was only temporary to stabilise the country.
• By 1925 there is evidence to suggest it was working, as food
production rose steeply.
Poor, starving old Russia, Russia of primitive lighting and the
meal of a crust of black bread, is going to be covered by a
network of electric power stations. The NEP will transform the
Russian economy and rebuild a broken nation. The future is
endless and beautiful.
Bukharin, a leading Bolshevik , speaking in 1922
Summary of the New Economic Policy
1. The Civil War had ended, but there was growing discontent in
the cities and the mutiny at the Kronstadt naval base signalled
that a change in policy (from War Communism) was needed.
2. To improve the conditions, Lenin reintroduced the
opportunities for peasants to make profits, in order to give
them the incentive to grow more.
3. The government now only took 50% of surplus grain, leaving
the peasants with the other half to eat and sell for money (this
benefitted the peasants that worked hard).
4. NEP markets sprung up around cities selling a variety of goods.
5. It created stability in society and people were won over to the
Bolshevik cause.
6. Lenin used this opportunity to crush any remaining opposition.
7. However, some Bolsheviks opposed the policy, seeing it as a
betrayal of communism. Lenin however was determined to
carry the policy through and did so (it was still in place when he
died).
Death of Lenin
• Lenin suffered
several strokes in
1922 and 1923
which led to his
death in January
1924.
• Would he have
pursued the NEP?
We’ll never know!
A summary of life under the Tsar,
Provisional Government and The
Bolsheviks
• To get an idea about how Russian people’s
lives changed from the Tsar’s reign to the
death of Lenin, we need to look at the
personal stories of some Russian people, who
lived throughout this period.
• Meet Katalina...
How far did life change for Russian Peasants from 1905-1924?
Under the NEP however, my life...
Katalina, a hard working
peasant
During the Civil War I suffered terribly due to the policy of
War Communism...
When the Bolsheviks came to power and announced their decrees I felt a great
deal of hope because...
My life in 1905 was...
During the First World War, my family and I felt the
hardships because...
However, I did not benefit under the Provisional Government,
after the Tsar had abdicated because...
How far did life change for the workers between 19051924?
Under the NEP my life...
My life in 1905 was...
During the Civil War I suffered terribly due to
the policy of War Communism...
During the First World War, my family and I felt the
hardships because...
When the Bolsheviks came to power and announced their
decrees I felt a great deal of hope because...
However, I did not benefit under the Provisional Government,
after the Tsar had abdicated because...