How did the Bolsheviks Keep Control?

Russia

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Once the Bolsheviks had seized power in October 1917 they had to make sure they could hold onto it and not be overthrown.

You are going to take the place of Lenin and see if you would have made the same decisions as he did. Youll then find out whether youd have succeeded in staying in power.

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In November 1917, people voted for parties in the new Constituent Assembly. Here are the results: Party Votes Seats Socialist Revolutionaries (SRs) Bolsheviks National Minority Groups Left SRs (pro-Bolshevik) Kadets (Constitutional Democrats) Mensheviks 17,490,000 9,844,000 8,257,000 2,861,000 1,986,000 1,248,000 41,686,000 370 175 99 40 17 16 717
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What should Lenin do?

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Decision One
Here are three options that Lenin could have taken in order to make sure he and the Bolsheviks stayed in control. Make a note of which one YOU would have chosen.
David King Collection

Work with the SR party in order to get change in Russia. Most of what the SRs wanted was similar to what the Bolsheviks wanted. Work with the other parties to try and bring down the SRs and force another election where they could influence the voters more.

Send in the Bolshevik Red Guards to close down the Constituent Assembly and simply rule without it.
Dont forget to make a note of your choice.
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In March 1921 sailors at the Kronstadt naval base asked Lenin to approve the following demands: 1. 2. 3. 4. Secret ballot for a new Soviet Freedom of speech Free trade unions to be allowed Ending of special food rations for some Communist Party members 5. Freedom of assembly 6. Freedom of the press. The sailors were all Bolshevik party supporters and had been the strongest supporters during the October Revolution. Lenin had promised them all of these things before he came to power. What should Lenin do?
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Decision Two
Here are three options that Lenin could have taken in order to make sure he and the Bolsheviks stayed in control. Make a note of which one YOU would have chosen.
David King Collection

Send in the Red Guard to crush this possible revolt and challenge to Lenins power and control. Agree to some but not all of their demands in order to show that he was a leader who would listen to reasonable requests.

Agree to all of their demands as they were what he had originally said he had wanted for the Russian people in any case.
Dont forget to make a note of your choice.
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At the 10th Bolshevik Party Congress in March 1921 Lenin had to decide what to do about the following problems within the party: A Workers Opposition Party said that the workers didnt have enough power. They said that some leaders led a privileged lifestyle while some workers starved.

Some members of the party said that there now needed to be more open debate within the party, because the civil war was now over and the Bolsheviks were firmly in control of Russia.

What should Lenin do?

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Decision Three
Here are three options that Lenin could have taken in order to make sure he and the Bolsheviks stayed in control. Make a note of which one YOU would have chosen.
David King Collection

Allow discussion and criticism of party policy, but then make sure the party agreed with whatever decision Lenin came to. Grant the Workers Opposition Party their demands as they were only reasonable and fair, and allow open debate within the party. Order the dismantling of the Workers Opposition Party and ban all discussion within the party that Lenin did not approve of.
Dont forget to make a note of your choice.
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Also at the 10th Bolshevik Party Congress in March 1921, Lenin had to decide what to do about the following problems: Peasants were unhappy about the requisitioning of grain, and workers were unhappy about low wages and the high cost of goods. Strikes were on the increase and there were more rebellions such as the Kronstadt rebellion. Not enough food was being produced, and a famine in Russia had led to over 5 million people starving to death. There had been an assassination attempt on Lenin in 1921.

What should Lenin do?

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Decision Four
Here are three options that Lenin could have taken in order to make sure he and the Bolsheviks stayed in control. Make a note of which one YOU would have chosen.
David King Collection

Ignore all the demands for change and say it was necessary for the government to control the economy so that Russia could be strong. Give in to the demands and introduce a New Economic Policy (NEP) allowing peasants to sell grain and factory owners to make a profit. Stop the requisitioning of food by the Cheka but tighten up the Chekas control of any potential opposition.
Dont forget to make a note of your choice.
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Now lets see whether or not youd have made the same decisions as Lenin did.

Lenin was determined that the Bolsheviks would remain in power, whatever actions had to be taken.

Some historians think that he was even more determined that he personally would remain in power, even if it meant abandoning some of his earlier promises.
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In November 1917, people voted for parties in the new Constituent Assembly. Here are the results: Party Votes Seats Socialist Revolutionaries (SRs) Bolsheviks National Minority Groups Left SRs (pro-Bolshevik) Kadets (Constitutional Democrats) Mensheviks 17,490,000 9,844,000 8,257,000 2,861,000 1,986,000 1,248,000 41,686,000 370 175 99 40 17 16 717
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What should Lenin do?

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Decision One Answers

Here are three options that Lenin could have taken in order to make sure he and the Bolsheviks stayed in control. Which option did YOU choose?
David King Collection

Work with: the SR party in order get change in be 30 points This would mean thatto Lenin would not Russia. Most what the SRs wanted was similar in control and of the Bolsheviks would probably lose to what the Bolsheviks wanted. popularity. Work with: the other parties to try and bring down the 20 points Lenin hated the idea of compromise, and SRs and force had another where they could the Bolsheviks littleelection in common with other influence the voters more. parties. 10 points : Lenin neverRed regarded the as the Send in the Bolshevik Guards toAssembly close down representing the workers. had said that theit. Constituent Assembly andHe simply rule without workers would be represented through the Soviets.
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In March 1921 sailors at the Kronstadt naval base asked Lenin to approve the following demands: 1. 2. 3. 4. Secret ballot for a new Soviet Freedom of speech Free trade unions to be allowed Ending of special food rations for some Communist Party members 5. Freedom of assembly 6. Freedom of the press. The sailors were all Bolshevik party supporters and had been the strongest supporters during the October Revolution. Lenin had promised them all of these things before he came to power. What should Lenin do?
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Decision Two Answers

Here are three options that Lenin could have taken in order to make sure he and the Bolsheviks stayed in control. Which option did YOU choose?
David King Collection

10 points: This is Guard exactly what Lenin The revolt Send in the Red to crush this did. possible revolt was down with thousands of deaths. and savagely challengeput to Lenins power and control. Lenin would not tolerate criticism. Agree to some but not all of their order to 20 points : Lenin believed that he demands should bein listened show he was leader who would listen to to andthat trusted. He a didnt want any possible reasonableto requests. challenges his power. Agree to all demands they 30 points : Itof is their true that these as were allwere true what he had originally said he had wanted for the Russian communist principles, but Lenin did not want any people in any case. division within the party.
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At the 10th Bolshevik Party Congress in March 1921 Lenin had to decide what to do about the following problems within the party: A Workers Opposition Party said that the workers didnt have enough power. They said that some leaders led a privileged lifestyle while some workers starved.

Some members of the party said that there now needed to be more open debate within the party, because the civil war was now over and the Bolsheviks were firmly in control of Russia.

What should Lenin do?

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Decision Three Answers

Here are three options that Lenin could have taken in order to make sure he and the Bolsheviks stayed in control. Which option did YOU choose?
David King Collection

Allow discussion and criticism of party policy, but then 20 points : This would have meant Lenin could find make sure party agreed with whatever decision out who histhe rivals were, but it was too dangerous a Lenin came to. strategy for him. Grant 30 points the Workers : Lenin felt Opposition that if the Party party was their seen demands to beas they divided were then only other reasonable parties might and fair, findand it easier allowto open take debate control within in Russia. the party. Order the dismantling of the 10 points : Lenin felt that theWorkers power ofOpposition the leader had Party ban all discussion within the party that to be and absolute. No factions could be allowed as this Lenin not of. of the party. woulddid lead toapprove the break-up
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Also at the 10th Bolshevik Party Congress in March 1921, Lenin had to decide what to do about the following problems: Peasants were unhappy about the requisitioning of grain, and workers were unhappy about low wages and the high cost of goods. Strikes were on the increase and there were more rebellions such as the Kronstadt rebellion. Not enough food was being produced, and a famine in Russia had led to over 5 million people starving to death. There had been an assassination attempt on Lenin in 1921.

What should Lenin do?

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Decision Four Answers

Here are three options that Lenin could have taken in order to make sure he and the Bolsheviks stayed in control. Which option did YOU choose?
David King Collection

30 Ignore points all :the People demands were for starving change and and rebellions say it was were increasing. necessary for Lenin the could government not afford to control to takethe thiseconomy option, even so that though Russia hecould may have be strong. wanted to 10 points Surprisingly what Lenin did. He Give in to :the demands this andwas introduce a New realised hePolicy had to give some concessions but Economic (NEP) allowing peasants now, to sell grain that could take them backalater. and he factory owners to make profit. 20 points : A good choice, but the assassination Stop the requisitioning of food by the Cheka but attempt had worried Lenin and of heany felt potential that he needed tighten up the Chekas control to ease off a bit. opposition.
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