Lenin and the Bolsheviks Take Power

1. Why was Lenin reluctant to compromise with the Mensheviks or Socialist Revolutionaries?
Lenin was reluctant to compromise with the Mensheviks and Socialist Revolutionaries because he believed their willingness to compromise would ruin his revolutionary agenda. Lenin believed that accommodation with the government was not possible and he believed he needed to smash it.

2. List two reasons why the Provisional Government under Kerensky could not govern.
The provisional government under Kerensky could not govern because he put everyone in danger. He pressured the army to go on the offensive against the germans. It was disastrous and there were over 200,000 russian casualties. The government had gambled that a successful offensive might unite the country but instead they lost thousands of troops.

3. The Bolsheviks did not have a majority at the Congress of Soviets after the October Revolution. How did they manage to assume power?
The Bolsheviks managed to assume power when they went to the Centeral Committee on October 10, 1917. Only twelve of the twenty one members were present but Lenin had such a powerful personality that the central commitee voted 10-2 in favor of them.

4. What did the Bolsheviks have to give up in order to get out of World War I? What was the name of the Treaty?
The Bolsheviks had to give up their pride. They had to make peace with Germany to get out of the war and the Treaty name was The treaty of Brest-Litovks which freed russia from the war.

5. What was the Checka?
The checka was when Soviets created the all-russian extraordinary commission for struggle against counter revolution, sabotage, and speculations. This was operations outside the bounds of the law, it made arrests, tortured and executed thousands, and took hostages in areas that were suspected of favoring the whites. Lenin and the Bolsheviks were trying to terrify society into submission.

6. What supporters joined the Red Army? White Army?
Anti-bolshevik's joined the red army while the white had support from the upper and middle class. The red army and white army both consisted of peasants.

7. How many Russians died during the Civil War? How many emigrated to other countries?
As many as 13 million died during the Civil war. Two million Russians emigrated to other countries. The red Army, which had five million soldiers by the end of the war, prevailed on the battlefield.