Essay Prompt

[DoctorWho]

The revolutionaries of 1917 promised ‘power to the working class’, but instead the revolution brought only terror to the people of Russia.

I don''t know why but I'm having trouble getting this essay going. Writer's bock before a history exam, just what I need...

Anyway, anyone want to toss around ideas?

[Ozil]

I would have paragraphs along these lines

1- Arguing how the Bolsheviks intended to give 'All Power to the Soviets' and 'Peace, Bread and Land' however the implementation of the terror brought hardship to the people of Russia. Using examples such as the Cheka (140,000 killed in 3 years compared to 14,000 under the Okranha in 50 years) Also compounded by the Civil War, Red Army reached 5 million by 1920. Thus emphasising the fear and repression that those in Russia faced, especially the peasants.

2- Also use War Communism to highlight the devastation that was cause by this policy. Industrial workers dropped from 3.6m to 1.5m from 1918-20. The huge death toll, drop in electricity output, lack of food. Thus highlighting that it was not just the terror from the Cheka and Red Army, but also the economy which brought terror. (I would also talk about the Tambov and Kronstadt Rebellions, highlighting that the needs of the peasants and workers had not been met. Emphasising the Kronstadt Rebellion as it highlighted that power had not been given to the working class)

3- Highlight that some people benefited from the Revolution, especially after 1921 and NEP. Education, women's rights, workers wage increased by 150% after NEP.

But overall these small positives do not diminish the fact the Bolsheviks brought repression and terror to the people.
Not sure if I am on the right track just talking off the top of my head, may be to brief but hopefully some of it was useful! 

[DoctorWho]

I was thinking something along the same lines. However, I feel that Lenin did follow through to some extent with his promise of 'Peace, Land and Bread. He implemented the Land Decree (December 1917) which gave peasants the right to take over estates in the countryside without compensation. He also met the promise of peace by ending the war through the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 1918). I suppose he never really addressed the bread issue but the economy was in a critical condition when he took over so perhaps he just couldn't introduce a viable solution at the time.

[sjayne]

Remember though,  the land reforms were limited though because of the grain requisitioning and the benefits weren't really felt by the peasants

[DoctorWho]

Remember though,  the land reforms were limited though because of the grain requisitioning and the benefits weren't really felt by the peasants

Hey, just trying to play the devil's advocate  I suppose it'd be easier to argue that mainly their actions brought about terror, guess I'll go with that.