Lenin DBQ Paragraph Stevens WH2H
Name ___________________________________
Historical Context World War I proved especially disastrous for Russia. The army suffered tremendous losses against a German onslaught of superior force and preparation. Misery, famine and disease descended on the Russian people and thousands were dislocated and wandered aimlessly as refugees. Tsar Nicholas feared a general uprising and finally decided to abdicate his throne in March 1917. A temporary body called the Provisional Government was installed to maintain stability in the country until a representative Constituent Assembly could be elected by the Russian people. The Petrograd Soviet, an elected council of workers and soldiers immediately threatened the authority of the Provisional Government. The Marxist Revolutionary, Vladimir Ulyanov, better known as Lenin arrived from Switzerland to reassert his leadership of the Bolshevik party, and in November of 1917, persuaded his faction that the time was ripe for a coup. Directions: The prompt below is based upon the accompanying documents 1-‐4. •Carefully read the prompt and consider what you already know about this topic. How would you answer it without any documents to examine? • Read each document carefully, underlining key phrases and words that address the prompt. You may also wish to use the margin to make brief notes. Answer the question(s) that follow each document. Be sure to consider the source and point of view of the author of each document. • Based upon your knowledge and the information found in the documents, formulate a thesis or topic sentence for your paragraph. • Write a well-‐organized paragraph response to the prompt. Criteria: • Your paragraph should use specific evidence from at least 3 of the documents, including two well-‐chosen and integrated quotes. • Documents should be cited either parenthetically or with in the text using such language as “ according to Document A…. • Paragraph should be well organized, have clear fluency and use description as well as analysis to answer the question. • There is no specific sentence requirement, but a well organized and argued response will likely be 7-‐10 sentences in length. If the paragraph is longer than 10 sentences it is likely that it needs to be edited. • Your paragraph must be typed and can be submitted on googledocs in your folder. • Your paragraph will be evaluated according to the rubric provided.
PROMPT: Evaluate the methods Lenin used to to seize power in the Bolshevik Revolution from November-‐ December of 1917.
Document A
Vladamir Lenin, Speech after the overthrow of the provisional government. Winter Palace November 1917 We shall have a Soviet government, without the participation of bourgeoisie of any kind. The oppressed masses will of themselves form a government. The old state machinery will be smashed into bits and in its place will be created a new machinery of government by the soviet organizations…One of our immediate tasks is to put an end to the war at once. But in order to end the war which is closely bound up with the present capitalist system it is necessary to overthrow capitalism.., in the interior of Russia a very large part of the peasantry has said: Enough playing with the capitalists; we will go with the workers. We shall secure the confidence of the peasants by one decree, which will wipe out the private property of the landowners…We will establish a real labor control on production…We have learned now to work together….Long live the world-‐wide socialist revolution.
What does Lenin promise to the people in his speech? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What systems does Lenin seek to destroy and why? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Document B Izvestia, Russian Newspaper, November 8, 1917 ..that which is before us is not a transfer of power to the Soviets, but a seizure of power by one party – the Bolsheviks. Yesterday we said that a successful attempt meant the breaking up of the greatest of the revolution the Constituent Assembly. Today we add that means also the breaking up of the Congress of Soviets and perhaps the whole soviet organization. They can call themselves what they please; the fact remains that the Bolsheviks alone took part in the uprising. All the other socialist and democratic parties protest against it. How the situation may develop we do not know, but little good is expected. We are quite confident that the Bolsheviks cannot organize a state government.
What about the Bolshevik seizure of power is concerning to the writer of this article? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Document C Lenin’s Decree Censoring the Press: November 9, 1917
Everyone knows that the bourgeoisie press is the one of the most powerful weapons of the bourgeoisie. Especially at the crucial moment when the new power, the power of the workers and peasants is only affirming itself, it was impossible to leave this weapon wholly in the hands of the enemy, for in such moments it is no less dangerous than bombs and machine-‐guns. That is why temporary extraordinary measures were taken to stem the torrent of filth and slander in which the yellow and green press would be only too glad to drown the recent victory of the people. As soon as the new order becomes consolidated all administrative pressure on the press will be terminated and it will be granted complete freedom within the bounds of legal responsibility, in keeping with a law that will be broadest and most progressive in this respect. …. restriction of the press, even at critical moments is permissible only within the limits of what is absolutely necessary…. The present ordinance is of a temporary nature and will be repealed by a special decree as soon as normal conditions of social life set in…
Why is Lenin critical of the press and why does he say it must be stopped? How does Lenin rationalize these measures? Document D Lenin’s Decree establishing the Secret Police: December 20:1917. The Commission is to be called the All-‐Russian Extraordinary Commission for the Struggle with Counter-‐Revolution and Sabotage…the duties of the Commission are to be as follows: 1. To investigate and nullify all acts of counter-‐revolution and sabotage throughout Russia, irrespective of origin. 2. To bring before the Revolutionary Tribunal all counter-‐revolutionaries and saboteurs and to work out measures to combat them. The commission shall keep an eye on the press, saboteurs, right socialist Revolutionaries and strikers. Measures to be taken are confiscation of cards, publication of names of enemies of people, etc. Why is the Commission being formed? __________________________________________________________________________________________ What measures are to be taken against those who threaten the Revolution?
