The Bolshevik Revolution Lenin and the Bolsheviks seized power and gained control of the Petrograd Soviet, as well as soviets in other major Russian cities. By 1917, people said "All power to the Soviets"ÃÂ, and remember Lenin's slogan- "Peace, Land, and Bread"ÃÂ.
-The Provisional Government Topples In November 1917, Bloshevik Red Guards stormed the Winter Palace in Petrograd, taking over government offices and arresting the leaders of the provisional governemnt. The Revolution was over in hours, and Kerensky ad his colleagues disappeared almost a s quickly as the czarist regime they had replaced.
Bolsheviks in Power In an attempt to tackle the problems he inherited from czarist rule, Lenin ordered that all farmland be distributed among the peasants. He gave control of factories to workers, and signed a truce with Germany and began peace talks.
In March 1918, Russia and Germany signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, but it was quite costly, forcing Russia to surrender a large chunk of its territory to Germany ad its allies.
English: The presidium of the 9th Congress of the ...
English: Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, 1918. Caption: O...
Soviet delegation with Leon Trotsky greeted by Ger...These terms caused widespread anger among Russians. They objected to the Bolsheviks and their policies.
-Civil War Rages in Russia The Bolsheviks now had to get their enemies out of Russia. Their opponents formed the White Army. Leon Trostky who helped negotiate the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk commanded the Red Army, and from 1918 to 1920, civil war raged Russia. Western nations sent military aid and forces to Russia to help the White Army.
15 million dies in the 3 year struggle and in the famine the followed, and along with the loss of life from fighting, hunger, and worldwide flu, Russia was left in chaos.
The Red Army triumphed and crushed opposition to Bolshevik rule, showing that they were able to seize power and maintain it. However, Lenin and the Bolsheviks faced overwhelming...