Question:

How important was the role of Lenin in helping the Bolsheviks to consolidate their hold on power in Russia between 1917 and 1924?

Instructions:

• Consider the proposition carefully
• Put in a post of no more than 6 lines
• Put your post into the correct place - Yes (evidence supporting the proposition) or No (evidence that doesn't support the proposition)
• Make sure there is an introduction and a conclusion (these are headed)

Introduction

Yes (supporting the proposition)

In my opinion the role of Lenin was essential in helping the Bolsheviks to consolidate their power,

Lenin was a political figure and Lenin took care of the opposition, Lenin also helped the Bolsheviks by closeing down the new parliament useing Red Guards in 1918 after unsuccessful elections ultimately depriving opposition of a voice. (Dawid)

Lenin's strong leadership was vital in the consolidation of power. He possessed the political insight and determination to hold the party together in pursuit of thir aim despite not being so charismatic as Trotsky. (Orly Watson) 

One of the key things that Lenin did as leader occured in January 1918 in which he closed down the constituent assembly, this was a vitally important action for the Bolsheviks due to the fact that they only had 175 seats in the assembly compared to the 370 of the other Social Revolutionaries. This went a long way in depriving the opposition of a voice and greatly strenghtened the Bolsheviks in their strive for power and did consolidate their power. (Joshua)

During Lenin's reign of the Bolshevik party he had to deal with many potential uprisings within his own party. An early example of this would be when the Treaty of Brest-litovsk was signed, a group of Bolsheviks known as the 'Left-Communists' were in uproar over this. If it had not of been for Lenin's insistence on complete party loyalty then the Bolshevik party could have potentially fallen apart and therefore would not have been able to maintain their power. (Chloe)

Lenin also declered Russia a Soviet Socialist Republic and he made key principle in 1918 Constitution e.g. classless socitey with no private ownership or enterprises. He made a stronger appeal to the public than the Whites, he did this by representing Bolsheviks as patriotic defenders of Russia. (Dawid)

Lenin played a key role in helping the Bolsheviks consolidate their hold on power in Russia between 1917 and 1924, through his introduction of two economic policies. The first of these economic policies, was known as 'War Communism' this focused on the Red Army's war effort, and kept the army supplied during the war. This undoubtedly did help the Reds to win the war, however, there was some opposition to it - from Alexandra Kolantai, the Kronstadt Sailors and the Tambov peasants.(Matthew Holmes Pastor to the Bolshevik Community and Minister for Justice).  Lenin was the one who eased concerns of "Workers Opposition" to War Communism by introducing the NEP .(Dawid). Opposition was cancelled out with his second economic policy which was the NEP (simply the New Economic Policy). (Dr Matthew Holmes Pastor to the Bolshevik Community and Minister for Justice). The new economic policy was much more flexible, it allowed peasents to sell some of their surplus grain.(Dawid)

The NEP was introduced by Lenin as the New Economic Policy.  This was controversial to the Bolsheviks because it was not a total communist system and brought great divide to the party.  Lenin said to go forward they must "take two steps forward and one step back", even though it was a communist system, it was not total state control and there was a dispute between the "left" and "right" sides of the Party [what was the dispute about? Mr L].(Jordan Boomer Chancellor of the Exchequer )Even though the Bolsheviks were reluctant to accept the NEP he still persuaded them to go ahead with it. There was a good chance the Bolsheviks would have been overthrown if they had continued with War Communism.(Dr Jamie Best Minister for Agriculture and Propaganda) Strict economic measures taken by Lenin during the Civil War helped to keep the Red Army well supplied  and also Lenin's management of Russia during War Communism period was vital to the eventual success of the Bolsheviks. (Sarah)

Lenin holding out against socialist coalition (unlike e.g. Kamenev) -  details

Lenin's propaganda role - Civil War especially 

No (not supporting the proposition)

Although Lenin played a key political and leadership role of the party in the eye of the public. Trotsky's contributions to the consolidation of power where equal to Lenins if not even more vital.  It was due to Trotsky's role that the Red Army were successful in the civil war, where they were surrounded to begin with. As Trotsky himself traveled the country in order to keep control of the Army and boost the morale of its soldiers (Stuart).

It was also Trotskys which insisted on using ex-tsarist officers to train and control the men. Along with his ideas of strict discinple within the army which during the war proved to be vital in retaining support from the Russian people (Stuart).

Without the support of Lenin here it is unlikely that the using of ex-tsarist officers would of been permitted.  The use of ex-tsarist officers to train the Red Army and improve its organisation greatly helped the Bolsheviks win the civil war.  However, it was primarily due to Trotskys role in my view the civil war was the main factor in the Bolshviks consolidation of power (Dr Jonny Buckley minister for home affairs)

Had it not been for the winning of the war the Bolsheviks would have never retained power. (Stuart)

Trotsky played an important role along with Lenin as the victory in the civil war was important because it defeated the key enemies by 1921. Which led to growth in the party - one third of Party members in 1927 joined in the Civil War years of 1917-20.  It also gave them the ruthless edge they needed to keep power.  As a result, in 1921 5000 Mensheviks were arrested and the Kronstadt Mutiny was put down. (Aaron Greenaway Minister of Defence)

Dzerzhinsky role - Cheka

A. Kollontai role - propaganda

Stalin role - USSR 1922

Mistakes of Whites in Civil War  

Conclusion                                                                                                                                                                                                                  In In conclusion, I feel that while Lenin had a very important role in the consolidation of power, it can be argued that at times he weakened the Party and that Trotsky had just as big a role, particularly in the winning of the Civil War. (Jordan Boomer Chancellor of the Exchequer)