Assess the impact that Lenin had on Russia and the Russian People Essay Example

and directed on what to produce. To ensure factory efficiency, Lenin appointed his own managers rather than allowing workers' committees who had been granted power in 1917 to run them.

During the period of War Communism, trade unions and strikes were prohibited, and city workers were prevented from leaving. In an effort to combat inflation, the Cheka - a secret police force created by Lenin - was dispatched to rural areas to seize excess grain, as peasants were reluctant to sell due to the value of money plummeting. While this policy was successful in addressing immediate concerns and aiding the Whites in the Civil War, it also resulted in widespread terror and famine in Russia. The Cheka's methods became increasingly ruthless, and grain requisitioning more strict. By 1921, the economy of Russia remained devastated, and certain regions were in a state of rebellion.

Agriculture suffered due to the war and grain requisitioning, leading to low harvests and collapsed profits for peasants. The resulting food shortages, exacerbated by a drought in 1921, led to a famine that killed 5 million people. In addition, the Treaty of Brest Litovsk during the First World War cost Russia 26% of its population and 27% of its farmland, further crippling agricultural production. Industrial output also plummeted, with Russian industry producing only 14% of its pre-war levels by 1920. Worker protests against Communist tactics culminated in a wave of strikes in Petrograd in February 1921, and in March the sailors of Russia's Baltic fleet based in Kronstadt overthrew Bolshevik rule.

During the revolution, these individuals were enthusiastic supporters of the Red. However, they were horrified by the harsh conditions under Lenin's rule and demanded

rights for workers and freedom of speech. In response, the Red Army quashed the rebellion with troops, resulting in 20,000 casualties and soldiers either executed or sent to labor camps. Lenin was deeply disturbed by such strong opposition from those who were once considered the revolution's 'pride and glory,' realizing that Russia was hostile towards the Bolsheviks and needed to be appeased to avoid a major revolt. To address these issues, Lenin implemented the New Economic Policy later that year in an attempt to save the Bolsheviks.

The NEP put an end to grain requisitioning and required peasants to pay a fixed amount as a tax. It also allowed them to buy and sell goods and returned smaller factories to their former owners. Lenin encouraged foreign trade to stimulate the economy, but many Communists were displeased with the NEP as it contradicted their principles. Despite this, Lenin did not allow protests against private enterprise or the 'nepmen' class of profit-driven merchants. He expected party members to comply, even though the NEP had its flaws, such as persisting unemployment and high prices of manufactured goods that made selling grain less appealing due to the meager profits.

Lenin was a strong advocate for electricity and its potential to modernize Russia. One notable accomplishment was his construction of electric power stations to supply businesses and households with electricity. This effort contributed significantly to the country's modernization. While he passed away in January 1924, Lenin had a profound impact on his people. During his lifetime, working hours were reduced from eleven to eight hours, benefits and pensions were established, and religious suppression began.

Despite attempts with both War Communism and the

NEP, Lenin's Communist beliefs led to a significant food shortage in Russia. Though he was able to establish Communism in the country, it came at a cost of widespread turmoil and famine for its people, even as they saw some improvement in their living conditions before his death.