In the spring of 1917 Lenin was given permission by the Provisional Government to return to Russia. Why on earth would they allow this to happen?

starter activityYouTube clip

What impact did What impact did Lenin’s return Lenin’s return

have?have?To identify key ideas attributed to To identify key ideas attributed to

LeninLenin

To assess the extent to which To assess the extent to which Lenin’s return increased Lenin’s return increased

pressures on the PGpressures on the PG

LOs

Watch the film about the Provisional Government & complete the questions

What stage was Russia at when Lenin arrived back in April 1917?

Your taskYour task

Read Murphy p.59-60 in the section Read Murphy p.59-60 in the section headed ‘Lenin’s Political Ideas’. headed ‘Lenin’s Political Ideas’. Write this heading in your notes and Write this heading in your notes and list the challenges Lenin faced in list the challenges Lenin faced in reforming Russia.reforming Russia.

Extension. Update your bank of Extension. Update your bank of ‘juicy quotes’ with those of Williams ‘juicy quotes’ with those of Williams & Pipes on p.59. Make a note of how & Pipes on p.59. Make a note of how far you agree with their viewsfar you agree with their views

Problems facing LeninProblems facing Lenin TimingTiming – according to Marx’s theories Russia – according to Marx’s theories Russia

needed to go through a socialist phase before needed to go through a socialist phase before pure communism was achievedpure communism was achieved

Splits in the partySplits in the party – Social Democrats divided – Social Democrats divided over methods; Bolsheviks & Mensheviks splitover methods; Bolsheviks & Mensheviks split

LeadershipLeadership – many leaders, including Lenin – many leaders, including Lenin lived in exilelived in exile

LegitimacyLegitimacy – Bolsheviks were illegal in Russia – Bolsheviks were illegal in Russia Lack of preparationLack of preparation – Lenin surprised by fall of – Lenin surprised by fall of

Tsar in Feb 1917Tsar in Feb 1917

Hear Lenin speak

How accurate do you think this painting is of Lenin’s return to Petrograd in April 1917?

Your taskYour task

Read Murphy, p.60. Write the Read Murphy, p.60. Write the heading ‘April Theses’ in your notes heading ‘April Theses’ in your notes and record what Lenin said about and record what Lenin said about the following: the following:

Marxist ideas on revolutionMarxist ideas on revolution The WarThe War The government of RussiaThe government of Russia SlogansSlogans

April ThesesApril Theses

Marxist ideas on revolution – bourgeois Marxist ideas on revolution – bourgeois revolution should immediately be revolution should immediately be followed by socialist onefollowed by socialist one

The War – immediate endThe War – immediate end The government of Russia – power to The government of Russia – power to

Soviets ( Bolsheviks had more power Soviets ( Bolsheviks had more power there)there)

Slogans – ‘Bread, peace & land’; ‘All Slogans – ‘Bread, peace & land’; ‘All power to the Soviets’power to the Soviets’

Your taskYour task

Read Murphy Read Murphy p.60-61 and p.60-61 and Oxley, p.100-Oxley, p.100-101 and list the 101 and list the ways in which ways in which Lenin’s return Lenin’s return increased increased pressure on pressure on the PGthe PG

Lenin returns to Finland Station, Petrograd, 3 April 1917

Lenin’s returnLenin’s return Other revolutionaries returned, e.g. StalinOther revolutionaries returned, e.g. Stalin Lenin returned to stir up opposition to PG Lenin returned to stir up opposition to PG

-“They transported Lenin in a sealed truck -“They transported Lenin in a sealed truck like a plague bacillus into Russia” like a plague bacillus into Russia” (Churchill)(Churchill)

Increased support for Soviet – sole right to Increased support for Soviet – sole right to govern, ‘All Power to the Soviets’govern, ‘All Power to the Soviets’

Criticisms echoed popular concerns ‘Peace, Criticisms echoed popular concerns ‘Peace, Land & Bread’ Land & Bread’

Excellent orator – Finland Station Speech & Excellent orator – Finland Station Speech & April Theses, need for worldwide revolutionApril Theses, need for worldwide revolution

How right was Lenin in his judgement of the Provisional Government? Do you believe his comments on the Soviet?

Your taskYour task

Imagine you are Lenin standing at Imagine you are Lenin standing at Finland Station, in Petrograd. Write a Finland Station, in Petrograd. Write a short version of his speech making short version of his speech making references to these points:references to these points:

Explaining who you are & your key ideasExplaining who you are & your key ideas Why the Provisional Government is Why the Provisional Government is

wrongwrong How life for ordinary people will How life for ordinary people will

improve under the Bolsheviksimprove under the Bolsheviks

Extension task

Find out why someone blew a hole in Lenin’s bottom in April

2009

HomeworkHomework

Imagine you are a British reporter at Imagine you are a British reporter at Finland Station. Write an article Finland Station. Write an article about Lenin’s speech. Refer to the about Lenin’s speech. Refer to the ideas put forward by Lenin, how his ideas put forward by Lenin, how his speech was received by different speech was received by different groups, the likely impact of the groups, the likely impact of the speech on the people of Russia, speech on the people of Russia, minimum ¾ side of A4minimum ¾ side of A4

PlenaryPlenary

What were What were Lenin’s key ideasLenin’s key ideas

In what ways did In what ways did he put pressure he put pressure on the on the Provisional Provisional GovernmentGovernment

Conduct a Conduct a SWOT of LeninSWOT of Lenin