One of the problems the Bolsheviks faced was opposition. This was a major problem as Lenin wanted the Bolsheviks to govern outright, but they were faced by wide opposition, even in the soviet. Support for the Bolsheviks was not wide spread and elections were coming up, Bolsheviks members either wanted or did not want to govern Russia with other socialist parties. Lenin had to allow elections as if he did not then he would be a hypocrite. Lenin used terror and denounced and outlawed parties to get rid of opposition. Opposition parties were also put into prison.
Furthermore another problem that the Bolsheviks faced was the war. The war was still going on at the time. This was because the provisional government decided to continue with the war because it relied on the supplies and funding that they were getting off western allies such as Britain and France. The people of Russia and Bolshevik supporters wanted the pledge to end the war, so Lenin signed the decree of peace on 26th of October. Lenin signed the ‘Treaty of Brest-litovsk’ and peace war was secured.
Another problem the Bolsheviks faced was economic problems. This was due to the war and there was hyperinflation going on in Russian at the time. A currency would have to be introduced. Many small businesses were forced into bankruptcy. The Bolsheviks want to take industry and banking into public ownership. The Bolsheviks had to set up workers committees. Russian was also facing food shortages at the time due to the war. All the food that was coming into the country was being sent to the men on the front line first. There were many peasants that were starving and the Bolsheviks promised peasants land food supplies.
The Bolsheviks also faced geographical problems as the landowners of large estates were hit by a collapse in the value of land and a sever shortage of farm labourers. Most of Russia at the time consisted of peasants and they wanted land as it was all owned by the higher class people.
In conclusion the Bolsheviks faced many problems on their seizure of power. They were faced by problems by opposition as Lenin fought them off by using terror and putting parties into prison. The Bolsheviks also faced the problems of the war and the effects it had on the people of Russia.
I believe the most important factor the Bolsheviks faced was war. This is because the war leads to even more problems for the country. Due to the war the Bolsheviks had to deal with a lot of other problems within the country such as hyperinflation and food shortages.
However I believe the war wasn’t the only important factor the Bolsheviks had to face on their seizure of power as they also faced geographical problems and problems facing land and peace.
The Bolsheviks held on to power by closing down opposition press and even putting some parties into prison. Lenin even used terror through the cheka. They also held on to power by making Russia one party state. Lenin also made newspaper state run and made everything pro-communism and bolshevism, schools, books, art and even newspapers.