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Initial Perceptions of Bolshevik Power
- The Bolsheviks' October 1917 seizure of power was initially seen as precarious by many.
- Their unexpected victory hinged on the belief they could gain popular support by fulfilling the unmet promises of the February Revolution.
Bolshevik Strategy for Gaining Support
- The Bolsheviks aimed to win support from peasants, soldiers, workers, and minorities.
- They planned to achieve this by delivering on the revolution's promises, addressing each group's specific needs.
Lenin's Pragmatism on Land Reform
- Lenin adopted the Socialist Revolutionary's land program to gain peasant support, even though it contradicted his own.
- He prioritized immediate action and popular appeal over ideological consistency.