Lenin's promise of 'Peace, Land, Bread' during the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 was made in an effort to

• A. To preserve the czar's rule
• B. To gain popular support to overthrow the government
• C. To join allied forces in World War I
• D. To implement land reform after peaceful elections

Answer: (B)

The slogan targets immediate mass support by addressing the daily needs and grievances of the main social groups at the time. Peace spoke to soldiers and civilians tired of a costly war, promising an end to Russia’s involvement. Land appealed to peasants who wanted land redistributed from landlords. Bread promised relief from hunger to workers and city residents. By presenting a straightforward, appealing program that could be acted on quickly, Lenin aimed to mobilize broad popular backing to overthrow the Provisional Government and seize power.

This wasn’t about preserving the czar’s rule, aligning with Allies, or waiting for peaceful elections to carry out reforms—the goal was to win support now to overthrow the government in power.