Who were the Bolsheviks and what did they stand for?The word Bolshevik means a person in the majority, as opposed to Mensheviks, a person as a minority. Bolshevism was a dissenting movement within Russian Marxism before World War I, which eventually became the founding political party of the Soviet Union (Bolshevism). The group originated at the party’s second congress, 1903 when Lenin’s followers, insisted that party membership be restricted to professional revolutionaries. They often spend their
The Bolshevik Party's Success in the USSR 1917-1924 "A small, unpopular party whose success was due solely to the determination of the leader to seize power" This assessment of the party is based around one of many views on how the Bolsheviks gained power and consolidated their rule. This particular
The Success of the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 Part 1 Karl Marks was not Russian and he died 34 years before the Russian revolution, he was a German who spent most his life in England. He worked as a journalist but wrote books on history, religion, economics, society, and philosophy. Marx hated the system of capitalism because he thought that it was capitalism that had produced the problems of industry, poor living conditions and the social gap of the rich and poor. He thought that the
Bolsheviks' Seizure of Power in 1917 There are many factors that help explain how and why the Bolsheviks managed to seize power in 1917. It was a combination of long and short term causes that together, created a revolution. The political system itself was long overdue for reform, but with a weak Tsar, the economic and social conditions became worse and worse. In 23 years, Nicholas II dropped from the glorious ‘Little Father of Russia’ to prisoners of his own country, hatred and despised
Seizure of Power by the Bolsheviks in 1917 How did the Bolsheviks seize power of the Russia Empire in 1917? They were able to do this as a result of taking advantage of the current political and social situations in the country at the time. Through such decisions as disbanding the army and siding with the majority, the peasants, though such promises as land, food, equality and peace. Through such events Lenin was able to take full control for the Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks started off, in 1903
During and before the Bolshevik Revolution these conditions were set up perfectly for a revolution to happen. The Bolshevik Revolution did not just occur during the October Revolution it did not happen over night it was a building of events that lasted from the end of the tsar empire up to the civil war. To say the Bolshevik Revolution was inevitable is to give a name to a revolution that was due in time by the working people and the peasants. Thus I am referring to the Bolsheviks as a peasant and working
Lenin's Contribution to the Development of the Bolshevik Party From 1902 Lenin had been fighting to build a revolutionary workers party, he was expelled from university for writing pamphlets and supporting strikes. Even when Lenin worked abroad, he was always trying to help the revolution along, but without being arrested. In 1893 Lenin moved to St Petersburg, where he joined a growing Marxist circle, then 1985 he helped to create a marxist working class organisation. Lenin was soon arrested
Bolsheviks' Power 1917-1924 The Bolsheviks were a communist party, after the tsar, who believed that all classes in society should be fair and equal. Therefore they wanted to demolish the elites and the bourgeois and distribute their land and money amongst the workers and the peasants. The Bolsheviks were prepared to use any means to retain power and their slogan became 'all power to the soviets'. When the results of the constituent assembly were revealed the SR's (Social Revolutionaries)
The Reasons for Success of the Bolsheviks in 1917 There are a number of different reasons, why the Bolsheviks seized power in 1917. The Tsar took personal command of the army in the summer of 1915 and left the government in the hands of his wife, the hated Tsarina (who also had the misfortune of being German). She was called "the German woman". The offensive of 1916 had cost the Russians a million casualties and discontent was rife in the army. The soldiers lacked proper military training
The Bolshevik Consolidation of Power 1918-21 The Bolsheviks under Lenin, when they came into power in October 1917, faced immense problems in trying to consolidate their hold over the ex-tsarist empire. Firstly, how were the Bolsheviks, in view of their military resources, to extend their hold over the nation at large? The second, was how could they achieve a speedy end to the war and effect a rapid withdrawal of the German army, which was currently occupying the western part of Russia
Lenin's Contribution to the Development of the Bolshevik Party For many years, Tsars had ruled Russia through the generations, being autocrats and dictators. These ways of living had been present in the country for hundreds of years, but in the late 1800s, new and different ideas were evolving, and there was an obvious change in political philosophies. There was the Marxist view, produced by Karl Marx, which believed that the state should own property and the means of production, not the
Why the Bolsheviks were Able to Seize Power in 1917 There are many reasons for which the Bolsheviks were able to take control 1917, amongst them being precise organisation and planning, exceptional timing and a fair amount of good luck. In this essay I wish to discuss these issues in more depth and explain why the Bolshevik revolution was able to take place. In September 1917 the Bolshevik party became the largest in the Petrograd Soviet and they controlled the Military Committee, which
Without contribution from crucial individuals politically involved in Russia at the time, the success of the Bolsheviks and the proceeding (ideally) Communist government may have been less then what we know today. One such individual was Trotsky.Trotsky made a vital contribution to the success of the Bolsheviks up to 1922. As Lenin made clear in 1918 Trotsky was in his view the only person able to save the revolution. Trotsky was a member of the Social Democratic Party and was living in exile
The Success of the Bolsheviks in Gaining Power in Russia by 1922 In February 1917, the Bolshevik party was small and irrelevant. The leadership was abroad and there was little consistency of purpose among the party in Russia. However, by the summer of 1922, the Bolsheviks had become the dominant force, and a new communist state had emerged from their success. The purpose of this essay is to explain this transformation. The abdication of Tsar Nicholas II and the collapse of the Romanov
Trotsky’s Contribution to the Success of the Bolsheviks Up to 1922 The relatively brief period between approximately 1917 and 1922 was an extremely strenuous, yet glorious and successful time for the Bolshevik Party. With the great help of his right hand man Trotsky, the party leader, Lenin was soon able to deflect support from the current provisional government, and turn heads towards the far more organised and dedicated Bolsheviks. Despite having once been a Menshevik, Trotsky was soon
The Transformation of Bolshevik Position Between February and October 1917 Most historians think that the Bolshevik’s position went from playing almost no role in February 1917; they had only 150 members in the Pultilov Works which had 20,000 workers, to taking control of the country in October by a combination of luck and skill. It was said of the Bolshevik party in early 1917 that “The Communist Party existed solely in the leaders.” Many historians think Lenin’s leadership was the joint
"Bolsheviks and Britain in World War One" During one of the therapy and wit sessions between Rivers and Prior at Craiglockhart, we discover that class struggle is an issue plaguing Prior. Pat Barker introduces the reference to Bolsheviks on page 135 in order to have her readers strictly denounce the caste system of British society, both for the soldiers returning home, and also the women who continued to be victims of the same system in Britain during World War One. Understanding the role Bolsheviks
Lenin and the Bolsheviks Replacing the Provisional Government as Leaders of Russia by November 1917 The provisional government had dealed with the issues of war and land very ineffectively, which helped The Bolsheviks greatly in seizing power. They would not give the peasants the land which they had wanted, and expected when the Tsar was overthrown. War continued, despite the majority of Russia wanting it to end. Food and fuel shortages continued, and although no-one wanted to surrender to
Exploring Why the Bolsheviks Were Able to Seize Power in 1917 The Bolsheviks were able to seize power in Oct/Nov 1917 due to a number of reasons, some contributing more than others. At the beginning of the year, they did not seem to have much chance of winning power due to low support and no strong leadership. However throughout the year things went the Bolsheviks way and their fortunes changed dramatically for the better. The Kornilov Revolt helped the Bolsheviks in more than one way
How significant was Lenin’s leadership in the Bolshevik Consolidation of power to 1924? Lenin 's leadership was a crucial factor in consolidating Bolshevik power up until his death in 1924. His pragmatic leadership helped gain some initial support as well as giving him unquestioned authority within the party. Furthermore, his push for the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk to help save the revolution from foreign invasion was crucial and his practicality was further exemplified through War Communism