Lenin And The Bolsheviks Role In 1917 example essay topic

Before a revolution occurs a number of preconditions are often necessary. Consider this statement regarding the situation in Russia and, in doing so, comment on the attitudes of Lenin and of the Germans to events in Russia in 1917, the main reasons for the collapse of the Tsarist regime in Russia in 1917 and the role played by Lenin and the Bolsheviks in the revolutions in Russia in 1917. Lenin's attitudes to the events of Russia in 1917 were of eagerness to get back to Russia. His fertile mind was developing plans by which he would be able to develop plans by which he would be able to develop a new republic now the 300 year monarchy had ended.

Germany's attitudes were of hope, like Lenin's, but for different reasons. Germany believed that revolution was disaster to a country and by allowing Lenin and his compatriots to return they were helping to spreading Revolution. Germany had this attitude of hope and expectancy because, by allowing people such as Lenin back to Russia, they could expect an end to the war with Russia and therefore fight only one front instead of two. They are both long term and short term factors which resulted in the spontaneous overthrow of the Tsarist monarch in 1917. When Tsar Nicholas the II abdicated from the throne, Russia was in turmoil, set against the backdrop of wide social disorder and economic corruption and inefficiency. The ineffective and corrupt rule by the Tsars in the 19th Century created this backdrop and served as a stimulus for further discontent.

The rapid industrialisation in the late 19th Century, both created harsh conditions in Russia and provided a large number of discontented urban workers. It is because of this that the Bolsheviks were able to spread their revolutionary ideas. The defeat in the Russo-Japanese War and the failure of the Duma to control Nicholas' inefficient rule both created misery amongst the Russian people. The long term causes that continually festered the conditions of the people only needed a spark to ignite the revolution. World War One provided this catalyst.

Although accompanied by patriotism and extreme nationalism, some predicted the war would end the reign of Nicholas. By 1917 this proved to be true. There are several factors which isolated the Tsar and ignited the revolution: the Tsar's role is commander in Chief linked the failure of the army with the monarchy; the role of Nicholas's wife, a German and Rasputin, a suspected German agent, created much hatred as they took control while the Tsar was at war; the state of the army, trained inefficiently and affected by lack of food and supplies, deteriorated; the failure of the Duma and collapse of the economy and the fact that there was a mass migration from the country to the towns placing pressure on the availability of food and shelter. All these factors culminated in the revolution, which was in fact a spontaneous outburst of the discontent of the masses. Lenin and the Bolsheviks were said to have "ridden the wave of the discontent, guided them safely through the Marxist channels". Although Lenin did not play a significant role in the February Revolution, his role in the second revolution, "a planned coup" where a provisional government was overthrown, was vital.

The Bolsheviks, though use of promised land reforms and alternatives to the Tsarist monarchy, only had a limited role in the first revolution. It was really a spontaneous action, beginning with bread riots, of the discontented millions. The October / November revolution, where the provisional government was overthrown and the proletarian based republic established, was a direct effect of the actions of Lenin and the Bolsheviks. Lenin arrived in Petrograd in April, immediately attracting the support of the people and Soviets with his catch-cry "Peace, land, bread and all power to the Soviets". Lenin established the April Thesis, a summary of the Bolsheviks; aims and methods, and tried to have it indoctrinated as the policy of the Soviets. After a premature coup initiated by the proletariat and unwontedly enforced by the Bolsheviks, Lenin and his followers were forced into hiding.

It was not until the attempted Kornilov coup in September that the Bolsheviks became and established and powerful force in Russia. The continuing failures of the Provisional Government saw the Bolshevik rise to power, eventually seizing the Winter Palace and taking power. Lenin and the Bolsheviks' role in 1917 was vital, not so much for the first revolution but more so in the second. They initiated policies and manipulated the weakness of the Provisional Government and eventually were able to comfortably seize power as the leaders of the new proletarian Russia.