Total Control Of Russia example essay topic

There were many events that lead up to the Bolshevik Revolution. First off, in 1848, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels published a thought-provoking book. The Communist Manifesto expressed their support of a world in which there was no difference in class. A world in which the workers and commoners ran the show and there was no high and supreme ruler. Many intellectual Russians began to become aware of this pamphlet as well as the advanced state of the world compared to Russia. Other countries were going through an industrial revolution, while the Czars had made it clear that no industrial surge was about to happen in Russia.

The popularity of the Czars further went down hill as Nicolas II's poor military and political decisions caused mass losses in World War I. Eventually, the citizens could take no more and began a riot in St. Petersburg that led to the first Russian Revolution of 1917. The Russian Revolutions of 1917 led to the riddance of the czarist Russia as well as the ushering in of the socialistic Russia. The first of the two revolutions forced Nicolas II to abdicate his throne to a provisional government. Lenin headed the second of the two revolutions in which he overthrew the provisional government.

Over the next few years, Russia went through a traumatic time of civil war and turmoil. The Bolsheviks' Red Army fought the white army of farmers, etc. against Lenin and his ways. Lenin and the Bolsheviks won and began to wean Russia of non-conforming parties eventually banning all non-communist as well as removing an assembly elected shortly after the Bolshevik's gain of power. Lenin's strict government, however, was about to get a lot stricter with his death in 1924. After the death of Lenin, his chief lieutenant Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin fought for control of the country. Stalin was able to win out over Trotsky and gain control of the Russian government.

He felt that Lenin and Trotsky's socialistic ideas were flawed in that they were to wait for other countries to revolt and become socialistic as well. Staling believed that a single country could make socialism. In order for it to work, Russia had to become an industrial power at all costs. Stalin removed anyone he though could possibly turn against his plan and stay in the way.

Over the next few years, he executed many of the old Bolsheviks who had led the revolutions as well as many military officers. This elimination of possible opposition was known as the Great Purge. Along with the Great Purge, Stalin had his adversary Trotsky exiled to Kazakhstan, later Mexico, and eventually assassinated in Mexico in fear of conspiring with those opposing Stalin. Stalin continued to attempt total control of Russia.

He strive d to control every person present in Russia on a day-to-day basis. Using secret police in addition to party members, Stalin tried to control what certain people did depending upon their career and status. Although a control freak, he was praised in a cult-like fashion by many. His tight hold on the everyday events of Russia's people was slightly lessened during WWII when he needed public support against the invading Nazi troops. However, after the war, Stalin believed that in order for Russia to become a world power, he must display discipline and control over his country and furthermore build up a base for industrial success.

The citizens of the post war Russia were forced into economic misery as well as oppression from the government as Stalin tried to build up Russia as a world power. After Stalin's death the following leaders were not as harsh-some more so than others. However the basic atmosphere was the same. The people of the country had little choices in lifestyle and basically did what the government said. It remained like this until 1991 when the USSR collapsed. The ironic part of the preceding information is that the harsh, totalitarian leaders were supposed to be building socialism.

Socialism is based upon equality, cooperation, progress, and most of all personal happiness and freedom. Nevertheless, both Lenin and Stalin were involved in oppressing those who had differing opinions as well as the elimination of those who wanted to take action against them; Lenin outlawed all political parties but the Bolsheviks as well as removed an assembly with a large non-Bolshevik population; Stalin dictated what to do to almost every citizen in Russia and had many of the old Bolsheviks assassinated. Although the Bolshevik revolutions were based upon the prospect of equality and freedom from the overburdening czars, the end result had changed little in the way the government was run. There was still a single leader with total control over the government. There was still little freedom or happiness among the citizens of Russia who still lived in fear of the government. Russia had attempted what many call an impossible task of ridding the world of capitalism and replacing it with a happier socialistic society.

Some blame the rulers of Russia during that time frame, but maybe it was simply human nature.