Essay on The Impact of Lenin on Russia and the Russian People

Lenin, knowing Russia’s economic status quo and having to get ready for an upcoming civil war, had to stop the war against Germany no matter the cost. Thus having persuaded Trotsky and Kamanev, supporters of the war, in 1918, the treaty of Brest-Litovsk was accepted. However this came with high sacrificial value. Due to the treaty, Russia lost Riga, Lithuania, Estonia and parts of White Russia. This was a heavy blow to the already weakened economy as these areas were of major importance since they were some of the most fertile farming lands in Russia, while additionally losing 75% of their iron ore and coal deposit. Thus one could see the Brest-Litovsk treaty as an unsuccessful move by Lenin as the loss of economical important lands was a major downfall. However it has to be taken into account that the people of Russia wanted an end to the war and despite the loss, it did help Lenin in winning the civil war in Russia. Thus, Lenin was successful to a large extent in stopping the war but yet again, this was not the only war he would be fighting.

According to the History.com Staff, “The October Revolution began on November 6 and 7, 1917 (or October 24 and 25 on the Julian calendar).” (Russian Revolution”). The October Revolution has also been called the Bolshevik Revolution since the Bolshevik Party played a crucial role in the revolution. The leader of the Bolshevik Party, Vladimir Lenin was a big supporter of Karl Marx. Another Marxist who leads this revolution was Leon Trotsky. In an article by the History.com Staff, “Lenin had created an, almost, bloodless coup d’état against the provisional government.” (“Russian Revolution”). The Bolshevik revolution started when, Alexander Kerensky, rather than follow an order. On October 24th, Kerensky ordered troops that were loyal, to act against the Bolshevik. Encyclopædia Britannica tells us that, “Kerensky was a socialist revolutionary who served as head of the Russian Provisional Government.” (“Aleksandr Kerensky”).

The effects that Lenin’s arrival first had on the Bolsheviks party began with the weakening of the provisional government, primarily ending Russia’s fight in the war. Lenin had been gathering supporters since the 1890s with those apart of the forces in the war, alongside other supporters, travelling worldwide and spreading his word of Marxist ideals and a Russia that was no longer wrapped up in World War One. It wasn’t long before he garnered enough manpower to seize control and caused a great deal of uproar when he had turned the Russian Army against the Russian provisional government to completely wash Prime Minister Kerensky out. After seizing railroad stations, telegraph lines, and government offices, and subsequently sending out the people-elected provisional government, Lenin was able to intimidate the elected government out of office and have control.

After hearing about the recent coup, throwing out the czar, Lenin came back to Russia from his exiled in Switzerland. Using his charisma and status, he helped kick start another revolution which knocked out the makeshift democracy. This made a place for the Bolsheviks (communists) to place themselves in a position of power in the government. (Rashid, Aatif). Lenin came to be an influential person in the Bolshevik party and used Karl Marx’s ideas to make Communism in Russia blossom. Two major things he did were make private industry and agriculture public and redistributed the land of wealthy proprietors to peasants. This went well for a few years, until the Russian Civil War ended in 1920. While they came out victorious, Russia was left in disaster. The economic productivity was insufficient and the people were starving and unhappy. Because of this, Lenin was desperate for a new change to benefit the people, so he announced the New Economic Policy. The state took control of large industries again, but people were encouraged to have private and individual businesses. Soon after this was out in place, another major change was about to occur in the Russian government. This occurred after Lenin died in 1924. Joseph Stalin took over his place and became the leader of the Communist Party. He began intimidating and doubting his rivals while also claiming to see spies everywhere. He cleared the party and general population of Russia or these so called “spies.” By executing or exiling rebels to Siberia, he struck fear into those who remained after his purging. Everyone lived in fear of Stalin’s secret police and he ruled over Russia with an iron fist from that point on until his death (Dagger,

Vladimir Lenin played a significant role in the replacement of the monarchical Russian Empire with the ‘people-governed’ Soviet Union. Driven to act by the desperate situation present in Russia under the rule of Czar Nicholas II, he fought for the victory of the Marxist ideals. Despite being opposed and even exiled, Lenin managed to rise to the head of the Bolshevik party and secure his position as the head of the government. He used his power to attempt to organize, modernize, and reform the Soviet Union. His policies were necessary for the Soviet Union to regain strength and to return to the world map as a formidable power.

Revolution followed shortly after in 1905, a failed attempt at ousting the Romanov royal family, that ultimately succeeded in pressuring Czar Nicholas II into ceding greater political freedoms unto the Russian people. Nonetheless, Russian blood had been spilt on Bloody Sunday, and not all Russians were so keen on forgetting how their tsar let loose his soldiers on innocent workers led by an Orthodox priest, and so revolutionary and socialist sentiment prevailed long after the Revolution of 1905. By then the redeeming features of tsarist Russia had long expired. Russia’s involvement in the Great War proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back, as the dissatisfied subjects of Czar Nicholas II, refused his authority in favor socialist political parties, such as the Bolshevik Party led by Vladimir Lenin, who promised a Russian society ridden of inequality and injustice. The introduction of the Communist Party during the November Revolution of 1917 paved the way for radical economic and political change, as Russia emerged from near ruin as the world’s first communist state. However, progress once

The “April Theses” influenced the October revolution to overthrow the monarchy and establish the Red Army in power. In the process, based on the theories of Karl Marx the first communist state in the world was established. Published on April 7, 1917 in the Pravda, Lenin criticized the provisional government and urged the citizens to not support the bourgeois for “the utter falsity of all its promises should be made clear.” While the provisional government had established a structure of rights and liberties in Russia, Lenin became an opportunist when it came down to the doctrine of the class struggle, he stated, “The weight

The fight for communism began “in the early evening of October 24, [the Military Revolutionary Committee] used small bands of troops loyal to their cause or the Red Guards… to take control of the railway station, telephone exchange, electricity plants, post offices, the state bank, and key bridges” (Gellately 37). Although there were a small amount of revolutionaries, the Russian government was without proper defense and they quickly took control of key areas in the state (Gellately 37). Lenin had to convince his Bolshevik constituents that a quick revolution was the proper course of action, he was met with much resistance at first, but his persistence convinced his comrades. Through his leadership a small revolutionary army was able to secure the majority of Russia. Subsequent to the revolution, an election was held in which Lenin and his Bolshevik party “managed only 24 percent of the vote” while the social revolutionaries won the election with “40 percent of the ballots” (Gellately 39). However, Lenin had expected an electoral defeat and “had no intention of letting the Constituent Assembly meet”(Gellately 39). Despite his previous promises, Lenin believed that he was the one who would lead Russia to prosperity through Marxism and “In December 1917, Lenin made the case for forcing through a vanguard dictatorship, in full defiance of the

Although the Russian Revolution happened rather abruptly, the events leading up to the effort can be traced from the Russian monarchy becoming progressively weaker and increasingly aware of its own vulnerability in Europe. Because World War I was a total disaster for Russia, Nicholas II’s began using oppressive techniques towards those living in Russia to increase military equipment and supplied. These brutal acts of oppression forced him to make concessions after each incident, and from here Russia recognized the need for a parliamentary system, and a constitution. Soon thereafter, Vladimir Lenin rose to prominence as the most powerful figure in Russia. Lenin had lived in self-imposed exile in Europe since 1900

Lenin 4 days to cross germany, never made direct contact with any German officals, 2 million in funds for support – not a sealed train but travelled by regular train carrage to deny connections. duma former provisional government, after the abdication. Building blocks and the beginning constitutional democratic government. Despite Russian workers 1905 gun down by guards, duma created after this event, 1917 February revolution socialist parties. Democratically elected. October revolution lenin took over government. Communism could only be achieved by strong unopposed leader. Russian civil war of the red and white army. Redistribution of land and power. Appealed to the masses of

“History will not forgive Revolutionaries for procrastinating when they could be victorious today, while they risk losing much tomorrow, in fact, they risk losing everything” (Vladimir Lenin. Call to Power). Lenin was a persistent Russian ruler who wished to instill his communist views in Russian society at all costs. He was influential in motivating his followers to rise up and overthrow Russia’s weak government which lead to the reformation of Russia’s weak economy. Although Lenin faced opposing forces from the West, he was able to institute a number of reforms which boosted Russia’s broken economy and led to the transformation of Russia from a war-struck country into an economically stable power, prior to his death.

The Russian Revolution was an extremely difficult time for everyone. The events that occurred lead to the idea of communism today. A great amount of events occurred during the years leading up to the revolution. First, Russia had already faced many other wars and the country was struggling because of lack of communication from their Emperor Tsar Nicholas II. Next, during the revolution, Nicholas II was pushed out of office and the country started to follow the ideas of Lenin and the Bolsheviks. The February and October Revolutions also took place during the span of time known as the Russian Revolution. Towards the end of the revolution a war between the “Reds” (for communism) and the “Whites” (against communism) began.

He hadn’t been to Russia for 17 years. When Lenin heard that a revolution had begun, he raced to return to Russia, striking a deal with the Triple alliance to enable him safe passage through Russia's enemy, Germany, on the condition that, when Lenin acquired power, he would remove Russia from the war, freeing up valuable German resources to fight the Entente. This highlights just how desperate Lenin was to return to Russia quickly, lest someone else seize power that, quoting Lenin, "...Was lying in the gutter, just waiting to be acquired" It also struck many conservatives and revolutionaries alike as being strange that Lenin would only return to Russia when he felt that no threat opposed him - which one can imagine would sound hypocritical coming from a man who encouraged revolutionaries to be prepared to die for the cause. Further exacerbating the above mentioned point, when he arrived at Petrograd (St Petersburg) train station, the guards of honour were at the platform to greet him. Lenin was confused and said to his wife, "They will arrest me!" However, when Lenin realised there was no danger he gave a passionate speech right at the station: “Hail to the Global Socialist Revolution!” he declared. The terms he offered met opposition even within the circle of his supporters. His old-time ally Georgy Plekhanov called his idea "crazy" and was sure it would spread anarchy throughout Russia. His grave prediction was not far from reality but Lenin’s plan was nonetheless met with an ovation by the people who made the revolution happen - the proletariat. His popularity was based on sheer populism but it worked perfectly for the angry crowds ready for action. They heard exactly what they wanted - and what they had been denied for so long -"Power to people! Power to Soviets!" The overthrow of Tsarism was only the first step Lenin was preparing for the big battle

Ten years in exile had not swayed Lenin?s determination to create and direct a powerful revolution. Lenin returned to Russia from exclusion in February 1917, believing that the time was ripe to seize power. The Russian economy was in ruin after the army was nearly defeated and the people exhausted as a result of the First World War. The country was in an unstable state, suitable for a revolution (Levinthal 119). Around October 20, Lenin, in disguise and at considerable personal risk, slipped into Petrograd and attended a secret meeting of the Bolshevik Central Committee held on the evening of October 23. Not until after a heated 10-hour debate did he finally win a majority in favour of preparing an armed takeover. Now steps to enlist the support of soldiers and sailors and to train the Red Guards, the Bolshevik-led workers' militia, for an armed takeover proceeded openly under the guise of self-defense of the Petrograd Soviet. Even at great personal risk, Lenin was adamant in spurring a successful revolution.

When there are large underpinnings of change, as was the case in Russia during the revolution, people become frightened. They worried about how their lives would change. Will they have food? Will they be able to practice their customs and religious beliefs? This fear was ripe for a leader, such as Lenin to come in and play on the sorrows of the old regime and drive the people to revolt.