According to much of the information I have collected, I would conclude that the October Revolution and its aftermath were largely a successful attempt of the Bolsheviks to seize power. However, I also honestly believe that Lenin’s intentions, at least in the beginning, were sincere. According to my outside source 5, Lenin was an expert in Marxism. He truly believed its ideals and its ability to raise the position of the workers. The discouraged soldiers of Russia wanted to end the war. The impoverished peasants and workers wanted land of their own to work. The common people were hungry because of food shortages. For these reasons, Lenin coined the slogan, “Peace, Land, and Bread.” (3) He believed that communism could improve the state of the Russian people. This is why, in his April Thesis, he declared that he would expose the capitalist/imperialist intentions of the war and end it; he would place power in the hands of the proletariat; confiscate private lands and nationalize them; and nationalize financial institutions (4). He felt that these were sufficient means to institute communism, which would, in turn, elevate the Russian people.
As we know, however, this is not quite how it worked out. Though the people of Russia did in fact want peace, land, and bread, they soon realized what they wanted more: civil liberties and democracy. The peasants supported the Bolshevik movement at first because communism offered them these necessities (3). But here’s the thing: the people did not want communism. They wanted peace, land, and bread. They wanted democratic elections. They wanted a government strong enough to support them and ensure order. And more than anything, I’m sure, they wanted not to be shot. The Bolsheviks offered only the first incentives, and completely opposed the rest. But that was enough to get them in the door, and once they were in, nobody could push them back out.
Once the Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, had a taste of dominance, their mission changed from one of bringing about freedom to one of maintaining power. This is where brutality and terror come in. The Bolsheviks continued the guise of working towards “Real Freedom,” but began employing methods, such firing on innocent civilians, that in no way could benefit the people (3). Lenin states that violence and “a state of simmering war” would be necessary to successfully establish communism (3). So the Bolsheviks implemented violence against their own people, calling it necessity (3). That doesn’t sound much like peace to me. And what was it the people wanted again?
Further, much of the anger against the tsarist regime rose from Nicholas’s disregard of the people’s rights and grievances (2). So, naturally, the people would want the new government to do the opposite and acknowledge their needs and liberties. And yet, the Bolsheviks planned to establish a dictatorship, and in the process, stripped away the people’s civil rights and freedom of expression (3). The workers, many of which had once been the ones in support of Bolshevism, began campaigning for democracy instead of communism, for which they were punished. (5) Ah, it was too late. Even when elections proved that a mere 24% of the people supported the Bolsheviks, they remained in power (3). Then the Cheka, or secret police, were organized to quell, apprehend, and punish counter-revolutionaries. Later, a new constitution was drafted that even further concentrated power in a central authority, and stripped voting rights from many civilians. Which didn’t really matter, as the vote would have little impact anyway in the future (3). Little by little, the Bolsheviks stripped the people of that which they most desired, their freedom, and consolidated the power within their own hands.
Even if the revolution was begun with honest intentions, the Bolsheviks ultimately acted as greedy, power-crazed and power-hungry radicals, taking any lengths, including violence and terror, to establish their ideals. In the process, they lost sight of the original purpose of establishing a new government: addressing the needs of a mistreated people. They only served to increase their country’s suffering. The Bolsheviks successfully pulled Russia out of World War I, just as the people desired. But they soon transformed the country into a more miserable state than ever before.
http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/lifework/worklife/1893.htm
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Lee- successful attempt by an extremist group (took me forever to figure out how to paste my article from word doc onto here)
The October Revolution was a successful attempt by an extremist group for several reasons. The actions taken by Lenin and the Bolsheviks would prove to be a successful attempt by an extremist group due to the techniques and ideals that were developed in order to gain and maintain the power.
Lenin proves that this was a successful attempt by an extremist in his April Thesis. It’s second stage which is to place power in the hands of the proletariat and the poorest strata of the peasantry (4 A.T). Lenin tells the people, No support to the provisional government (4 A.T). This shows that it is an extremist group because Lenin is appealing to the peoples unwillingness to wait and drives them to overthrow the government. The people grew impatient and Lenin would use this to fuel his revolt. Lenin says in his thesis, Abolition of the police, the army, the bureaucracy (4 A.T). This furthers the idea that this take over is by an extremist group because Lenin is trying to rid all of the oppositions forces so that anyone who opposes his rule will have be weak. The October Revolution also shows that it was a successful take over by an extremist group because Lenin tells the people that there are no longer political parties that the Soviet Union was now a single party state. He discusses this in his thesis when he says they need to demand the commune state and when he said that they wouldn’t hold elections that he would pick who would rule with him (4 A.T). This proves it was an extremist group because he is turning the rule in of the Soviet Union into a dictatorship and he denies them the right to vote because he knew that he would never win the elections. In Lenin’s thesis it proves a successful take over by an extremist group mainly focusing on the political side and denying his opposition to go against him. It also shows how they would get rid of the government that was in place and establish their own.
In the reading on Lenin it shows Lenin’s ideals of how he would enforce his rule and establish his power. He would use the Cheka, concentration camps, and the Red Army to do this. The Cheka were Lenin’s secret police (3 L.R). The Cheka was used to protect Lenin by striking fear into anyone who questioned his authority. The secret police was a big part of keeping the opposition under control because everyone one was afraid to speak out against the government. The secret police would basically do the dirty work of ridding the Soviet Union of people against Lenin. This shows the success of the extremist because they were able to gain control within the public using the Cheka. Lenin’s concentration camps were called permanent concentration camps (3 L.R). These camps held prisoners from the war and the previous revolution, but also anyone that spoke out against Lenin’s rise to power. The people in these camps were beaten and tortured and often shipped far away. This was another way of destroying the opposition groups, because Lenin would just ship them out of the Soviet Union to these camps where they were then tortured. And one of Lenin’s most successful ideals was the creation of the Red Army (3 L.R) The Red Army was Lenin’s personal military which was used to prove his power. In his April Thesis he said he wanted to abolish the army that was in place and in doing that his Red Army faced little challenge. Lenin would use the Red Army in order to establish both his military and political superiority. Not only was Lenin using these forces in order to establish his extremist ideals but he also took away the civil liberties of the people. (3 L.R) Any paper that was represent by the upper class or spoke out against the revolution was shutdown. Lenin used the secret police in order to keep the people from speaking out against the government. And he destroyed the political class leaving him to rule the single party.
These represent a successful attempt by an extremist group because Lenin took control using force, fear, and destroying people’s rights. He convinced the people to help overthrow the provisional government instead of giving it time to work. Then he used force by using the Cheka, concentration camps, and the Red Army in order to prove his power and gain control. This was an extremist success because in doing this the people’s civil liberties were taken and in order for Lenin to gain this control he had to use thing such as the secret police and his personal army to scare people. This is why the October Revolution was a successful attempt by an extremist group.
Allen- Take-Over By Terror
Though the people supported Lenin and the Bolsheviks in the beginning, they did not realize what they were being sucked into. Lenin and the Bolsheviks knew what the Russian people wanted, and they made promises to win over the people. In doing this, Lenin created a single-party state in Russia. Eventually, the people had no choice but to agree with the Bolshevik ideals and abide by their decrees. The Bolshevik’s “strong-armed tactics” were more of ruling with an iron fist after winning over the Russian hearts with a softer, milder way of supposedly promising to get the people what they wanted. Once Lenin got the power he wanted, however, he dismissed the wants of the Russian people and became a terror to the people in his ruling.
The Provisional government was not getting the Russians out of the war like they wanted (2). The Russians were tired of fighting a losing battle and having their husbands, fathers, and sons killed. They turned to Lenin to get them out of the war with Germany because the Bolsheviks, especially Lenin, also wanted out of the war. In doing so, Lenin used Germany to help get Russia out of the war while he was in Switzerland (2). Lenin and his supporters knew that without international peace for Russia, they would not gain nor remain in power (3). This won Lenin major support in the eyes of the Russian citizens and troops (3). Lenin was giving the citizens what they had wanted for years; they were tired of being patient to get what they wanted. Lenin was proving to provide for their needs and wants by ending the war for them. Lenin believed the provisional government should have no power because they were making empty promises to the people of Russia (4); however, he made his promises and soon went back on them to terrorize his country.
Lenin’s ideas that the Bolsheviks should first concern themselves with six main things: “imperialism and the imperialist war; a demand for a ‘commune state’; paying attention to the state; amending their antiquated minimum programme; creating a revolutionary International; and rebuilding the International” (4). In stating this, Lenin was already showing signs of looking out for the good of himself and the Bolshevik party, not for the good of the Russian people. Both the people of Russia and Lenin believed that Russia should become a communist dictatorship (2); this made it easy for Lenin and the Bolsheviks to take power of Russia and win over the support of the people. Also as he had promised, Lenin won over the rural people by giving them land “without any payment” (3). He took land from the bourgeoisie and it became land for the common people of Russia (3). This made it so the bourgeoisie could not control the lands of Russia and had to give some power to the common and lower-class farmers and citizens. However, the people did not realize how this dictatorship would soon backfire on them.
The Bolsheviks soon became known as the Bolshevik “political terrorism” (3). Lenin believed that the soviets were the “only possible form of revolutionary government” (4). Because of this, he terrorized every other counterrevolutionary person and ever counterrevolutionary movement (3). Lenin began a change in Russia so radical from anything any European country had ever seen before that richer countries, such as the ones in Western Europe, would “feel threatened by such radical claims and thus came to fear the ‘Reds’” (3). In doing this, Lenin and the Bolsheviks not only terrorized Russia, but also tried to create terror and feelings of threat in other countries of Europe as well. Lenin began his reign of terrorism by shutting down the civil liberties of the people (3). He began by excising the freedom of expression; he shut down all newspapers with opposing views to the Bolshevik views (3). This created no opposition for the citizens to hear; they had no choice but to listen to and believe what the Bolsheviks were telling them. By limiting the civil liberties and voice of the people, Lenin had created a single-party state for Russia; there was no opposition to his party. The Bolsheviks dissolved the congress (3). In a two-week election, the Bolsheviks won twenty-four percent of the votes, while the Social Revolutionary Party won thirty-eight percent (3). Lenin declared these results were “unrepresentative of the ‘people’s will’” (3).
In order to keep uprisings down, Lenin instated many tactics. He created the Cheka, the secret police (3). Lenin multiple times over said that he was willing to use terror and do whatever necessary in “the interests of the workers, soldiers, and peasants” (3). All he really did for those groups of people was to lose their support and trust. He terrorized his whole country; the people had no say and no voice. They were not allowed to go against anything Lenin or the Bolsheviks said. Ironically, the Bolsheviks had been one of the groups who had suffered under the czarist rule, but they became a more horrific ruler than the czarist government had been for the people (3). As had occurred on Bloody Sunday in 1905, the Bolshevik armies opened fire on a crowd of demonstrators of workers and soldiers (3). The citizens had an even bigger problem with this because they saw a repeat of the czarist rule; only this one was much worse and more oppressive for them. Lenin eventually put in place concentration and forced-labor camps (3). Many people either died or were executed in these camps (3). This is an atrocity of almost genocide proportions run by the Russian government of the time. Lenin was willingly and forcibly killing his own people. The death penalty was reinstated (3), and prisoners were forced to work as a way to correct their wrongs (3). This practice is used today in the United States, but on a much easier scale. Lenin began to tell the Cheka to not hesitate to kill people; he told them to make examples of people and to even terrorize soldiers by using their children and wives in the concentration camps (3).
Lenin was supposed to save the Russian citizens. They trusted him and followed him to give them what they needed. He abused his power, however, and became a terror to the people. He led an extremist group in a successful attempt to seize power through the use of strong-armed tactics. He denied and ignored the wishes and needs of the Russian people for selfish reasons. His dictatorship rule became one of terror and oppression, more so than Russia and all of Europe had ever seen.
The Provisional government was not getting the Russians out of the war like they wanted (2). The Russians were tired of fighting a losing battle and having their husbands, fathers, and sons killed. They turned to Lenin to get them out of the war with Germany because the Bolsheviks, especially Lenin, also wanted out of the war. In doing so, Lenin used Germany to help get Russia out of the war while he was in Switzerland (2). Lenin and his supporters knew that without international peace for Russia, they would not gain nor remain in power (3). This won Lenin major support in the eyes of the Russian citizens and troops (3). Lenin was giving the citizens what they had wanted for years; they were tired of being patient to get what they wanted. Lenin was proving to provide for their needs and wants by ending the war for them. Lenin believed the provisional government should have no power because they were making empty promises to the people of Russia (4); however, he made his promises and soon went back on them to terrorize his country.
Lenin’s ideas that the Bolsheviks should first concern themselves with six main things: “imperialism and the imperialist war; a demand for a ‘commune state’; paying attention to the state; amending their antiquated minimum programme; creating a revolutionary International; and rebuilding the International” (4). In stating this, Lenin was already showing signs of looking out for the good of himself and the Bolshevik party, not for the good of the Russian people. Both the people of Russia and Lenin believed that Russia should become a communist dictatorship (2); this made it easy for Lenin and the Bolsheviks to take power of Russia and win over the support of the people. Also as he had promised, Lenin won over the rural people by giving them land “without any payment” (3). He took land from the bourgeoisie and it became land for the common people of Russia (3). This made it so the bourgeoisie could not control the lands of Russia and had to give some power to the common and lower-class farmers and citizens. However, the people did not realize how this dictatorship would soon backfire on them.
The Bolsheviks soon became known as the Bolshevik “political terrorism” (3). Lenin believed that the soviets were the “only possible form of revolutionary government” (4). Because of this, he terrorized every other counterrevolutionary person and ever counterrevolutionary movement (3). Lenin began a change in Russia so radical from anything any European country had ever seen before that richer countries, such as the ones in Western Europe, would “feel threatened by such radical claims and thus came to fear the ‘Reds’” (3). In doing this, Lenin and the Bolsheviks not only terrorized Russia, but also tried to create terror and feelings of threat in other countries of Europe as well. Lenin began his reign of terrorism by shutting down the civil liberties of the people (3). He began by excising the freedom of expression; he shut down all newspapers with opposing views to the Bolshevik views (3). This created no opposition for the citizens to hear; they had no choice but to listen to and believe what the Bolsheviks were telling them. By limiting the civil liberties and voice of the people, Lenin had created a single-party state for Russia; there was no opposition to his party. The Bolsheviks dissolved the congress (3). In a two-week election, the Bolsheviks won twenty-four percent of the votes, while the Social Revolutionary Party won thirty-eight percent (3). Lenin declared these results were “unrepresentative of the ‘people’s will’” (3).
In order to keep uprisings down, Lenin instated many tactics. He created the Cheka, the secret police (3). Lenin multiple times over said that he was willing to use terror and do whatever necessary in “the interests of the workers, soldiers, and peasants” (3). All he really did for those groups of people was to lose their support and trust. He terrorized his whole country; the people had no say and no voice. They were not allowed to go against anything Lenin or the Bolsheviks said. Ironically, the Bolsheviks had been one of the groups who had suffered under the czarist rule, but they became a more horrific ruler than the czarist government had been for the people (3). As had occurred on Bloody Sunday in 1905, the Bolshevik armies opened fire on a crowd of demonstrators of workers and soldiers (3). The citizens had an even bigger problem with this because they saw a repeat of the czarist rule; only this one was much worse and more oppressive for them. Lenin eventually put in place concentration and forced-labor camps (3). Many people either died or were executed in these camps (3). This is an atrocity of almost genocide proportions run by the Russian government of the time. Lenin was willingly and forcibly killing his own people. The death penalty was reinstated (3), and prisoners were forced to work as a way to correct their wrongs (3). This practice is used today in the United States, but on a much easier scale. Lenin began to tell the Cheka to not hesitate to kill people; he told them to make examples of people and to even terrorize soldiers by using their children and wives in the concentration camps (3).
Lenin was supposed to save the Russian citizens. They trusted him and followed him to give them what they needed. He abused his power, however, and became a terror to the people. He led an extremist group in a successful attempt to seize power through the use of strong-armed tactics. He denied and ignored the wishes and needs of the Russian people for selfish reasons. His dictatorship rule became one of terror and oppression, more so than Russia and all of Europe had ever seen.
Taylor- Successful attempt by an extremist group to seize power through the use of strong-aimed tatics
The October Revolution was a successful attempt by an extremist group to seize power through the use of strong-aim tatics. I believe this because Lenin fooled the people into believing that he could create a better government , when he was just possed by the idea of having power.His ideal goverment was no where nearthe representation of the desires or the aims of the Russia people, although he wanted them to believe this. He used three tatics to do this :Stamping out civil liberties, creating signs of resistance, and repression.
Lenin's first major mistake was taking away civil liberities from the Russian people. On October 27 he closed the press of the middle class, saying that he was keeping his promise. The only problem with that is he shut out the only voice that the people had to tell there opinion. People deserve the right to the freedom of press,especially when they already were overlooked." This new censorship appalled supporters of the revoultion, who correctly saw it as a portent of worse to come"(source 3). Not only was Lenin holding the people back , he was losin the support of people who had began to trust in him. This was a very strong-aim tatic to the people because they had gained hope seeing how Tsar Nicholas left them alone , but it was only a slap in the face making them lose all confidence.
Next Lenin creation of resistance many people began to see that the democratic government they wanted was turning into a dictatorship. Many workers began to strike leading to another revoultion. "Lenin and other leaders tried to keep this threat at bay by promising include other party's of government"(source 3) By this time people were tired of the lies that were being told, Lenin just like Tsar Nicholas II promised anything to gain back trust and order when things went wrong. He stated "Dictatorship of the proletariat represented a higher form of democratic institution ."(source 3) There again he went against the peoples will. All they asked for was equality, yet could not succeed due to the resistance placed upon them . It was if they were trying to build up a wall that kept getting knocked over constantly.
Lastly was repression. Lenin established the Cheka a.ka the secret police .Violence was becoming a big issue due the problems in which he caused.Lenin's only worry was the the state employees would strike , yet he showed his ways of wanting to take on radical measures against the wealthy. The state employees and the wealthy were two groups in which he knew could create controversary amongst a lot of people, which contributed to his worry.Also the establishment of the Cheka was a not only a repression , but a depression to the people. The Cheka was a police force that planned to use extreme violence to contain order, yet this reminded the people of "Bloody Sunday. Force was used that day which left many of there love ones dead , due to there want for equality.
Lenin could remain in power if he only tried to find ways the please the people , then his power would increase because they would trust him. Lenin should have understood that he was entering a suffering country that didnt have much to depend on except themselves ,so by taking away their civil liberties he took away there voice. Creating resistance only cause them to fight against it ,creating strikes and revolutions. And forming the Cheka only lead them back to there pass. Lenin destroyed himself and his gainage of power , you have to understand that you can only have power if the people allow it to take place. Lenin could not cooperate with the people so his chances of success were shot. :)
Lenin's first major mistake was taking away civil liberities from the Russian people. On October 27 he closed the press of the middle class, saying that he was keeping his promise. The only problem with that is he shut out the only voice that the people had to tell there opinion. People deserve the right to the freedom of press,especially when they already were overlooked." This new censorship appalled supporters of the revoultion, who correctly saw it as a portent of worse to come"(source 3). Not only was Lenin holding the people back , he was losin the support of people who had began to trust in him. This was a very strong-aim tatic to the people because they had gained hope seeing how Tsar Nicholas left them alone , but it was only a slap in the face making them lose all confidence.
Next Lenin creation of resistance many people began to see that the democratic government they wanted was turning into a dictatorship. Many workers began to strike leading to another revoultion. "Lenin and other leaders tried to keep this threat at bay by promising include other party's of government"(source 3) By this time people were tired of the lies that were being told, Lenin just like Tsar Nicholas II promised anything to gain back trust and order when things went wrong. He stated "Dictatorship of the proletariat represented a higher form of democratic institution ."(source 3) There again he went against the peoples will. All they asked for was equality, yet could not succeed due to the resistance placed upon them . It was if they were trying to build up a wall that kept getting knocked over constantly.
Lastly was repression. Lenin established the Cheka a.ka the secret police .Violence was becoming a big issue due the problems in which he caused.Lenin's only worry was the the state employees would strike , yet he showed his ways of wanting to take on radical measures against the wealthy. The state employees and the wealthy were two groups in which he knew could create controversary amongst a lot of people, which contributed to his worry.Also the establishment of the Cheka was a not only a repression , but a depression to the people. The Cheka was a police force that planned to use extreme violence to contain order, yet this reminded the people of "Bloody Sunday. Force was used that day which left many of there love ones dead , due to there want for equality.
Lenin could remain in power if he only tried to find ways the please the people , then his power would increase because they would trust him. Lenin should have understood that he was entering a suffering country that didnt have much to depend on except themselves ,so by taking away their civil liberties he took away there voice. Creating resistance only cause them to fight against it ,creating strikes and revolutions. And forming the Cheka only lead them back to there pass. Lenin destroyed himself and his gainage of power , you have to understand that you can only have power if the people allow it to take place. Lenin could not cooperate with the people so his chances of success were shot. :)
Hinton: Lenin’s Successful attempt to use an extremist group to gain power.
*disclaimer: again I have not read any of the post, so I’m sorry if I took someone’s idea.*
Lenin was a smart guy in my opinion. I believe he was aware of the motives for coming to power. However, for him to achieve that power, he would have to use the emotions of the citizens to maneuver his way through the Russian social hierarchy. Now looking back through the rule of Tsar Nicholas II the act of civil liberties were promised but never given to the people. Lenin used the act of civil liberties to reel in the people on the bandwagon to his ideology. First, he started off with the freedom of expression and freedom of the press [3]. These are just a sample of civil liberties that were given to the people, but they did not really have any affect on the people except for letting the people voice their opinions. His objection to this civil liberty is that he wanted to ensure that the voices of the middle class and the bourgeois were not heard [3]. This benefited him, because with the censorship of the bourgeois, they were less likely to have an influence on the people. However, the reason that Lenin probably was not “down” with bourgeois was because of his past exile (because of his radical ideas developed from Karl Marx), which could have stemmed his rise of power to be solely because of the bourgeois. By looking at the evidence more closely, I believe Lenin’s real motives behind his actions were not for the good of the people but for himself. By the bourgeois (the old tsarist rule) putting him in exile for the ideas, this was a way for him to seek is revenge and also spread the idea of socialism to the people. To take advantage of the people while the country was in dire need of stability. However, he could not do this alone, this time he wanted to use a group of people (the Bolsheviks, the Checka, etc.) help him slowly make his presence known.
Snider- successful attempt
I think that the October Revolution (Bolshevik Revolution) was a successful attempt by an extremist group to seize power through the use of strong-armed tactics. There are many reasons why I think that it was a successful attempt and not a true representation of the desires and aims of the Russian people. I came to this conclusion based on the sources that were given. Here is some of the evidence that I found that helped me believe that the October Revolution was a successful attempt by an extremist group to seize power through the use of strong-armed tactics:
• “Some have argued that neither Lenin nor his comrades envisioned that setting up the Cheka would lead to full-scale terror. However, that outcome was very likely, given how they also stripped away citizens’ legal and civil rights.” (Source 3)
• “Here was another first. The Leninists were shooting at unarmed civilians, and even more supporters were quick to point to the uncanny resemblance to the tsarist atrocities on the infamous Bloody Sunday of 1905.” (Source 3)
• “…Lenin asked rhetorically: “Do you really believe that we can be victorious without applying the cruelest revolutionary terror?” (Source 3)
First of all, I think that Lenin made the April Theses to get the support of the people. He wanted the people to know his main aims and goals. Once he got the support of the people, he tried to seize power through the use of strong-armed tactics. With the first piece of evidence, it says that some believed that neither Lenin nor his comrades knew that setting up the Cheka, or secret police, would lead to full-scale terror. But it did say that they took away the legal and civil rights of the citizens. This could not be the desire of the people. People want to have legal and civil rights. They do not want to be ruled with everything they do. They want to have their own say in the things they do and they want to have freedom such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the freedom of the press. With Lenin setting up the Cheka, people became very angry and felt betrayed by Lenin and his comrades. In the April Theses, Lenin got the support of the people and now he was turning his back on them by not keeping his promises and doing the things he said he would.
In the second bullet, innocent citizens that were unarmed were being shot at by Leninists. People were quick to relate this event to the infamous Bloody Sunday of 1905. After Lenin gained the support of the people, he turned and took advantage of that support. People that supported him did not think that Lenin would betray them by killing them. After all, they put their trust in him. If they would have known he would not stick to his promises, they would have never given him the support that they did. In his April Theses, he listened to the ideas, wants, and needs of the people and included them in his paper so he could get the support and encouragement of the majority of the citizens. But little did they know what Lenin was about to do. People went from having full support and respect in Lenin to having little to no support or trust in him at all.
In my last piece of evidence, it says that Lenin asked Isaac Steinberg, “Do you really believe that we can be victorious without applying the cruelest revolutionary terror?” I think that Lenin only thinks that the way to be victorious is through cruelty. In source three it states, “On November 28 a large crowd of ten to twenty thousand that included white-collar workers on strike, students, and some workers demonstrated in Petrograd about these delays. They made their way through guards ringing the Tauride Palace and, once inside, tried to convene the assembly. The next day the building was surrounded by armed troops, and no one was permitted to enter.” After this happened, Lenin thought that harsher measures should be taken. To do this, the regime established three new institutions: the Cheka, or secret police; concentration camps; and the Red Army. These three institutions did indeed bring terror upon the people. They felt threatened and became very scared. Lenin believed that these things were necessary in preventing the outbreak and riots of the people. Of course, there are consequences for the establishment of these things. The support that he used to have from people, he no longer had. The people did not agree with what he had done. They didn’t like the idea of the Cheka, concentration camps, or the Red Army. So, therefore, he lost his support.
These are some of the things I found which supported that the October Revolution was a successful attempt by an extremist group to seize power through the use of strong-armed tactics. The people who did support Lenin’s ideas written in the April Theses were soon changed by his actions. They did not agree with what he was doing anymore and realized that he was not going to accomplish what he had said he would. He made promises that he would not be able to keep.
• “Some have argued that neither Lenin nor his comrades envisioned that setting up the Cheka would lead to full-scale terror. However, that outcome was very likely, given how they also stripped away citizens’ legal and civil rights.” (Source 3)
• “Here was another first. The Leninists were shooting at unarmed civilians, and even more supporters were quick to point to the uncanny resemblance to the tsarist atrocities on the infamous Bloody Sunday of 1905.” (Source 3)
• “…Lenin asked rhetorically: “Do you really believe that we can be victorious without applying the cruelest revolutionary terror?” (Source 3)
First of all, I think that Lenin made the April Theses to get the support of the people. He wanted the people to know his main aims and goals. Once he got the support of the people, he tried to seize power through the use of strong-armed tactics. With the first piece of evidence, it says that some believed that neither Lenin nor his comrades knew that setting up the Cheka, or secret police, would lead to full-scale terror. But it did say that they took away the legal and civil rights of the citizens. This could not be the desire of the people. People want to have legal and civil rights. They do not want to be ruled with everything they do. They want to have their own say in the things they do and they want to have freedom such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the freedom of the press. With Lenin setting up the Cheka, people became very angry and felt betrayed by Lenin and his comrades. In the April Theses, Lenin got the support of the people and now he was turning his back on them by not keeping his promises and doing the things he said he would.
In the second bullet, innocent citizens that were unarmed were being shot at by Leninists. People were quick to relate this event to the infamous Bloody Sunday of 1905. After Lenin gained the support of the people, he turned and took advantage of that support. People that supported him did not think that Lenin would betray them by killing them. After all, they put their trust in him. If they would have known he would not stick to his promises, they would have never given him the support that they did. In his April Theses, he listened to the ideas, wants, and needs of the people and included them in his paper so he could get the support and encouragement of the majority of the citizens. But little did they know what Lenin was about to do. People went from having full support and respect in Lenin to having little to no support or trust in him at all.
In my last piece of evidence, it says that Lenin asked Isaac Steinberg, “Do you really believe that we can be victorious without applying the cruelest revolutionary terror?” I think that Lenin only thinks that the way to be victorious is through cruelty. In source three it states, “On November 28 a large crowd of ten to twenty thousand that included white-collar workers on strike, students, and some workers demonstrated in Petrograd about these delays. They made their way through guards ringing the Tauride Palace and, once inside, tried to convene the assembly. The next day the building was surrounded by armed troops, and no one was permitted to enter.” After this happened, Lenin thought that harsher measures should be taken. To do this, the regime established three new institutions: the Cheka, or secret police; concentration camps; and the Red Army. These three institutions did indeed bring terror upon the people. They felt threatened and became very scared. Lenin believed that these things were necessary in preventing the outbreak and riots of the people. Of course, there are consequences for the establishment of these things. The support that he used to have from people, he no longer had. The people did not agree with what he had done. They didn’t like the idea of the Cheka, concentration camps, or the Red Army. So, therefore, he lost his support.
These are some of the things I found which supported that the October Revolution was a successful attempt by an extremist group to seize power through the use of strong-armed tactics. The people who did support Lenin’s ideas written in the April Theses were soon changed by his actions. They did not agree with what he was doing anymore and realized that he was not going to accomplish what he had said he would. He made promises that he would not be able to keep.
Leanne- successful attempt by an extremist group!
Lenin’s rise to power was due to the seizing of the government by an extremist group. After the fall of the Czar the Provisional Government came into power. It was very weak and was crumbling under all the pressure. Lenin could tell this was happening, like he could smell their fear. He decided to jump on the Provisional Governments weakness so bring himself into power. When he realized that it would be harder than he thought, because he could not win the people over so easily, strong-armed tactics became his new approach.
At the beginning Lenin tried to use propaganda to win the people over. This is where is famous “Peace, Land, and Bread” line comes in (3). The people liked the thought of these things but this was not enough to win them over, they still did not believe in everything that Lenin stood for. They figured that they would play it safe and support the Social Revolutionaries. When Lenin realized this he made the executive decision that changes had to be made. He started taking matters into his own hands. When elections took place he did not win because the people favored the Social Revolutionaries. To him this was unacceptable so he changed the end results. He decided that he had won because it was in the best interest of the people and it was what they really wanted. This was not so.
Once Lenin had gotten himself into power some things changed. He split up land evenly between everybody and made sure that everyone had food. This was very good for the people because at least they were no longer starving. Then they started to realize the bad part about Lenin. Then came the concentration camps, the secret police, and the Red Army. Anyone who spoke out against Lenin and the government either was shot right on the spot, or was sent to concentration camps. In the concentration camps people were forced to do hard labor, and were often drowned or killed in other ways (3). The secret police, was not on your side, unless you were in it. They would rat out anyone who dared to speak out against Lenin. These tactics Lenin was using were scaring the people into submission.
His tactics seemed to be working because the people were so scared that they would be shot or sent away that they started to keep their mouths shut. Lenin knew what he had to do to have power and to keep people from taking it from him and he was willing to do anything it took. Therefore, the October Revolution was an overthrow from an extremist group, not the true desires of the people. If the desires of the people had met, the Social Revolutionaries would have won the election. Lenin and the Bolsheviks forcefully took power.
Araam Borhanian: A win for the Extremist Group
The October Revolution seemed to represent what the Russian people wanted. However, the truth was that the Bolsheviks were playing the Russian people, enticing them with what they could get. When the Bolsheviks actually got into power, it would become obvious that it wasn't what the Russian people wanted.
The main reason the Russian people would want the revolution was because they felt the Provisional Government was taking too long to give them the rights they were told they would get. Like the Czar, the Provisional Government had promised to give Civil Liberties to the people, as well as declaring all of the people equal -- all Russians. The Provisional government would even grant the people the right to have unions and hold strikes. However, though it would seem that these rights could be granted instantaneously (Free press for example; okay, don't censor the press, now you've granted that right. Don't attack strikers, right to strike is covered), the Provisional Government was taking time to roll the liberties out to the people (notes), which Lenin would solve the issue by not granting civil liberties, instead promising what the people needed and wanted most; "Bread, Land, and Peace". This slogan, as well as many others, would be chanted by the Russians during rallies against the Provisional Government. The people would also be upset because of the fact that the Provisional Government, unlike the Soviets, wouldn't be elected. Though they would be in a while, the Provisional government at the time weren't an elected body. The point of this being, the people would want the Russian Revolution to occur, so that they could get what they thought needed to be granted to them. That would be the entire reason they would agree to the revolution. If they had known what the result would have been (which would include the Cheka and the Concentration Camps)[book], the people most likely wouldn't have agreed to the revolution, and would have tried to wait it out.
Lenin and the Bolsheviks would grant what they thought the people would need. When Lenin comes back on the train from exile, he would create the April theses. (April Theses) With the first part, Lenin would effectively decide that the war with Germany has to end.(April Theses), though it would be a while, and Lenin would eventually be forced to destroy parts of Russia that were being invaded so that the Germans couldn't survive. (Book) This would be another factor that would get the Russians people to help the Bolsheviks succeed in getting power. Lenin would also say that the power should be taken away from the bourgeoise and given to the people, but specifically a group that would be known as the Soviets of Workers' Deputies. (April Theses) The people would agree with this point, and this would help get the Bolsheviks into power, because the people did want more say in government. However, a point that the people and Lenin would disagree with would be the idea that the government wasn't to be elected. (April Theses) Lenin would say that the people didn't actually need this right, but the real reason would be that without just taking the position, there would be little to no chance that Lenin and the Bolsheviks would have any power or say in the government. With that, we can see how the two groups; that is, the Bolsheviks (or the extreme party) versus the Russian people seemed to have similar goals at first.
However, after the revolution, we see who the revolution really starts to benefit; the Bolsheviks. Though at first we do see the Russian people get the land, Lenin starts to show the differences that he had said earlier in the April theses; he institutes a dictatorship. (Book) Even though the Bolsheviks did invite others to the Sovnarkom, it would be obvious that they wouldn't have much power, and the people called it "political terrorism". (Book) Though the people did want the benefit of land being given to them, the fact that they were now under a dictatorship would be a major setback; this would be the equivalent of having the czar again, but instead under a marxist ruler. The right to freedom of expression would be removed, as the Bolsheviks would censor the press. (Book) Lenin would start to use scare tactics to keep the people from rebelling, as the people started to see that they weren't the real winners in terms of the revolution; the Bolsheviks were. The Cheka, the Death Penalty being reinstated, and the concentration camps would be used against anyone who wasn't in full support of the government.(book) People that were considered revolutionist would most likely have to deal with one of the three listed. But the reason that this is so important is because it means that the Bolsheviks were truly in power, but the people felt that the Bolsheviks didn't deserve it.
Therefore, since the Bolsheviks were in power, and they were getting benefits that the people were starting to seem to lose, the October Revolution would be a successful attempt by the extremist group into getting power. They would fool the Russian people into believing that their wants would be met, and would eventually use strong armed tactics in order to keep the power.
Leonard- successful attempt by an extremist group to seize power through use of the lower class
The October Revolution was a successful attempt by an extremist group to seize power by the use of strong armed tactics that appeared to be working in the favor of the lower class citizens of Russia.
In the beginning stages of the October Revolution Lenin and his government began to seize the land of the rich and redistribute the land to the peasant workers. Many lower class Russians believed that, “the land has to belong to those who work it.”(3) This action was a method of Lenin’s government to gain support for their revolution; even though this method angered the rich population, the government hoped to make the majority of Russia the lower class happy, by disregarding those who would be opposed. Disregarding the desires of the different parties in Russia was an extreme action that was made more out of an effort to gain support, than to represent the desires and aims of the repressed Russian proletariat. Lenin took advantage of the fact that Russia was a “poor country where so many possessed so little” which allowed for “sweeping changes to be seriously contemplated.”(3) By giving people who had very little something of their own, he was able to side track them from focusing on his other plans for them.
“In a third party decree proclaiming one-party rule, Lenin followed his own pan to establish a dictatorship.”(3) Lenin as a dictator was not what the people wanted. Under the Provisional Government, the people were told that they were going to be a democracy and hold elections, but the PG never got the chance to make that happen(). Being a democracy was obviously something the people for Russia wanted, if they did not they would not have overthrown the Czarist rule in the first place. Being ruled by a dictator was clearly not something the people of Russia wanted. Lenin declaration that he was going to be their dictator was an extreme method of seizing power.
When citizen became unhappy with the new government and tried to rise up against Lenin, he had several methods for repressing them and keeping their “counterrevolutionary” voice from being heard. One of his methods was establishing a group called the Cheka, secret police.(3) It was the job to “deal with the counterrevolution and with strikes and unrest.”(3) If any of this arose the Cheka was to use all mean to stop it. On January 9, the “Union for the Defense of the Constituent Assembly”, who was angry with the government, decide to march to the Tauride Palace. (3) It was the job of the Cheka to shut down the demonstration, “as the marcher approached, troops opened fire, and about 20 people were killed.” (3) The Cheka was shooting at “unarmed civilians and even some supporters were quick to point to the uncanny resemblance to the tsarist atrocities on the infamous Bloody Sunday of 1905.” Under Lenin’s rule the government was looking very similar to the Czar’s government, which the people had already over turned. If Lenin was truly representing the desires of the people his government would have no similarities to the previously overturned governments.
The actions of Lenin’s “new” government were not that different from the events that took place under the Czarist rule. Lenin was able to accomplish his extremist goals by gaining the support of the people in the beginning and appearing to be working for the good to the majority of Russia. He provided the people with distractions that allowed him to keep the people from truly knowing the extent of the goals he had set for Russia.
In the beginning stages of the October Revolution Lenin and his government began to seize the land of the rich and redistribute the land to the peasant workers. Many lower class Russians believed that, “the land has to belong to those who work it.”(3) This action was a method of Lenin’s government to gain support for their revolution; even though this method angered the rich population, the government hoped to make the majority of Russia the lower class happy, by disregarding those who would be opposed. Disregarding the desires of the different parties in Russia was an extreme action that was made more out of an effort to gain support, than to represent the desires and aims of the repressed Russian proletariat. Lenin took advantage of the fact that Russia was a “poor country where so many possessed so little” which allowed for “sweeping changes to be seriously contemplated.”(3) By giving people who had very little something of their own, he was able to side track them from focusing on his other plans for them.
“In a third party decree proclaiming one-party rule, Lenin followed his own pan to establish a dictatorship.”(3) Lenin as a dictator was not what the people wanted. Under the Provisional Government, the people were told that they were going to be a democracy and hold elections, but the PG never got the chance to make that happen(). Being a democracy was obviously something the people for Russia wanted, if they did not they would not have overthrown the Czarist rule in the first place. Being ruled by a dictator was clearly not something the people of Russia wanted. Lenin declaration that he was going to be their dictator was an extreme method of seizing power.
When citizen became unhappy with the new government and tried to rise up against Lenin, he had several methods for repressing them and keeping their “counterrevolutionary” voice from being heard. One of his methods was establishing a group called the Cheka, secret police.(3) It was the job to “deal with the counterrevolution and with strikes and unrest.”(3) If any of this arose the Cheka was to use all mean to stop it. On January 9, the “Union for the Defense of the Constituent Assembly”, who was angry with the government, decide to march to the Tauride Palace. (3) It was the job of the Cheka to shut down the demonstration, “as the marcher approached, troops opened fire, and about 20 people were killed.” (3) The Cheka was shooting at “unarmed civilians and even some supporters were quick to point to the uncanny resemblance to the tsarist atrocities on the infamous Bloody Sunday of 1905.” Under Lenin’s rule the government was looking very similar to the Czar’s government, which the people had already over turned. If Lenin was truly representing the desires of the people his government would have no similarities to the previously overturned governments.
The actions of Lenin’s “new” government were not that different from the events that took place under the Czarist rule. Lenin was able to accomplish his extremist goals by gaining the support of the people in the beginning and appearing to be working for the good to the majority of Russia. He provided the people with distractions that allowed him to keep the people from truly knowing the extent of the goals he had set for Russia.
Patel- The October revolution: a subterfuge of Lenin and the Bolsheviks
The October revolution was undeniably a successful attempt by an extremist group because of the slowly elevating strength of the Bolsheviks and Lenin at that time. The desires of the Russian people had gotten lost somewhere when Lenin was rising into power.
Lenin’s initial entry into Russia was a major contribution of Germany for they instigated the October revolution (2). If not for Germany, then Lenin would have never had the chance to weave his way into power. Now Germany was only sponsoring Lenin’s return to Russia because of the beneficial advantages that Germany would obtain such as the end of war. Germany wanted to end the war with as many countries in order to focus on the one and the only France, and in order to do that they had to boot the Provisional government out of power. And Vladimir Lenin was more than willing to accomplish this deed for Germany. As Lenin joined more and more radical organizations, such as the intelligentsia of the 1870’s (2), he became more of an extremist idealist. He based his aims and goals for Russia from Karl Marx, the origin of Communism (2). He believed in the smashing of the social status pyramid, which meant a demolition of the bourgeoisie. His devious nature compelled him to desire for a dictatorship rule instead of a true communist rule, which indicated Lenin’s ulterior motives for gaining power over Russia. He claimed that he was to serve to the people’s needs at that present moment by writing the April Thesis (4). He claimed, “…the emphasis must be shifted to the Soviets of Agricultural Laborer’s Deputies.” (4) (Or in other words the proletariat, working class) He clearly stated in the many speeches that he made that “All power to the Soviets” and “Peace, Land, and Bread.” (2). Lenin’s speeches, although unsuccessful at times, got his message out to the public. When the public needed radical change, it seemed that Lenin took advantage of that vulnerability of Russia in order to succeed in his selfish desire of a Dictatorship of the Proletariat (2).
Lenin’s successes were advancing him to total power of Russia. October 25, the fall of the Winter Palace. (3). A significant location of the Provisional government was lost but gained by the Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks and Lenin brought about mass mayhem by misusing their power. The Bolsheviks announced the abolition of secret diplomacy, which undermined all opportunities of democracy, and no more considerations in the government only dictatorial rulings. The people of Russia were suffering by the malicious doings of the Sovnarkam (the beginnings of the dictatorship rule) (3). They were eliminating the bourgeoisie which was accepted by the Russians, but by harsh and onerous terms, which not only terrorized the wealthy class but all Russians also. Any newspaper or person that spoke against the Sovnarkam would be abolished or banished to a concentration camp (3). The death penalty was reinstated, so if anyone dared to incited resistance to the new rule, death penalty would be an option for their removal (3). Bolsheviks and the Revolutionist went as far as to created a secret police to monitor Russia’s every disturbance and resistance (3). They were to prosecute at will. Because Lenin spread the pernicious terror throughout Russia, no one understood his true goals anymore, they were all lost within the consequences of a dictatorship take over, unable to speak against the government. Hatred also spread throughout Russia, because of Lenin’s inability to keep Russia safe and instead inciting the pernicious troubles terrorizing Russia. Instead of allowing civil liberties, the wants of the people, he ended up killing over 60,000 people (3). So very far from the needs of Russia.
Therefore, Lenin associating himself with the Bolsheviks was his most lucrative move. He proceeded to succeed further until he stopped trying to be sincere with the Russians and completely formed his available power into the dictatorship he desired all along.
2- Mr. Belk's Notes
3- Lenin, Stalin, and Hitler book
4- Lenin's April Thesis
Lenin’s initial entry into Russia was a major contribution of Germany for they instigated the October revolution (2). If not for Germany, then Lenin would have never had the chance to weave his way into power. Now Germany was only sponsoring Lenin’s return to Russia because of the beneficial advantages that Germany would obtain such as the end of war. Germany wanted to end the war with as many countries in order to focus on the one and the only France, and in order to do that they had to boot the Provisional government out of power. And Vladimir Lenin was more than willing to accomplish this deed for Germany. As Lenin joined more and more radical organizations, such as the intelligentsia of the 1870’s (2), he became more of an extremist idealist. He based his aims and goals for Russia from Karl Marx, the origin of Communism (2). He believed in the smashing of the social status pyramid, which meant a demolition of the bourgeoisie. His devious nature compelled him to desire for a dictatorship rule instead of a true communist rule, which indicated Lenin’s ulterior motives for gaining power over Russia. He claimed that he was to serve to the people’s needs at that present moment by writing the April Thesis (4). He claimed, “…the emphasis must be shifted to the Soviets of Agricultural Laborer’s Deputies.” (4) (Or in other words the proletariat, working class) He clearly stated in the many speeches that he made that “All power to the Soviets” and “Peace, Land, and Bread.” (2). Lenin’s speeches, although unsuccessful at times, got his message out to the public. When the public needed radical change, it seemed that Lenin took advantage of that vulnerability of Russia in order to succeed in his selfish desire of a Dictatorship of the Proletariat (2).
Lenin’s successes were advancing him to total power of Russia. October 25, the fall of the Winter Palace. (3). A significant location of the Provisional government was lost but gained by the Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks and Lenin brought about mass mayhem by misusing their power. The Bolsheviks announced the abolition of secret diplomacy, which undermined all opportunities of democracy, and no more considerations in the government only dictatorial rulings. The people of Russia were suffering by the malicious doings of the Sovnarkam (the beginnings of the dictatorship rule) (3). They were eliminating the bourgeoisie which was accepted by the Russians, but by harsh and onerous terms, which not only terrorized the wealthy class but all Russians also. Any newspaper or person that spoke against the Sovnarkam would be abolished or banished to a concentration camp (3). The death penalty was reinstated, so if anyone dared to incited resistance to the new rule, death penalty would be an option for their removal (3). Bolsheviks and the Revolutionist went as far as to created a secret police to monitor Russia’s every disturbance and resistance (3). They were to prosecute at will. Because Lenin spread the pernicious terror throughout Russia, no one understood his true goals anymore, they were all lost within the consequences of a dictatorship take over, unable to speak against the government. Hatred also spread throughout Russia, because of Lenin’s inability to keep Russia safe and instead inciting the pernicious troubles terrorizing Russia. Instead of allowing civil liberties, the wants of the people, he ended up killing over 60,000 people (3). So very far from the needs of Russia.
Therefore, Lenin associating himself with the Bolsheviks was his most lucrative move. He proceeded to succeed further until he stopped trying to be sincere with the Russians and completely formed his available power into the dictatorship he desired all along.
2- Mr. Belk's Notes
3- Lenin, Stalin, and Hitler book
4- Lenin's April Thesis
Jones-People desires and strong armed tactics
Ce-Ce Jones
The October Revolution starts off uses the representation of the peoples need and desires, but later uses the representation of an extremist group to seize power.
The starting point of Lenin’s success took place when he saw that the Provisional Government over Russia was not satisfying the people. Lenin took the opportunity of the provisional government fall, in order to gain power. Lenin saw that the people of Russia were not happy with what was taking place in the county. The people were suffering from starvation, and wanted to get out of the war. When Lenin notice these things occurring he created the April Thesis, which was a list of ten ideas which Lenin believe would make the country better and also satisfying the people but mainly himself I believe.(2)
Lenin was taking advantage of the peoples needs and desires to become in power. He addressed the top two things the citizens of the country wanted and needed, which was food and pulling out of the war. (2) Due to the Provisional Governments stance, Russia was still in the war in order to get its pride back up, but Russia was not equipped to fight in the war.(3) Lenin would pull Russia out of the war, which would satisfy the people’s desires an also bring food back into Russia which would stop the starvation.
When Lenin did this he was getting the people good side, so that they would have a little more trust in him and follow his plans for the country. Lenin gave the people freedom of press, but limited the amount of press the high class or the Bourgeoisie possessed, which would make the lower class feel as if they had to same equality of the Bourgeoisie, and that the power was with the people.(2)
So the people believe that Lenin was giving them more power but in reality he was paving away for a dictatorship. Lenin was ahead of the game after he provided the Russian people freedom of press. Lenin set up an organization called Cheka, which were the Soviets. The Cheka was establish to limit the amount of freedom of speech the people would express, due to having fear of what might happen if the individual went too far with his or her freedom of speech. Also the Cheka help prevent the establishment of other groups. (3) This shows how Lenin used strong-armed tactics to keep the power he obtained.
The October Revolution was a representation of both. Lenin gain the peoples trust by giving them what they wanted to hear and what they wanted. He addressed the people’s desires and wants to start gaining his power, but as he took control and gain his power he started using strong armed tactics to ensure that he would stay in power.
The October Revolution starts off uses the representation of the peoples need and desires, but later uses the representation of an extremist group to seize power.
The starting point of Lenin’s success took place when he saw that the Provisional Government over Russia was not satisfying the people. Lenin took the opportunity of the provisional government fall, in order to gain power. Lenin saw that the people of Russia were not happy with what was taking place in the county. The people were suffering from starvation, and wanted to get out of the war. When Lenin notice these things occurring he created the April Thesis, which was a list of ten ideas which Lenin believe would make the country better and also satisfying the people but mainly himself I believe.(2)
Lenin was taking advantage of the peoples needs and desires to become in power. He addressed the top two things the citizens of the country wanted and needed, which was food and pulling out of the war. (2) Due to the Provisional Governments stance, Russia was still in the war in order to get its pride back up, but Russia was not equipped to fight in the war.(3) Lenin would pull Russia out of the war, which would satisfy the people’s desires an also bring food back into Russia which would stop the starvation.
When Lenin did this he was getting the people good side, so that they would have a little more trust in him and follow his plans for the country. Lenin gave the people freedom of press, but limited the amount of press the high class or the Bourgeoisie possessed, which would make the lower class feel as if they had to same equality of the Bourgeoisie, and that the power was with the people.(2)
So the people believe that Lenin was giving them more power but in reality he was paving away for a dictatorship. Lenin was ahead of the game after he provided the Russian people freedom of press. Lenin set up an organization called Cheka, which were the Soviets. The Cheka was establish to limit the amount of freedom of speech the people would express, due to having fear of what might happen if the individual went too far with his or her freedom of speech. Also the Cheka help prevent the establishment of other groups. (3) This shows how Lenin used strong-armed tactics to keep the power he obtained.
The October Revolution was a representation of both. Lenin gain the peoples trust by giving them what they wanted to hear and what they wanted. He addressed the people’s desires and wants to start gaining his power, but as he took control and gain his power he started using strong armed tactics to ensure that he would stay in power.
Boyle; Strong-Armed Tactics, MOSTLY
First of all, let's get out in the open exactly how I see this in its simplest terms: Russia was vulnerable. They weren't getting what they needed from their government, so they were willing to try something new. Lenin was "something new." He used that to his advantage to get in with the people, to an extent, then took it all the way with "strong-armed tactics," which did NOT coincide with the wants and/or needs of the people.
The first big, obvious thing for the people was the propaganda. Lenin used the things people most wanted to take them over to his side, such as "No amount of political freedom will satisfy the hungry masses." This quote especially underlined Lenin's ability to turn the things people wanted against them, by turning the idea of political freedom into something silly and unworthy of the people's attention. The April Theses, though, of course, allowed for quite a few of the same techniques in gaining support. Lenin gained a lot of his power through pushing down the other contenders, to the point where he should have been the obvious choice for the people. In the Theses, Lenin proclaimed that the Soviets should have power in most areas, such as the National Bank and land distribution (4). The Soviets represented the majority of Russia's population (wasn't it something like ninety percent?), and therefore made a fair go-to group for Lenin's focus (2). By focusing on a well-liked group, Lenin gained some support, but to me that didn't seem like enough.
So, yes, at first, it seemed like the Bolshevik Revolution was going to represent the people. Then Lenin started getting more forceful with things like the Checka and concentration camps, both to assure his ability to take power, and to maintain that power. The Checka did quite a bit to threaten any opposition to Lenin--ditto to the concentration camps (3). First, the Checka (secret police if you don't read) helped Lenin kind of beat the opposition out of the people (3). Not only would the Checka have created a fearfulness to speak up against Lenin (who was in the Checka, after all? You don't know. That, everyone, is why it's called a "secret," and that makes people extremely nervous), but I would assume that it would also cause a lot of distrust between the people. If you think of it that way, it seems like the Checka probably divided the people, to an extent. And, while I'm not usually one for cliché, it does seem like there is power in numbers. Divide the people, and maybe you'll have a better chance at overpowering them. At that point, it would be comparable to fighting five separated fingers, rather than a fist. The concentration camps, on the other hand, were at one point blatantly used to gain control of experienced tsarist officers, in hopes of advancing the development of the Red Army (3). This increase of power across several different groups allowed for Lenin and the Bolsheviks to take power. The Red Terror commenced, in which Lenin ordered that those without papers--and those who were causing agitation of Lenin's rule--be executed (3). Lenin continued to send opposing forces to permanent concentration camps, which continued to grow in numbers (3). A draft, too, was established for the Red Army, which Lenin brought to a thriving stance of five million by 1920 (3). With an army larger than any opposing Russian army, Lenin had no issue maintaining his control, for the time being. Obviously, given the violence and forcefulness of Lenin's actions, this revolution was not in the best interests of the people--rather, it was a takeover based on the fear of the people, and their greediness for change. While Russia was ripe for a new form of government, Lenin more so filled the need for change, rather than the legitimate needs of the Russians.
The end. :D
The first big, obvious thing for the people was the propaganda. Lenin used the things people most wanted to take them over to his side, such as "No amount of political freedom will satisfy the hungry masses." This quote especially underlined Lenin's ability to turn the things people wanted against them, by turning the idea of political freedom into something silly and unworthy of the people's attention. The April Theses, though, of course, allowed for quite a few of the same techniques in gaining support. Lenin gained a lot of his power through pushing down the other contenders, to the point where he should have been the obvious choice for the people. In the Theses, Lenin proclaimed that the Soviets should have power in most areas, such as the National Bank and land distribution (4). The Soviets represented the majority of Russia's population (wasn't it something like ninety percent?), and therefore made a fair go-to group for Lenin's focus (2). By focusing on a well-liked group, Lenin gained some support, but to me that didn't seem like enough.
So, yes, at first, it seemed like the Bolshevik Revolution was going to represent the people. Then Lenin started getting more forceful with things like the Checka and concentration camps, both to assure his ability to take power, and to maintain that power. The Checka did quite a bit to threaten any opposition to Lenin--ditto to the concentration camps (3). First, the Checka (secret police if you don't read) helped Lenin kind of beat the opposition out of the people (3). Not only would the Checka have created a fearfulness to speak up against Lenin (who was in the Checka, after all? You don't know. That, everyone, is why it's called a "secret," and that makes people extremely nervous), but I would assume that it would also cause a lot of distrust between the people. If you think of it that way, it seems like the Checka probably divided the people, to an extent. And, while I'm not usually one for cliché, it does seem like there is power in numbers. Divide the people, and maybe you'll have a better chance at overpowering them. At that point, it would be comparable to fighting five separated fingers, rather than a fist. The concentration camps, on the other hand, were at one point blatantly used to gain control of experienced tsarist officers, in hopes of advancing the development of the Red Army (3). This increase of power across several different groups allowed for Lenin and the Bolsheviks to take power. The Red Terror commenced, in which Lenin ordered that those without papers--and those who were causing agitation of Lenin's rule--be executed (3). Lenin continued to send opposing forces to permanent concentration camps, which continued to grow in numbers (3). A draft, too, was established for the Red Army, which Lenin brought to a thriving stance of five million by 1920 (3). With an army larger than any opposing Russian army, Lenin had no issue maintaining his control, for the time being. Obviously, given the violence and forcefulness of Lenin's actions, this revolution was not in the best interests of the people--rather, it was a takeover based on the fear of the people, and their greediness for change. While Russia was ripe for a new form of government, Lenin more so filled the need for change, rather than the legitimate needs of the Russians.
The end. :D
Burris- Lenin used the desires of the Russian people so that he and his extremist group could seize power
The October Revolution and its results were representation of the people of Russia in order for Lenin and his extremist group to seize power. Lenin started off doing what any other leader would do; he simply told the people what they wanted to hear, hoping that he would be able to gain power from it. Lenin knew that the country of Russia was in poor conditions following the February Revolution and the lost of the Russo- Japanese war, so this was Lenin’s chance to come up with a plan that was pleasing to the people of Russia so that he could seize power. Lenin used the slogan “Peace, Land, and Bread.” (Source 3) To demonstrate what he would provide for the people as they were in need and in favor of that; the people where suffering from starvation, the workers and peasants were longing for land, and the majority of the people in Russia were wanted peace from the war. Lenin targeted mainly the workers and the peasants within his campaign to seize power of Russia because they were the majority of the people. “He and his tiny group stood for the people, particularly the workers and peasants, while the provisional government represented the bourgeoisie.” (Source 3) Lenin made the people of Russia become of his favor by deeply identifying the problems within the Provisional Government, “Provisional Government; exposure of utter falsity of its promises.” (Source 4) Lenin discovered some unmade promises to the people and proposed by the Provisional Government so that the people would be in favor of him. Lenin wanted to be pleasing to the people to earn his dictatorship as he wanted, “Confiscation of private lands. Nationalistic of all lands in the country and management of such lands by local soviets of Agricultural Laborers’ and Peasants’ Deputies.” (Source4) By Lenin being favored by the majority of Russia’s population which was the working class and the peasants, it was easier for him to seize the throne.
Although Lenin told the people of Russia exactly what they wanted to hear, it was all so that he could uphold a successful attempt to seize power by strong armed tactics. “In a famous article published in Pravada on April 9, 1917, he remarked that “the basic question of every revolution is that of state power.” At the earliest possible moment that was what he wanted. He cared less about the fine words of the constitution.” (Source 3) Lenin’s main aim was to feed the Russian people with what they wanted to hear, and then seize power as soon as possible. Lenin did not like anyone that disagreed with him, “What they failed to understand was that Lenin’s schematic thinking provided nationalization for attempting to take power immediately. Once back in Russia, however, Lenin won over most of the Bolsheviks and wanted to excel anyone who disagreed with him.” (Source 3) Lenin wanted to be the dictator of all dictators and out shine everyone, which was his main purpose, he longed for the spotlight. “What he really wanted was power which he considered the crucial target in all revolutions.” (Source 3) Lenin considered power as a very crucial target. Power meant more to Lenin than freedom for the people meant. “Lenin’s desire to pursue “real freedom” by dictatorial means undermined the project of democracy before it got off the drawing board. His millennial dreams for the people of the Russian Empire were to lead down a road of greater suffering and misery than anything in their worst nightmares.” (Source 3) Lenin really cared about himself and power more than anything. “Their “dictatorship of the proletariat,” he claimed, represented “higher” form of democratic institution than a mere republic with a Constituent Assembly. He had a way with words heaping abuse on anyone who opposed him.” (Source 3) Lenin longed for and gained power of the people and he verbally abused anyone that did not agree with him. Lenin formulated new police within Russia to do the following tasks, “1. To suppress and liquidate all attempts and acts of counterrevolution and sabotage throughout Russia, from whatever quarter. 2. To hand over for trial by revolutionary tribunal all saboteurs and counter-revolutionaries, and to work out means of combating them.” (Source 3) Lenin wanted to punish those that were against him, simply because he had the impression that it was Lenin’s way or NO way! The October Revolution began off as being the desires of the Russian people as it was Lenin’s and the Bolshevik’s plan to seize power through the use of strong armed tactics.
Although Lenin told the people of Russia exactly what they wanted to hear, it was all so that he could uphold a successful attempt to seize power by strong armed tactics. “In a famous article published in Pravada on April 9, 1917, he remarked that “the basic question of every revolution is that of state power.” At the earliest possible moment that was what he wanted. He cared less about the fine words of the constitution.” (Source 3) Lenin’s main aim was to feed the Russian people with what they wanted to hear, and then seize power as soon as possible. Lenin did not like anyone that disagreed with him, “What they failed to understand was that Lenin’s schematic thinking provided nationalization for attempting to take power immediately. Once back in Russia, however, Lenin won over most of the Bolsheviks and wanted to excel anyone who disagreed with him.” (Source 3) Lenin wanted to be the dictator of all dictators and out shine everyone, which was his main purpose, he longed for the spotlight. “What he really wanted was power which he considered the crucial target in all revolutions.” (Source 3) Lenin considered power as a very crucial target. Power meant more to Lenin than freedom for the people meant. “Lenin’s desire to pursue “real freedom” by dictatorial means undermined the project of democracy before it got off the drawing board. His millennial dreams for the people of the Russian Empire were to lead down a road of greater suffering and misery than anything in their worst nightmares.” (Source 3) Lenin really cared about himself and power more than anything. “Their “dictatorship of the proletariat,” he claimed, represented “higher” form of democratic institution than a mere republic with a Constituent Assembly. He had a way with words heaping abuse on anyone who opposed him.” (Source 3) Lenin longed for and gained power of the people and he verbally abused anyone that did not agree with him. Lenin formulated new police within Russia to do the following tasks, “1. To suppress and liquidate all attempts and acts of counterrevolution and sabotage throughout Russia, from whatever quarter. 2. To hand over for trial by revolutionary tribunal all saboteurs and counter-revolutionaries, and to work out means of combating them.” (Source 3) Lenin wanted to punish those that were against him, simply because he had the impression that it was Lenin’s way or NO way! The October Revolution began off as being the desires of the Russian people as it was Lenin’s and the Bolshevik’s plan to seize power through the use of strong armed tactics.
Mallard-Clever Track Covering by the People
The October Revolution was originally a representation of the people, but as more people began to want the same things, they united together. When the people began to unite, Lenin saw it as an opportunity to take control over the country. If Lenin had the support of the people, then he would have a better chance of taking over Russia. With the people already on the edge about WWI and the February Revolution, this was the perfect opportunity to get the people on his side.
Lenin made the promises that were needed to get the people "wrapped around his finger." He promised "Peace, Land, and Bread."(source 2) With this promise, Lenin convinced many citizens he was the best leader. He was promising if he was in a leadership position, then there would be peace brought through Russia(source 2). He was promising that if he in a leadership position, the land that was dominated by the rich would be taken from them and divided among the poor(source 2). He was promising that if he was in a leadership position, then he would provide a better production and supply of food throughout the country(source 2). With all these promises, Lenin was very appealing to the working, poor, starving citizens of Russia. But because the world was still dealing with the aftermath of WWI, the citizens could not have actually believed Lenin could provide these things to the people.
Lenin very much appealed to the worker of the time and because their wants and wishes were for fair leadership among the country; the decisions made throughout the country should not always be in favor of the rich. Lenin purposed, “Dictatorship of the Proletariat,” leadership of the working class (source 2). Lenin decided that because the working class looked vulnerable, vulnerable because the working class wanted better leadership in Russia and would do anything to get fair treatment; he was going to essentially trick them into turning completely against the leadership of the country and following him. Lenin’s goal was to have the support of the people but ultimately to have full control of the Russian Government.
Lenin made much advancement toward full support of the majority of the people. Lenin tried to prove that he would be the best leader by planning coups and showing that the Provisional Government needed him and the Bolsheviks(source 3). He used his actions toward removing the Provisional Government to cover his faulty promises. Lenin tried to make the Provisional Government look like “the bad guy.” Lenin was a mater mind at covering his tracks and making other people take the fall for his work.
The people united under Lenin because they wanted the same things. Maybe the people united under Lenin because he could be the spokesman, so if their plan back fired then Lenin would have to take the fall. Ultimately the October Revolution was a representation of the desires and aims of the people, just united under an extremist group to have a lead man to cover their tracks.
Lenin made the promises that were needed to get the people "wrapped around his finger." He promised "Peace, Land, and Bread."(source 2) With this promise, Lenin convinced many citizens he was the best leader. He was promising if he was in a leadership position, then there would be peace brought through Russia(source 2). He was promising that if he in a leadership position, the land that was dominated by the rich would be taken from them and divided among the poor(source 2). He was promising that if he was in a leadership position, then he would provide a better production and supply of food throughout the country(source 2). With all these promises, Lenin was very appealing to the working, poor, starving citizens of Russia. But because the world was still dealing with the aftermath of WWI, the citizens could not have actually believed Lenin could provide these things to the people.
Lenin very much appealed to the worker of the time and because their wants and wishes were for fair leadership among the country; the decisions made throughout the country should not always be in favor of the rich. Lenin purposed, “Dictatorship of the Proletariat,” leadership of the working class (source 2). Lenin decided that because the working class looked vulnerable, vulnerable because the working class wanted better leadership in Russia and would do anything to get fair treatment; he was going to essentially trick them into turning completely against the leadership of the country and following him. Lenin’s goal was to have the support of the people but ultimately to have full control of the Russian Government.
Lenin made much advancement toward full support of the majority of the people. Lenin tried to prove that he would be the best leader by planning coups and showing that the Provisional Government needed him and the Bolsheviks(source 3). He used his actions toward removing the Provisional Government to cover his faulty promises. Lenin tried to make the Provisional Government look like “the bad guy.” Lenin was a mater mind at covering his tracks and making other people take the fall for his work.
The people united under Lenin because they wanted the same things. Maybe the people united under Lenin because he could be the spokesman, so if their plan back fired then Lenin would have to take the fall. Ultimately the October Revolution was a representation of the desires and aims of the people, just united under an extremist group to have a lead man to cover their tracks.
Williams--all about the power
I believe the October Revolution was a successful attempt by an extremist group to gain power and was not at all a representation of the desires of the Russian people.
Lenin told the people what they wanted to hear in his April Thesis. He gained their support by promising to give power to the proletariat, to pull out of WWI, to confiscate private estates and to give the land to peasants, etc. (4). These promises were not in the interest of the people; Lenin only cared about starting a revolution against the PG. Because the PG was composed of the bourgeoisie (upper class), he was forced to turn to the proletariat (lower class) in order to gain enough power and support to overthrow the PG. However, Lenin and the Bolsheviks’ treatment of the citizens of Russia only increased the counterrevolutionary feelings among them.
“Not forty-eight hours into the revolution a ‘decree on the press’ was issued under Lenin’s signature….he boldly declared that he was keeping his promise to close the press of the middle class or bourgeoisie. Any opposing opinions identified with their interest were anathematized” (3). This shows that Lenin feared his opposition. He worried that the intelligent bourgeoisie would reveal his underlying drive, his thirst for power. By eliminating the bourgeoisie press, Lenin was able to keep the proletariat in the dark. However, this decree also punished the very people on which Lenin relied most; keeping them out of the loop may have been great for Lenin, but the peasants’ civil liberties were dwindling. They were already upset with the fact that Tsar Nicholas denied them civil liberties, and Lenin revoking them again likely upset the peasants more. Obviously this was not a smart move by Lenin and the Bolsheviks.
Source 3 states that Lenin "advocated 'armed insurrection' and 'mass terror..." (3). “Lenin (even) announced that he was prepared to use terror in 'the interests of workers, soldiers, and peasants' and to do what was necessary 'for the good of the revolution'" (3). For this reason, he created the Cheka. The Cheka, or the secret-police would "deal with the counterrevolution and with strikes and unrest" (3). They also detained prisoners and counterrevolutionaries in concentration camps, which “were designed for (Russia’s) own citizens” (3). Were “armed insurrection” and “mass terror” really in the interest of the people of Russia? No—just as before, Lenin was clearly worried that the ideas of counterrevolutionaries would spread and all of Russia (including his support, the proletariat) would rise up against him and the Bolsheviks. He was so worried that he needed his own special police force to lock up and murder his opposition. Lenin was only safe as long as the proletariat remained naïve and unaware of his plan. Lenin and the Bolsheviks used the Cheka as a way to terrorize Russian citizens. During the time of the October Revolution, Russians lived their lives in complete and total fear—if they spoke their minds, would the Cheka hear? Would they be imprisoned or killed? What would happen to their families? By instilling this fear in the minds of Russians, Lenin was successful in keeping them unaware of his motives, yet again oppressing the people of Russia. This did not sit well with the proletariat. Peasants likely wondered, “If Lenin and the Bolsheviks imprison and murder the bourgeoisie and others who speak out against their tactics, why wouldn’t they treat us the same way?”
By retracting the civil liberties of the people of Russia as well as terrorizing the country, Lenin and the Bolsheviks lost their stream of support. Their mistreatment of the proletariat led to stronger feelings against the political party and created a more unified counterrevolutionary front. Therefore, these methods taken by the Bolsheviks in order to maintain power in Russia led them nowhere.
Lenin told the people what they wanted to hear in his April Thesis. He gained their support by promising to give power to the proletariat, to pull out of WWI, to confiscate private estates and to give the land to peasants, etc. (4). These promises were not in the interest of the people; Lenin only cared about starting a revolution against the PG. Because the PG was composed of the bourgeoisie (upper class), he was forced to turn to the proletariat (lower class) in order to gain enough power and support to overthrow the PG. However, Lenin and the Bolsheviks’ treatment of the citizens of Russia only increased the counterrevolutionary feelings among them.
“Not forty-eight hours into the revolution a ‘decree on the press’ was issued under Lenin’s signature….he boldly declared that he was keeping his promise to close the press of the middle class or bourgeoisie. Any opposing opinions identified with their interest were anathematized” (3). This shows that Lenin feared his opposition. He worried that the intelligent bourgeoisie would reveal his underlying drive, his thirst for power. By eliminating the bourgeoisie press, Lenin was able to keep the proletariat in the dark. However, this decree also punished the very people on which Lenin relied most; keeping them out of the loop may have been great for Lenin, but the peasants’ civil liberties were dwindling. They were already upset with the fact that Tsar Nicholas denied them civil liberties, and Lenin revoking them again likely upset the peasants more. Obviously this was not a smart move by Lenin and the Bolsheviks.
Source 3 states that Lenin "advocated 'armed insurrection' and 'mass terror..." (3). “Lenin (even) announced that he was prepared to use terror in 'the interests of workers, soldiers, and peasants' and to do what was necessary 'for the good of the revolution'" (3). For this reason, he created the Cheka. The Cheka, or the secret-police would "deal with the counterrevolution and with strikes and unrest" (3). They also detained prisoners and counterrevolutionaries in concentration camps, which “were designed for (Russia’s) own citizens” (3). Were “armed insurrection” and “mass terror” really in the interest of the people of Russia? No—just as before, Lenin was clearly worried that the ideas of counterrevolutionaries would spread and all of Russia (including his support, the proletariat) would rise up against him and the Bolsheviks. He was so worried that he needed his own special police force to lock up and murder his opposition. Lenin was only safe as long as the proletariat remained naïve and unaware of his plan. Lenin and the Bolsheviks used the Cheka as a way to terrorize Russian citizens. During the time of the October Revolution, Russians lived their lives in complete and total fear—if they spoke their minds, would the Cheka hear? Would they be imprisoned or killed? What would happen to their families? By instilling this fear in the minds of Russians, Lenin was successful in keeping them unaware of his motives, yet again oppressing the people of Russia. This did not sit well with the proletariat. Peasants likely wondered, “If Lenin and the Bolsheviks imprison and murder the bourgeoisie and others who speak out against their tactics, why wouldn’t they treat us the same way?”
By retracting the civil liberties of the people of Russia as well as terrorizing the country, Lenin and the Bolsheviks lost their stream of support. Their mistreatment of the proletariat led to stronger feelings against the political party and created a more unified counterrevolutionary front. Therefore, these methods taken by the Bolsheviks in order to maintain power in Russia led them nowhere.
Schusterman - Successful attempt of extremist group due to persuasion of support of soviets
The October Revolution was a successful attempt of an extremist group to rise to power due to the persuasion of the support of the socialists. Lenin and the Bolsheviks used techniques that did not represent the needs of the bourgeoisie, but they did appeal to the needs of the peasants and workers. With this group of peoples support the Bolsheviks were then able to successfully gain rule over Russia.
One technique Lenin used to represent the wants of the peasants but not the upper class was the redistribution of land. Lenin took land from the bourgeoisie and gave it to peasant-soldiers. "Since July, Lenin had promised to give them land 'without any payment,'" (3 Book Source). This was not at all fair for land to be taken away from the upper class who owned it and did nothing to deserve the land to be taken away from them, but it was a strategic method Lenin used that helped the lower class support him. He also supported the peasants by pulling Russia out of the war, which the lower class had been begging for during the Tsar and Provisional Governments' rule. Lenin did this because it was another opportunity for him to show the workers that he had their best interest at heart. "On January, in an article published in both Pravda and Izvestia, Lenin announced that he was prepared to use terror in 'the interests of workers, soldiers, and peasants' and to do what was necessary 'for the good of the revolution," (3 Book Source). His true motive for doing these things was to gain their support and THEN he would be able to rule Russia however he pleased, but this did not include giving the upper class anything because that was not what was necessary for him to come to power.
Lenin knew that to be able to gain complete rule over Russia he would not only have to gain the soviets' support, but also restrict the amount of power the upper class had because if they were given a chance to choose or speak out about what ruler they wanted, he would have no chance of rising to power. Before even gaining power he produced his April Thesis, which was a list of ten promises or plans he would fulfill if he became ruler. Number five stated, "Not a parliamentary republic - but a republic of Soviets of Workers', Agricultural Labourers' and Peasants' Deputies throughout the land, from top to bottom," (4 April Thesis). Lenin clearly stated that he would not hold elections because he would pick whom he wanted to rule with him and he made it very clear that he intended on his rule being a dictatorship. Lenin didn't want to hold elections because only the bourgeoisie was able to vote and they would never pick him. In November of 1917 the Constituent Assembly forced Lenin to hold elections of which, "The Bolsheviks got 24 percent of the vote, well below the 38 percent gained by the Social Revolutionary Party. Lenin minimized the results and claimed they were unrepresentative of the 'people's will,'" (3 Book Source). Once in office, "The first civil liberty to be excised like a diseased limb was freedom of expression." Lenin did this because the bourgeoisie was mainly in control of the press and he didn't want anti-revolution publications to be exposed to the public. Posters were produced by the Bolsheviks that staed, "Long Live the Red Army!," and, "Proletarians of All Countries, Unite!," (5 Website). By restricting the bourgeoisie press and increasing his own propaganda it appeared that far more people were supportive of him. He also limited people speaking out against the war by creating the Cheka, the secret police. "They defended the Cheka's ruthless methods," and, "He told officials to take hostages from among the bourgeoisie and to make these people 'answer with their lives' if requisitioned grain was not delivered," (3 Book Source). This was an extreme move to rise to power because not only was Lenin restricting their abilities to speak out against him, he also began to kill them solely so there would be less people to have to worry about that were against him. Concentration camps also held people that spoke out against the revolution of which, "Lenin personally signed the execution lists, thereby inventing another tradition that was carried on under Stalin," (3 Book Source). To the lower class Lenin seemed like a savior, but to the upper class he seemed as relentless as the Tsar. This was especially apparent when, "The Leninists were shooting at unarmed civilians, and even some supporters were quick to point to the uncanny resemblance to the tsarist atrocities on the infamous Bloody Sunday of 1905," (3 Book Source). This parallel serves as a representation of Lenin purely caring about his selfish neds to rise to power instead of addressing the needs of all people in Russia.
While most of the evidence does point to Lenin's attempts solely being the result of the Bolsheviks doing what they strategically needed to do to rise to power, they also helped some people as part of this process. Although giving the peasants land and pulling out of World War I was to gain support of the soviets for the Bolsheviks to rise to power it also did truly represent what they wanted. Even though the motives for helping these people were skewed the efforts should still be acknowledged nonetheless.
Source 5 - http://www.europefront.com/news/336/soviet_propaganda_posters.html
One technique Lenin used to represent the wants of the peasants but not the upper class was the redistribution of land. Lenin took land from the bourgeoisie and gave it to peasant-soldiers. "Since July, Lenin had promised to give them land 'without any payment,'" (3 Book Source). This was not at all fair for land to be taken away from the upper class who owned it and did nothing to deserve the land to be taken away from them, but it was a strategic method Lenin used that helped the lower class support him. He also supported the peasants by pulling Russia out of the war, which the lower class had been begging for during the Tsar and Provisional Governments' rule. Lenin did this because it was another opportunity for him to show the workers that he had their best interest at heart. "On January, in an article published in both Pravda and Izvestia, Lenin announced that he was prepared to use terror in 'the interests of workers, soldiers, and peasants' and to do what was necessary 'for the good of the revolution," (3 Book Source). His true motive for doing these things was to gain their support and THEN he would be able to rule Russia however he pleased, but this did not include giving the upper class anything because that was not what was necessary for him to come to power.
Lenin knew that to be able to gain complete rule over Russia he would not only have to gain the soviets' support, but also restrict the amount of power the upper class had because if they were given a chance to choose or speak out about what ruler they wanted, he would have no chance of rising to power. Before even gaining power he produced his April Thesis, which was a list of ten promises or plans he would fulfill if he became ruler. Number five stated, "Not a parliamentary republic - but a republic of Soviets of Workers', Agricultural Labourers' and Peasants' Deputies throughout the land, from top to bottom," (4 April Thesis). Lenin clearly stated that he would not hold elections because he would pick whom he wanted to rule with him and he made it very clear that he intended on his rule being a dictatorship. Lenin didn't want to hold elections because only the bourgeoisie was able to vote and they would never pick him. In November of 1917 the Constituent Assembly forced Lenin to hold elections of which, "The Bolsheviks got 24 percent of the vote, well below the 38 percent gained by the Social Revolutionary Party. Lenin minimized the results and claimed they were unrepresentative of the 'people's will,'" (3 Book Source). Once in office, "The first civil liberty to be excised like a diseased limb was freedom of expression." Lenin did this because the bourgeoisie was mainly in control of the press and he didn't want anti-revolution publications to be exposed to the public. Posters were produced by the Bolsheviks that staed, "Long Live the Red Army!," and, "Proletarians of All Countries, Unite!," (5 Website). By restricting the bourgeoisie press and increasing his own propaganda it appeared that far more people were supportive of him. He also limited people speaking out against the war by creating the Cheka, the secret police. "They defended the Cheka's ruthless methods," and, "He told officials to take hostages from among the bourgeoisie and to make these people 'answer with their lives' if requisitioned grain was not delivered," (3 Book Source). This was an extreme move to rise to power because not only was Lenin restricting their abilities to speak out against him, he also began to kill them solely so there would be less people to have to worry about that were against him. Concentration camps also held people that spoke out against the revolution of which, "Lenin personally signed the execution lists, thereby inventing another tradition that was carried on under Stalin," (3 Book Source). To the lower class Lenin seemed like a savior, but to the upper class he seemed as relentless as the Tsar. This was especially apparent when, "The Leninists were shooting at unarmed civilians, and even some supporters were quick to point to the uncanny resemblance to the tsarist atrocities on the infamous Bloody Sunday of 1905," (3 Book Source). This parallel serves as a representation of Lenin purely caring about his selfish neds to rise to power instead of addressing the needs of all people in Russia.
While most of the evidence does point to Lenin's attempts solely being the result of the Bolsheviks doing what they strategically needed to do to rise to power, they also helped some people as part of this process. Although giving the peasants land and pulling out of World War I was to gain support of the soviets for the Bolsheviks to rise to power it also did truly represent what they wanted. Even though the motives for helping these people were skewed the efforts should still be acknowledged nonetheless.
Source 5 - http://www.europefront.com/news/336/soviet_propaganda_posters.html
Paul, Successful attempt by an extremist group
Before the October Revolution, the Russian people had been through many different governments but none of them seemed to work. The rule of the Czar pushed the people into wanting a more democratic government. The Provisional Government was put into place in order to achieve that goal. When they did not live up to the high expectations of the people, Vladamir Lenin saw his chance at power arising. In Lenin’s platform he brought up many points that were reasons why the past governments failed (Belk notes). Lenin knew that the people wanted basically the exact opposite from the governments they had been following, which is why he made sure to bring up key points from the past. He manipulated the people by saying: the Czar was unsuccessful because he couldn’t bring them through the war, he would not bring another war to the Russians, he would increase civil liberties that the Czar ignored, and he would not be a lone leader but a leader along with the Marxist (Belk notes). Of course to the people all of these changes sounded great but he left out the ways in which he would carry out these tasks.
Lenin wanted a communist dictatorship in order to make it impossible for Russia to be capitalists (Book 3). His main point in getting the people on his side was to make sure the soviets had power (Theses 4). If the government was going to be a communist dictatorship then technically the soviets would have the same amount of power as everyone else in the country. He also said he wanted the proletariat and peasants to have the power (Theses 4). Once again, how could one group of people have power when the goal was to have a communist dictatorship?
Lenin also tried to let the people think he was for the good of their needs by imputing civil liberties (Book 3). But he took away the Bourgeoisie Press’s freedom of speech by cutting them off completely so nothing bad could leak to the public (Book 3). The bourgeoisie did hold most of the power in Russian because they were the wealthiest beings. Lenin was taking away most of their land in order to give it to the proletariat and peasants (Book 3). The bourgeoisie was angry with this fact and would have written about Lenin and the Bolsheviks but that does not give Lenin the write to cut off the paper especially if he had just given everyone civil liberties. Lenin thought he was helping out the lower class and middle class workers but they inevitably wanted a democracy and not a dictatorship, which was what Lenin was giving them.
When many workers began to revolt because they wanted a democracy, Lenin established the Cheka, concentration camps and the Red Army (Book 3). The Cheka was a secret police that helped to surpress people who were against Lenin and the Bolsheviks and break up riots and revolts (Book 3). Concentration camps were put into place in order to punish counter revolutionaries (Book 3). Lenin wanted everyone out who was against him so that they could not influence others and start riots. The Red Army was established as a threat to anyone against the Bolsheviks (Book 3). The fear brought in by the Red Army made people support Lenin and the Bolsheviks. The October Revolution was a successful attempt by the extremist group, the Bolsheviks to gain power over the Russian people.
Lenin wanted a communist dictatorship in order to make it impossible for Russia to be capitalists (Book 3). His main point in getting the people on his side was to make sure the soviets had power (Theses 4). If the government was going to be a communist dictatorship then technically the soviets would have the same amount of power as everyone else in the country. He also said he wanted the proletariat and peasants to have the power (Theses 4). Once again, how could one group of people have power when the goal was to have a communist dictatorship?
Lenin also tried to let the people think he was for the good of their needs by imputing civil liberties (Book 3). But he took away the Bourgeoisie Press’s freedom of speech by cutting them off completely so nothing bad could leak to the public (Book 3). The bourgeoisie did hold most of the power in Russian because they were the wealthiest beings. Lenin was taking away most of their land in order to give it to the proletariat and peasants (Book 3). The bourgeoisie was angry with this fact and would have written about Lenin and the Bolsheviks but that does not give Lenin the write to cut off the paper especially if he had just given everyone civil liberties. Lenin thought he was helping out the lower class and middle class workers but they inevitably wanted a democracy and not a dictatorship, which was what Lenin was giving them.
When many workers began to revolt because they wanted a democracy, Lenin established the Cheka, concentration camps and the Red Army (Book 3). The Cheka was a secret police that helped to surpress people who were against Lenin and the Bolsheviks and break up riots and revolts (Book 3). Concentration camps were put into place in order to punish counter revolutionaries (Book 3). Lenin wanted everyone out who was against him so that they could not influence others and start riots. The Red Army was established as a threat to anyone against the Bolsheviks (Book 3). The fear brought in by the Red Army made people support Lenin and the Bolsheviks. The October Revolution was a successful attempt by the extremist group, the Bolsheviks to gain power over the Russian people.
Burdette--the words of Lenin that showed his complete desire for power
While Lenin may have put up a nice, neat, little front that made him seem like he had the people of Russia's best interests in mind, many of the statements he made showed how he intended to use strong-armed tactics to seize complete power.
His initial rallying cries drew people to him and to his cause (Socialism). He promised, "Peace, land, bread." (2) These were exactly what the starving, cold, broken people of Russia wanted! The troops were sick of fighting and losing; they were ready for peace (3). On top of the great amounts of food that had to be sent to the war front for the soldiers, there was also a food shortage in general that meant people were literally starving to death back home in Petrograd (2). Lenin's promise of peace, land, and bread was exactly what the people wanted to hear; it's exactly what they weren't getting under the provisional government. For this reason, I have to question Lenin's intentions. It was just too perfect. I think it was a political move on Lenin's part, designed to rally the Russian people to him and to his cause. Only with their support could he come into power. Even though Lenin's rallying cries seemed to be a true representation of the people's needs, it is very obvious to me that this move was simply a necessary step towards seizing power. Lenin couldn't come into power without first getting support from at least some of the people. So he promised the people exactly what they wanted. This shows one of Lenin's tactics for seizing power.
My personal favorite quote from Lenin reads: " Do you really believe that we can be victorious without applying the cruelest revolutionary terror?" (3) Lenin believed strongly in terror and the use of terror in keeping things in order. He had a secret police (the Cheka) put in place to take out opposition (3). He reinstated the death penalty, calling it "supreme measure" for a similar reason (3). Lenin felt that power couldn't be attained without terror. People have to be scared or they will oppose you and stand up to you. He must have seen the way the tsar was overthrown as an effect of a people who didn't feel terror. Through terror, a very strong-armed tactic, Lenin intended to seize power. This quote from Lenin just shows that he could not imagine a way to seize power without terrorizing the opposition and Russian people in general.
Another of Lenin's rallying cries was "dictatorship of the proletariat" (2). At first glance, this seems like a true representation of the people. How lovely...the workers are promised to be in charge. Aren't they the majority? Isn't that exactly what the majority wants--power? However, another quote from Lenin shows the true nature of what he had in mind: "Dictatorship implies and means a state of simmering war, a state of military measures of struggle against the enemies of the proletarian power...Socialism cannot be introduced, it emerges out of the most intense, the most acute class struggle." (3) To Lenin, dictatorship (part of his rallying cry) meant war. It meant a struggle to wipe out all opposition of the proletariats. Well, what happened to that peace he promised? It was just an empty promise to gain support. Support means power. Lenin's cause was socialism and the only way he saw that it could be put in place in Russia was through an "intense", an "acute class struggle." He loved his cause much more than he loved the people. We see this in that he was willing to enter into a struggle and a war and to wipe out opposition for his cause even though that went against what he promised the people earlier. His cry, "dictatorship of the proletariat", seems to contradict his earlier promise of peace when you look at his definition of dictatorship. His promises seemed nice, but his true intentions conflicted with them. Lenin's view that a struggle was just part of dictatorship shows how he intended to use strong-armed tactics to seize power.
And just for the record, while I think this whole mess in Russia was caused by Lenin making political moves and using strong-armed tactics that contradicted his promises, I believe Lenin's core beliefs inspired a great song. So this is my shout out to John Lennon's "Imagine" and how it reeks of Communistic principles. :)
His initial rallying cries drew people to him and to his cause (Socialism). He promised, "Peace, land, bread." (2) These were exactly what the starving, cold, broken people of Russia wanted! The troops were sick of fighting and losing; they were ready for peace (3). On top of the great amounts of food that had to be sent to the war front for the soldiers, there was also a food shortage in general that meant people were literally starving to death back home in Petrograd (2). Lenin's promise of peace, land, and bread was exactly what the people wanted to hear; it's exactly what they weren't getting under the provisional government. For this reason, I have to question Lenin's intentions. It was just too perfect. I think it was a political move on Lenin's part, designed to rally the Russian people to him and to his cause. Only with their support could he come into power. Even though Lenin's rallying cries seemed to be a true representation of the people's needs, it is very obvious to me that this move was simply a necessary step towards seizing power. Lenin couldn't come into power without first getting support from at least some of the people. So he promised the people exactly what they wanted. This shows one of Lenin's tactics for seizing power.
My personal favorite quote from Lenin reads: " Do you really believe that we can be victorious without applying the cruelest revolutionary terror?" (3) Lenin believed strongly in terror and the use of terror in keeping things in order. He had a secret police (the Cheka) put in place to take out opposition (3). He reinstated the death penalty, calling it "supreme measure" for a similar reason (3). Lenin felt that power couldn't be attained without terror. People have to be scared or they will oppose you and stand up to you. He must have seen the way the tsar was overthrown as an effect of a people who didn't feel terror. Through terror, a very strong-armed tactic, Lenin intended to seize power. This quote from Lenin just shows that he could not imagine a way to seize power without terrorizing the opposition and Russian people in general.
Another of Lenin's rallying cries was "dictatorship of the proletariat" (2). At first glance, this seems like a true representation of the people. How lovely...the workers are promised to be in charge. Aren't they the majority? Isn't that exactly what the majority wants--power? However, another quote from Lenin shows the true nature of what he had in mind: "Dictatorship implies and means a state of simmering war, a state of military measures of struggle against the enemies of the proletarian power...Socialism cannot be introduced, it emerges out of the most intense, the most acute class struggle." (3) To Lenin, dictatorship (part of his rallying cry) meant war. It meant a struggle to wipe out all opposition of the proletariats. Well, what happened to that peace he promised? It was just an empty promise to gain support. Support means power. Lenin's cause was socialism and the only way he saw that it could be put in place in Russia was through an "intense", an "acute class struggle." He loved his cause much more than he loved the people. We see this in that he was willing to enter into a struggle and a war and to wipe out opposition for his cause even though that went against what he promised the people earlier. His cry, "dictatorship of the proletariat", seems to contradict his earlier promise of peace when you look at his definition of dictatorship. His promises seemed nice, but his true intentions conflicted with them. Lenin's view that a struggle was just part of dictatorship shows how he intended to use strong-armed tactics to seize power.
And just for the record, while I think this whole mess in Russia was caused by Lenin making political moves and using strong-armed tactics that contradicted his promises, I believe Lenin's core beliefs inspired a great song. So this is my shout out to John Lennon's "Imagine" and how it reeks of Communistic principles. :)
Bryson- Extremist group seizing power by promising but in most cases not fulfilling what the people wanted
The Russian Revolution began because the Russian people were unhappy with the way the previous government was running things and rebelled. It began with the February Revolution where the people wanted to get rid of the Czar and form a government that had more concern for the needs of the people (3). The Provisional government was formed as a result of that revolution . However, the Provisional government made promises to help fix the citizens concerns but asked the people to wait (2). The people of Russia were greatly impacted by the war with Germany and many were dying from the war and from shortages caused by the war (3). The Provisional government wanted to continue the war (2). The people, however, could not stand by with the threat of starvation and being sent to the front line hanging over their heads. Because of this, they began to protest again. The people wanted a government that had more concern for them and their needs (3). This left them wide open to new ideas and made it a great opprotunity for opposition groups to rise. The people were willing to do pretty much anything to get out of the war and stop the dying of their people. Because of all of this, one man began to become more and more popular among the people; Lenin.
Lenin promised the people everything they wanted without making empty promises. He wanted a better Russia; a Russia where the pride of the nation did not come from the battles they won or lost and on imperialistic gains but from the progress made within the already established Russia (2). He promised the people three things; peace, land, bread. He promised an end to Russian involvement in the war, land to the peasants and working class, and food after going hungry for so long as much of the food was sent to the war effort (3). This all appealed so much to the working class. This was a government that proposed to listen to the masses needs instead of the needs of the small majority of nobles. He was even promising representation for them in the government. This was so appealing to the masses that it did not seem to really concern them that Lenin stated that in order to grant all of this, a strict government has to be put in place and extreme measures have to be taken (3).
Lenin finally gained the people's trust enough to win enough support to overthrow the Provisional government (2). However, it is evident that Lenin's dream to rule Russia the way he believed it should be run was not just an unselfish attempt to give the people what they wanted but that he also wanted to run it for his own benefit. He would send letters to the Central Commitee and the Bolsheviks trying to get them to seize the opprotunity of the unstable government and the dislike the people have for it to go all the way through the plans and plan another coup. He also wanted to do away with the democratice process (3). He said " It would be naive to wait for a 'formal' majority... no revolution ever waits for that... History will not forgive us if we do not take power now." (3) This was his excuse to do away with the democratic process. However, he knew that the Bolsheviks were a minority and there amount of votes in a democratic election would not be enough to pass certain laws and plans for the government that Lenin thought was necessary (3).
Also the Bolsheviks, not completely controlled by Lenin but greatly influenced by him, used many military tactics to gain control over Russian. They used the MRC as a front to send rumors to the troops that the provisional government and the General Staff were weapons of the counterrevolution. They also used the front as MRC to send small armed detachments to strategic areas in the capital to wait for an act by Kerensky that could be taken as a sign that the counterrevolution had begun. They took control of railroad stations, telephone exchange, electricty plants, post offices, the state bank, and important bridges (3).
When Lenin finally gained control of Russia however, he began his harsh tactics and first began to stop uprisings against him. He began "stamping out civil liberties." He took away freedom of speech and press (3). Without this, he was able to stop people from writing and publishing stories against him. This would stop ordered protest. He also enlisted a secret police or the Cheka who would report back to Lenin if they witnesses someone speaking out against him (2). It benefitted these people as well because they would become on the good side of the government (2). This was a good way to keep people from banning against him while awarding the secret police without really costing him anything.With revolts no longer a threat, Lenin began to start concentration camps and using extreme measures to crush the opposition to strike fear into the people and make them obey him through fear of what he might do to them if they do not (2).
None of these results, concentration camps, secret army, or less liberties were the desires of the Russian people. They only wanted out of the war,a redistribution of land, and food and Lenin used promises of these things to gain control over the country (2). Because of this and his and the Bolshevik's strong armed tactics, the October Revolution was a successful attempt by an extremist group to seize power through the use of strong armed tactics.
Lenin promised the people everything they wanted without making empty promises. He wanted a better Russia; a Russia where the pride of the nation did not come from the battles they won or lost and on imperialistic gains but from the progress made within the already established Russia (2). He promised the people three things; peace, land, bread. He promised an end to Russian involvement in the war, land to the peasants and working class, and food after going hungry for so long as much of the food was sent to the war effort (3). This all appealed so much to the working class. This was a government that proposed to listen to the masses needs instead of the needs of the small majority of nobles. He was even promising representation for them in the government. This was so appealing to the masses that it did not seem to really concern them that Lenin stated that in order to grant all of this, a strict government has to be put in place and extreme measures have to be taken (3).
Lenin finally gained the people's trust enough to win enough support to overthrow the Provisional government (2). However, it is evident that Lenin's dream to rule Russia the way he believed it should be run was not just an unselfish attempt to give the people what they wanted but that he also wanted to run it for his own benefit. He would send letters to the Central Commitee and the Bolsheviks trying to get them to seize the opprotunity of the unstable government and the dislike the people have for it to go all the way through the plans and plan another coup. He also wanted to do away with the democratice process (3). He said " It would be naive to wait for a 'formal' majority... no revolution ever waits for that... History will not forgive us if we do not take power now." (3) This was his excuse to do away with the democratic process. However, he knew that the Bolsheviks were a minority and there amount of votes in a democratic election would not be enough to pass certain laws and plans for the government that Lenin thought was necessary (3).
Also the Bolsheviks, not completely controlled by Lenin but greatly influenced by him, used many military tactics to gain control over Russian. They used the MRC as a front to send rumors to the troops that the provisional government and the General Staff were weapons of the counterrevolution. They also used the front as MRC to send small armed detachments to strategic areas in the capital to wait for an act by Kerensky that could be taken as a sign that the counterrevolution had begun. They took control of railroad stations, telephone exchange, electricty plants, post offices, the state bank, and important bridges (3).
When Lenin finally gained control of Russia however, he began his harsh tactics and first began to stop uprisings against him. He began "stamping out civil liberties." He took away freedom of speech and press (3). Without this, he was able to stop people from writing and publishing stories against him. This would stop ordered protest. He also enlisted a secret police or the Cheka who would report back to Lenin if they witnesses someone speaking out against him (2). It benefitted these people as well because they would become on the good side of the government (2). This was a good way to keep people from banning against him while awarding the secret police without really costing him anything.With revolts no longer a threat, Lenin began to start concentration camps and using extreme measures to crush the opposition to strike fear into the people and make them obey him through fear of what he might do to them if they do not (2).
None of these results, concentration camps, secret army, or less liberties were the desires of the Russian people. They only wanted out of the war,a redistribution of land, and food and Lenin used promises of these things to gain control over the country (2). Because of this and his and the Bolshevik's strong armed tactics, the October Revolution was a successful attempt by an extremist group to seize power through the use of strong armed tactics.
McKeown-Bolsheviks took control by using people's desires
The October Revolution was a successful takeover by an extremist group using persuasive methods. Lenin and the Bolsheviks did take to the people's desires and needs in the beginning though. They just didn't carry them out in the end. Russia would have been fine with the provisional government(given some time) but Lenin and the Bolshviks just took control. Lenin reached out to the people with his points in his April Thesis, promising them more civil liberties, food, equality for everyone, freedom from the war, and power in the government. These things were everything the people were asking for (source 4). He also used events that occurred like the Kornolov affair, were General Kornlov and other soldiers marched against the Provisional Government who had to rely on the Bolsheviks for help, to sway the citizens of Russia against the Provisional Government(source 2). Lenin and the Bolsheviks also used slogans that were catchy to catch the attention of people. "Peace, Land, and Bread" (2) was a slogan that summed up the desires of the people and Lenin knew that. The citizens wanted the war to end or at least for Russia to pull out so that they would have peace. The promise for land was mostly directed at the lower class rather than the bourgoise, because there were more lower class so they had more power.(2) Bread was extremely important to the people, because it was a major food source back then and also a big money maker. During the February revolution there was actually one point where the people stormed the palace wanting bread.(1) So Lenin used the demands of the people to take power and when he got that power he kept it by using extremist techniques like having a secret police called the Checka and removing anything that opposed him from existence such as newspapers like the Pravada.(3) Anyone who spoke out against Lenin or the Bolsheviks vanished.(4) The Red Terror occurred on September 5th, 1918. In the Red Terror, the red army committed mass executions, arrests, and repressions.(3) In a comment by Red Army Journalist, Krasnaya Gazeta, it says Without mercy, without sparing, we will kill our enemies in scores of hundreds. Let them be thousands, let them drown themselves in their own blood. For the blood of Lenin and Uritsky… let there be floods of blood of the bourgeoisie – more blood, as much as possible." (http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cheka) Lenin and his Bolsheviks used the people's desires to get to power then kept that power by extremist techniques so that no one could rise against him.
DAVIS!- People's Needs
I am so sorry I clicked the wrong button, I don't know if this will get published twice or not. SorrySorrySorry. T.T
Hokay. Dobiry vecher, first of all. Let that Russian carry us into this blog post and beyond, or whatevs.So, I think that a lot of what Lenin and the Bolsheviks promised was truly a reflection of the people's needs. "Peace, Land, Bread" and such was about as honest and straightforward as you get. As Coach Belk pointed out in class, Lenin was making no promises he couldn't keep. And after all the hoopla the Russian citizens had gone through, they weren't looking for (and didn't need) any grandiose or elaborate schemes by another ring of elites that were out of touch with what was needed in the 'real' world. And, let me stop to say this much- in this post I want to be clear the difference of a want and a need. Because often they are on opposite ends of the spectrum. And when some people say that the Bolsheviks were just a nutjob group that used the guise of being the people's advocate to get power, it sort of gets me irate. Because I think a lot of what Lenin did was address the needs of the people, rather than the immediate wants. And, to be fair, he got the job done. They weren't starving, they were going to be taken out of a endlessly draining war, and they could make a true break from feudalism. To clean the immediate mess up, there were more important things than, say, civil liberties- and, jeez, the citizens had gone without those for so long they truly weren't missed. To use Lenin's words, 'It's true that liberty is precious. So precious it must be carefully rationed.' And it is commonplace for citizens to give up certain things in order for a peaceful government to succeed, even today. Social Contract or the like, I do believe. Wants of citizens can be placed after the needs have been sorted out.
Also, if there was no or little public support of the Bolshevik aims, then they wouldn't have held onto power. The people of Russia managed to overthrow a centuries old dynasty, and I think that if they had the inclination, a fledgling political group would have been no problem to topple. Let's remember the size of the 'majority' in comparison to other groups like the Menshiviks and Kadets: they were smaller. (Not to mention younger- especially in the case of Lenin's protégée faction) How did they come to power if the people didn't think they could handle it and give them the things they needed? I guess, to be fair, the later evolution of the party (Around the Stalin era, for a roundabout estimate) could have strayed from the original platform- but that was after the initial needs had been taken care of AND it was 'under new management.' (Because, p.s- Lenin did not want Stalin as a successor, and didn't think he could continue doing things in a Marxist-Leninist tradition. Cited Below!) Also, that has nothing to do with the current question at hand, so POOF with that.
I realized writing this, p.s., that I have a knee-jerk reaction to defend Lenin. Oh my.
Spasibo! :) Kayla
Books Used:
(I'm a nerd for Russia, leave me be.)
Lenin: A Biography. Robert Service
Lenin: Genesis and Development of a Revolutionary. Rolf H.W. Theen
Lenin and the Russian Revolution. Christopher Hill
and
Great Blunders in History: Russian Civil War. (This one is an audiobook)
Moore: Oh the tangled web we weave...
ok time for another one and half hour before due time POST. Through the research done it is evident that the october revolution (bulshevik revolution) and its results were a hidden, not true representation, successfull attempt by an extremist group to sieze the power through strong-armed tactics that began as aims for the russian people.
The first example that I use will be from the first world war and the russian revolution (3):
"the German government, in the meantime driven to desperation came to lenin in switzerland and offered to send him back to russia...lenin recieved millions of marks from the German government to make anit-war propoganda in russia"
This evidence shows that before it even happened Lenin was already on the opposing side and being funded by a "bad guy" party. The scarier fact is that lenin actaully takes the money and goes back to russia, but instead of taking the money and just going back on his own carries onut the actual plans so he can gain power not for the people, but for himself. This also gave German some lead way as to when and if lenin was more successfull to be in chance to take power they could give him some force to make it happen and Lenin would owe them a favor in the long run for exampple help them out in the end of the war.
The second piece of evidence comes from the same source as to once the october revolution is being started and the bolsheviks were being helped by the germans but most bolsheviks didnt want it Lenin did.
"He concluded "It is senseless to wait for the constintuent assembly which will obviously not to be on our side for this will only make our task more complicated"
This quote by Lenin shows that they are already in a complicated situation, which situation during this time is unclear. The situation where most of the country is afraid of the Bolshevik group taking over using help from the germans strong armed tactics or the case where some bolsheviks now wont even help Lenin take over due to the german reinforcements. which ever it may be it still shows Lenin as an agressor wanting the power for himself if not for the bolsheviks. he doesnt even care to get all the bolsheviks on his side once he realizes half of them are not.
These are not the only examples in the text but this evident is quite clear as to how the october revolution is atrue representation of an extremist group trying to use strong armed tactics just to get power.
The first example that I use will be from the first world war and the russian revolution (3):
"the German government, in the meantime driven to desperation came to lenin in switzerland and offered to send him back to russia...lenin recieved millions of marks from the German government to make anit-war propoganda in russia"
This evidence shows that before it even happened Lenin was already on the opposing side and being funded by a "bad guy" party. The scarier fact is that lenin actaully takes the money and goes back to russia, but instead of taking the money and just going back on his own carries onut the actual plans so he can gain power not for the people, but for himself. This also gave German some lead way as to when and if lenin was more successfull to be in chance to take power they could give him some force to make it happen and Lenin would owe them a favor in the long run for exampple help them out in the end of the war.
The second piece of evidence comes from the same source as to once the october revolution is being started and the bolsheviks were being helped by the germans but most bolsheviks didnt want it Lenin did.
"He concluded "It is senseless to wait for the constintuent assembly which will obviously not to be on our side for this will only make our task more complicated"
This quote by Lenin shows that they are already in a complicated situation, which situation during this time is unclear. The situation where most of the country is afraid of the Bolshevik group taking over using help from the germans strong armed tactics or the case where some bolsheviks now wont even help Lenin take over due to the german reinforcements. which ever it may be it still shows Lenin as an agressor wanting the power for himself if not for the bolsheviks. he doesnt even care to get all the bolsheviks on his side once he realizes half of them are not.
These are not the only examples in the text but this evident is quite clear as to how the october revolution is atrue representation of an extremist group trying to use strong armed tactics just to get power.
Edwards- Agreed with Miller, Who i hope gets better soon.
The October Revolution and its results used the peoples the people’s desires and became a successful attempt by the Bolsheviks to obtain power. After the February Revolution, the provisional government came into power to replace the Czar, who was overthrown by the people for not fulfilling their needs (3). But the provisional government also failed to fulfill the needs of the people and was soon overthrown by the very people that brought them to power as well as a new party, the Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin. Lenin and the Bolsheviks promised the working class of Russia that if they were placed into power, they would remove certain powers from the upper class, or bourgeoisie (3). After the October Revolution, Lenin did come to power. Initially, Lenin did fulfill the wants of the working class people by closing the bourgeoisie press, which held the largest opinion of the Russian people because the poor did not have a press (3). Lenin also gave the peasants land without forcing them to pay (3). After Lenin gained the trust of the people, he began to implement his true motive and take over Russia. Lenin Made sure that Russia was under a single party rule (3). This was to make sure that no one would be opposing him in the future and this helped him maintain power because there were no checks and balances to keep him from doing anything he wants.
After a little of Russia’s new government, resistance began to rise against Lenin and Bolshevik party (3). To deal with this new-found threat, Lenin set up the Cheka, which was his on secret police assigned deal with counterrevolutionaries and conspirators from the former provisional government (3). This shows that Lenin used strong armed tactics because he was ready to stamp out anyone that opposed him in order to maintain his rule. Another tactic that Lenin used to seize and maintain power was the use of concentration, or forced labor, camps (3). Lenin used these camps to send the rebels and others that opposed him to get them out of the way to avoid future uprisings. This showed Lenin’s strong tactics because once again he was prepared to gain and maintain power by moving his threats and those that opposed him out of his way. Lenin and the Bolsheviks recognized that the working class people wanted reform, so they used that want of reform to overthrow the Provisional government in the October Revolution and gained enough of the people’s trust and then began to carry out their own motives.
After a little of Russia’s new government, resistance began to rise against Lenin and Bolshevik party (3). To deal with this new-found threat, Lenin set up the Cheka, which was his on secret police assigned deal with counterrevolutionaries and conspirators from the former provisional government (3). This shows that Lenin used strong armed tactics because he was ready to stamp out anyone that opposed him in order to maintain his rule. Another tactic that Lenin used to seize and maintain power was the use of concentration, or forced labor, camps (3). Lenin used these camps to send the rebels and others that opposed him to get them out of the way to avoid future uprisings. This showed Lenin’s strong tactics because once again he was prepared to gain and maintain power by moving his threats and those that opposed him out of his way. Lenin and the Bolsheviks recognized that the working class people wanted reform, so they used that want of reform to overthrow the Provisional government in the October Revolution and gained enough of the people’s trust and then began to carry out their own motives.
Lenin addressed the people's needs but used strong arm tactics to keep them in line
Lenin manipulated the Russian people’s wants to get into power and then ignored those wants in order to maintain power.
There is much evidence to support the idea that Lenin was taking care of the basic needs of the people but not actually giving them what they had wanted and used force to keep the people down. One example of how Lenin tried to buy the people's support was by signing a treaty with Germany to end the war.(4) He new this would show the Russian people that he supported their wants but this is really the only want that he dealt with. He ignored the idea of there being a democracy and tried to placate the people with saying it would only put power back into the hands of the bourgeoisie(4). Later this would result to problems with the workers. The only things that the people wanted were a democracy, an end to the war, and equality, as well as their basic needs provided for(3). Lenin did provide for their basic needs and he did redistribute land but the people lost more than they gained.
Now that Lenin had gained power he had to maintain it. He did so by taking away civil liberties like the freedom of expression(3). This was most important because it meant that the majority of the population(proletariat) could not hear about any opposition to the government and was a key part in keeping control. If he could keep the majority of the population ignorant of his true ambitions there would be no problems. It seems that Lenin's largest mistake was in not giving the people the democracy they wanted and early on there were signs of discontent. Workers were striking because they realized there would be no democracy and these strikes went all the way up to official government buildings(4). "During the week following the coup, when newly minted commissars showed up at government offices, white collar employees refused to let them in."(4) After all the strikes crowds were trying to hold elections that Lenin and his supporters had been continually delaying, this simply showed the people that there never would be a democracy. Almost as to make an example, Lenin, turned his focus to the Liberal party which he made illegal, had the leaders arrested(4). This made clear to the people that there would only be one party and one leader and that Lenin was going to smash all opposition.
He kept opposition down in 3 key means; a Red Army, the Cheka, and concentration camps.(4) The secret police had to take care of opposition with arrests and helping to close newspapers that were attempting to speak against the government. The Red Army however was ensuring a civil war; the Russian people would be stuck in another war when they were just getting out of WWI.(4) The concentration camps were scare Czarist military leaders into helping form the Red Army, "he proposed that holding their wives and children in camps as hostages".(4) The camps were also where opposition leaders and individuals were sent. Out of these 3 new organizations the Red Army was most vital, it would fight against the Whites and would be where Russia suffers more war casualties.(4) "The communist party itself 'volunteered' forty thousand of its own members, many of whom were lost in the war almost immediately." There were also innocent people killed, like children of shop owners and such.(4) This shows how Lenin was not focused on the Russian people's needs but on maintaining control which would ultimately leave Russia scarred.
There is much evidence to support the idea that Lenin was taking care of the basic needs of the people but not actually giving them what they had wanted and used force to keep the people down. One example of how Lenin tried to buy the people's support was by signing a treaty with Germany to end the war.(4) He new this would show the Russian people that he supported their wants but this is really the only want that he dealt with. He ignored the idea of there being a democracy and tried to placate the people with saying it would only put power back into the hands of the bourgeoisie(4). Later this would result to problems with the workers. The only things that the people wanted were a democracy, an end to the war, and equality, as well as their basic needs provided for(3). Lenin did provide for their basic needs and he did redistribute land but the people lost more than they gained.
Now that Lenin had gained power he had to maintain it. He did so by taking away civil liberties like the freedom of expression(3). This was most important because it meant that the majority of the population(proletariat) could not hear about any opposition to the government and was a key part in keeping control. If he could keep the majority of the population ignorant of his true ambitions there would be no problems. It seems that Lenin's largest mistake was in not giving the people the democracy they wanted and early on there were signs of discontent. Workers were striking because they realized there would be no democracy and these strikes went all the way up to official government buildings(4). "During the week following the coup, when newly minted commissars showed up at government offices, white collar employees refused to let them in."(4) After all the strikes crowds were trying to hold elections that Lenin and his supporters had been continually delaying, this simply showed the people that there never would be a democracy. Almost as to make an example, Lenin, turned his focus to the Liberal party which he made illegal, had the leaders arrested(4). This made clear to the people that there would only be one party and one leader and that Lenin was going to smash all opposition.
He kept opposition down in 3 key means; a Red Army, the Cheka, and concentration camps.(4) The secret police had to take care of opposition with arrests and helping to close newspapers that were attempting to speak against the government. The Red Army however was ensuring a civil war; the Russian people would be stuck in another war when they were just getting out of WWI.(4) The concentration camps were scare Czarist military leaders into helping form the Red Army, "he proposed that holding their wives and children in camps as hostages".(4) The camps were also where opposition leaders and individuals were sent. Out of these 3 new organizations the Red Army was most vital, it would fight against the Whites and would be where Russia suffers more war casualties.(4) "The communist party itself 'volunteered' forty thousand of its own members, many of whom were lost in the war almost immediately." There were also innocent people killed, like children of shop owners and such.(4) This shows how Lenin was not focused on the Russian people's needs but on maintaining control which would ultimately leave Russia scarred.
sabrina- true rep. that led to extremist group seizing power
The october Revolution started out as true representation of the desires and aims of the Russia people but ended up being a successful attempt by an extremist group to seize power through the use of strong-armed tactics. In the beginning, Lenin had goals that maily aimed towards the people and the power that they deserved. He preached about how they needed a representative government. Lenin wanted to be the representative so that they could take the power from the bourgoise and give it to the peoeple; making them feel like its their turn. The bourgeoise had the power but the "proletariat", people, needed it. He chanted, "All power to the soviets, down with the provisional government." (belk) He made the people realize that the provisional governmet was no different thatn the czar's leadership by telling them that Alexander is as close as it got to the prince and that the nobles wer just like the provisional goverment. One of the ways he got his point out and advertised was through propaganda. Propaganda helped make the people realize what he felt should happen to the Russian peasants and workers power; which was for their power to increase and the bourgoise's power to decrease. This shows how lenin cared about the desires of the russian people and felt like a change was needed. He also wanted Russia to get out of the war because he was concerned about the people's life and the money debt because he felt the war was the vehicle for capitalism and its only purpose was to help countries gain money, which was the "root of all evil". (belk) This shows his true representation because he recognized how the war wasnt benefiting russia and was willing to help make the change for people. In addition to the other chant that helped support the people's voice, he also encouraged and promised, "Peace, land, and bread". peace was where he told them they would end the war that can easily be seized, land meant he would take the land from the nobles or bourgoise and distribute it to the poor, and bread meant he would feed them. One of the big issues that caused alot or riots was when lenin promised to give them land without any payment, because it caused the, "Bourgeoise, the landowners, and all the rich classes to make desperate efforts to underline the revolution, the aim of which is to safegaurd the interests of the workers, the working and exploited masses." (source 3) This caused the Bourgeoisie to be, "prepared to commit the most heinous crimes." (source 3) Lenin realized that the peasants and workers word was being overlooked and wanted to make a change so that it could matter. He knew that if he stepped in against the Bourgoise and the Provisional government because they only supported the high and riches ideas. However, by him trying to distribute the power between the Bourgoise's power and workers/peasants it didnt leave everyone satisfied. Once the october revolution was over and he gained his power and had to maintain it. Conflicts arose because the people who were unsatisfied were rebellious. This caused his tru representation of the russian peoples desire to become enforced by what he called, "Terror". Lenin wrote a note saying how, "Urgent measures are needed to fight the counterrevolutionaries and saboteurs." (source3) One method he used to control the people was concentration and forced labor camps that were based on the red terror and administered by the cheka. The cheka was secret police that were used to ,"Destroy all opposition arresting and expiating people on the spot." (belk) These police and their crucial tactics were beneficial because people never knew when secret police were around, which created mistrust within the people and their neighbors. if someone was rebelling or going against lenin's methods people snitched, so that they stayed on the police's good side. Another method, which was the red army, was a army that also helped crush opposition because if anyone got out of line and tried to speak against Lenin's belief they were crushed. These methods show the methods that were used to control the camps and spot out the people who criticized and tried to rebel. So therefore, in the beginning lenins leadership aimed towards the people's desire and aims however once he gained power after the october revolution he started to use "terror" in order to maintain it.
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