benson: extremist group seizure of power

In the early months of 1917, the Russian people were in a state of havoc and distress. They were poor, hungry, had almost no land, and were dying by the thousands in a losing war. The provisional government was failing Rusia, just like the czarist regime had. Lenin and the Bolsheviks proceed to step in, seize power through strong-armed tactics, which was not a desire of the Russian people.

The desires and aims of Russian people can be summed up very shortly: out of WWI, food, civil liberties, democracy, and a competent form of government for once (3). They wanted to get out of a war that was just causing more harm, freedoms, and food to end their starvation. To solve all of these problems, they wanted a government that would take interest in workers and peasants rather than bourgoise. Lenin and the Bolsheviks' first attempt at power was to fairly win the support of the people through campaign. Lenin promoted a slogan to gain this support: "Peace, Land, and Bread" (Belk Notes). When this failed them they succeeded to seizing power, rather than earning it. He states that the dictatorship of the proletariat could only be created with a violent revolution (3). "He hated compromise and had the mentality of an extremist convinced" (3). Lenin was a very impatient man, and ready to seize power. He had already been in exile once, and forced to fleed to Finland for his life after the July Days (Belk Notes). This is a reason he was so impervious to agreement and tired of waiting for power. Patience and avoidance of strong-armed tactics had gotten him in Syberia, Finland, and his Bolsheviks jailed. When the people rose in protest against the Provisional Government, Lenin tried to make speecehes to the people, whom just ignored him (Belk Notes). So he resorted to strong-armed tactics to get what he wanted. He tells his Bolsheviks, "History will not forgive us if we do not take power now" (3). The Military Defense Committe (MRC) was created by the Bolsheviks and run by the Bolsheviks (3). The Bolsheviks carried out a coup against the provisional government, using small armed tactics (3). They took control of railway stations, electricity plants, post offices, bridges, and the state bank (3). They used troops and weapons to seize power (3).

The Russian people just desired a good quality of life. They wanted food and land, along with rights and peace. They also wanted a stable government that would follow through on promises to their desires. The one party that had most of the people's support was the Social Revolutionaries (3). Lenin did not like this, and resorted to violence and strong-armed tactics. Campaigning and trying to win support had failed Lenin, because the Russians could see right through him. Sure he preached that he would meet their desires, but they saw right through his cover. They knew he was communist, and did not support him or the Bolsheviks, which is why their rise to power was not a desire of Russians. If it was, they would have fairly won elections and support. The only reason the Bolsheviks gained power and ruled as a single state, was through strong-armed tactics. They used weapons, tanks, secret police, concentration camps, and a Red army (3). The results of the Bolshevik Revolution was Lenin dictator and the Bolsheviks single party rulers, gained only through strong-armed tactics. After looking at the true desires and aims of the people, if given a choice in their type of government for once in Russia's history (czarist regime czar inherited throne and provisional government took power), they probably would have desired a representative democracy. They did not want communism, which was installed by Lenin after forcefully taking power. Lenin and the Bolsheviks' only option to gain power, was to take it, and unfortunately, take it through strong-armed tactics.