Some of the people of Russia were not happy with the provisional government's rule after the Czar and his family were sent into exile.(3) These citizens were called the Bolsheviks and even though their name meant majority they were in fact a small percentage of the mass populous.(3) But they were doers and with the power of speech and strong figure-head leader and the right timing they gained control of Russia. They convinced the people that they were actually very unhappy with the provisional government and that their lot in life was not just and they could find justice with socialism and communism. People were poor and starving and they saw the rising power of the Bolsheviks as a way out of their present position.(3) Because of the people's desires the Bolsheviks took over under the banner of the people's needs.(3)
It did not take long for the true agenda of the Bolsheviks and Lenin to become clear. Lenin was used as figure-head while they were gaining power because he was reported to have a hot-head and quick temper.(3) But once they had power Lenin was spear-heading the government and he was in charge. His gift for oratory won over many of the workers and peasants.(3) His zelous nature earned the trust of the citizens looking for better.(3) And his fondness for terror and iron-fisted rule lead to the death of many more of his subjects.
Soon Lenin black listed the bourgeoisie and the kulaks because they were rich and they were not like the people, he imprisoned priest, criminals, and the rich because he did not believe in religion, freedom, or wealth.(3) The Bolsheviks started the Chaka to scare the people into submission and the Red Army to enlist them into servitude all in the name of protecting Mother Russia.(3) The Soviet of Worker's Deputies took over running much of the country and Lenin's love of mass terror swept over the country right behind the red of communism.(3) After gaining power the Bolsheviks gave Lenin power and Lenin went so far left that there was no way he could be controlled or contested. Russia under the Bolsheviks enlisted the power of mass terror for their own gains.
The people of Russia needed reform and did not want the provisional government.(3) What they got was a small political party, claiming to be for the people and working with the low-class to make everyone equal and wealthy.(3) Then once power was ensured the Bolsheviks dropped the guise of being for the people and instated mass terror and lead the country away from the desires of the people. The dreams of Russian citizens were screwed by the control of the extremist group of the Bolsheviks.
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I pretty much agree with you here Meg. From how I saw it, the actual October Revolution was the desires of the people. But, these desires were catalyzed by Lenin and the Bolsheviks. That is where I found the most trouble with this question. Lenin did push the desires of the people. He pushed them into their feelings that things weren't happening fast enough. But he only catalyzed those that were already there. So, can you say the cause was with him, or with the people if the desires were there orignally?
ReplyDeleteIt's like trying to give a little kid a piece of candy that they can't have before dinner. They already want it, but if you sit there and rub it in their face saying "Come on, take it. You know you want it. That rule isn't fair anyways." If they take it and get in trouble, is that your fault or theirs?
Just a small thought on Lenin's pushiness. But I do agree that the violence came AFTER power was seized, therefore the revolution couldn't have been an extremist group trying to seize power with strong armed tactics. Meg put it nicely, "People's desires turned sour by an extremist group."