The October Revolution uses both the representation of the people to seize power by the use of strong armed tactics but masked the seizure of power until he has gained full control of Russia. As Lenin sees a downfall in the provisional government, he sees his opportunity to gain immediate power than before. He took to his full advantage when he and the Bolsheviks had to help the Provisional Government because they did not have enough support of the soldiers to protect the people (2). But before Lenin could gain immediate power, support of the people is what he first needed to do. He had to prove to the people that there needs once again their needs would be granted. He did this by writing his April Thesis to gain the support of the majority and the majority would include the Proletariat (3). Some of his aims and goals of the people of Russia was to: ending Russia's involvement in war, taking land from Bourgeoisie and giving to the Proletariats, and giving power to Proletariats. This is Lenin's way in the beginning to gain the support from the people more so of the peasants.
Once Lenin gave all the Power to the Soviets, he has completed his first task. He completed his first task in the simple words of his renowned slogan: "Peace, Land and bread". Now takes on his second challenge. Lenin exercised his power by clarifying his statement "real freedom"(3) He made sure that the people realized that he was giving them all of the power and did not want the middle class or Bourgeoisie to have any power. But soon after this statement was clarified a Bolsheviki stated: "We Bolsheviki have always said that when we reached a position of power we would close the bourgeois press. This shows how Lenin worked with the Bolsheviks to gain the necessary power by using armed tactics such as the Bourgeoisie losing land (3). I think this shows Lenin's' mask of trying to seize the power and the proletariat have not yet seen his "under the cover" doings. But this is soon to be revealed. It is shown again his strong armed tactics to seize power because Lenin and the Bolsheviks knew from the very beginning what kind of power they wanted to posses. " The new regime aimed at a more radical revolution than anything seen in European history before… in such a poor country where so many posses so little could such sweeping changes be seriously contemplated"(3). This shows that by gaining the support of the Proletariat would be much easier to transform into a communist party because they could be less knowledgeable than those of the Bourgeois. And the bourgeois knew what would happen if Lenin and the Bolsheviks came to power. it wasn't long after the peace was made wit Lenin and the Sovnarkom that Lenin soon began to establish the use of a dictatorship based upon terror (3).
It wasn't long that Lenin realized that seizing the power that he wanted was going to be an easy task. He realized the people (Proletariats) knew what was going on so the Cheka was created and with the creation of the Cheka came the violence that he had declared (3). The cheka or secreat police had specified tasks to take out. These tasks included: "To suppress and liquidate all attempts and acts of counterrevolution and sabotage throughout Russia, from whatever quarter (3). This task alone lead to many people being killed because they could be speaking out against the Bolsheviks in a way that is not acceptable. These people would be killed or maybe even exiled so, that means that Lenin and the Bolsheviks opportunities were seen even greater. It would take less time to seize the power because the supporters, if any would all be gone. Another way that the Lenin covered up is promises were by the force of terror (3). "It is necessary secretly- and urgently he wrote to "prepare the terror" (3). This became known as the "Red Terror" again the Cheka has some involvement because their duty was to execute quickly. This shows how in the beginning Lenin gained the support of the people by appealing to them and telling them how things would be differently than before. He promised them many things some of which were the total opposite of the promise. Once he gained the peoples support, he began to uncover his real reason by the use of strong armed tatics and with the help of the Bolsheviks to seize power.
Sources:
3. Belk Notes
3- Book Source
4- April Theses
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