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Evaluate Lenin’s contribution to the success of the Bolshevik
Revolution in November 1917?
Lenin played a crucial role in the success of the November Revolution. He did not
create the discontent which permeated Russian society in 1917 – particularly among
the worers! peasants and soldiers – but he did devise slogans and strategies to win
these groups over to the "olshevi #arty in its $uest for power.
"y the beginning of 1917! the %sarist regime was facing almost insurmountable
problems. %he peasants were demanding land& the worers were demanding higher
wages and better woring conditions& the middle class was demanding political
reforms to mae Russia a true constitutional democracy& and all three social classes
were demanding an end to the war.
'ore than anything! it was the war which brought an end to %sarism and set the
scene for the "olshevi Revolution. "y 1917! casualties numbered in the millions!
and the lac of food and fuel on the home front led to hunger and privation. %he%sarist regime was unable to solve these problems! and was soon swept away in a
popular uprising.
(hat emerged following the 'arch Revolution was a system of dual power! based
on the worers) soviets *councils+ and the #rovisional ,overnment. %he soviets
represented the masses – the peasants! worers and soldiers – and their delegates were
elected by the people. %he #rovisional ,overnment! on the other hand! represented the
elite – particularly the aristocratic and middle classes.
Lenin understood that the #rovisional ,overnment would only survive if it met the
popular e-pectations which were unleashed by the fall of the %sarist regime. However!
the #rovisional ,overnment saw itself as a caretaer institution only! and was
unwilling to introduce longterm policies or to brea with the internationalcommitments of its predecessor. /t was also divided on matters of policy and ideology!
and so was unable to respond to the demands being made of it.
Lenin too advantage of the its weaness! garnering support from the soldiers!
peasants and worers with his slogan 0nd the war& Land to the #easants& 2ll #ower
to the 3oviets). 2t the same time! he transformed the "olshevi #arty into an
instrument for revolution. He did this in two ways. 4irstly! he provided the party with
an ideological 5ustification for revolution. /n his April Theses! published in the #arty
paper Pravda! he changed the #arty)s ideology! asserting that nations in the early
stages of capitalism were also ripe for socialist revolution& the industrialisation
process could be completed once socialism had been achieved. 3econdly! Lenin
subordinated the "olshevi #arty to his own will! thereby overcoming theconservatism which permeated the revolutionary parties at that time.
2nother successful strategy he implemented was to refuse to deal with the
#rovisional ,overnment. %his policy enabled the "olshevis to retain their political
credibility when that government collapsed following the military defeat in ,alicia
and the 6ornilov coup.
f course! the "olshevis) success was not all Lenin)s doing& there was also a good
deal of luc involved. /n particular! ,eneral 6ornilov)s decision to march on 3t.
#etersburg in 8uly forced the #rovisional ,overnment to rely on the #etrograd 3oviet
for protection – something which increased support for the "olshevis! since they
now controlled that body.
%he final straw came in November! when the #etrograd garrison switched itssupport to the soviet! leaving the #rovisional ,overnment defenceless. 2ll the
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"olshevis had to do was seie the ey points in the city and declare themselves the
government.
%o his credit! Lenin realised that such a coup could loo lie a naed grab for power
by a party representing only a proportion of the opposition forces. Hence! he arranged
for the uprising to coincide with the 2ll Russian :ongress of 3oviets! to begin on
November 7th – thereby allowing the "olshevis to tae power in the name of the people)s elected representatives.
Lenin)s contribution to the "olshevis seiure of power was enormous. /t was he
who provided the ideological basis for the revolution! he who forged the "olshevi
#arty into an instrument for insurrection! and he who determined the political strategy
to be pursued. (ithout him! there would almost certainly have been no November
Revolution.