8/17/2019 Lenin and the Bolshevik Revolution - Long Essay

1/2

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

8/17/2019 Lenin and the Bolshevik Revolution - Long Essay

2/2

"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.