This revolution resulted from the horrific defeats in World War I for the Russians and internal pressures. As a result of this revolution, Tsar Nicholas II stepped down from his throne. Vladimir Lenin gained control and established the USSR in 1922. He was the head of the first Soviet Government. He died in 1924 and the General Secretary for the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) took control.
How far was Lenin responsible for the Bolsheviks’ growing hold on power in the years 1917-1924? To a fairly large extent, Lenin was responsible for the Bolsheviks’ growing hold on power from 1917-24. Lenin had, of course, led the Bolsheviks in the October Revolution, the reason the Bolsheviks had any power in the first place, and it was Lenin who dissolved the Constituent Assembly. He also managed to hold on to power by introducing War Communism during the Civil War. On the other hand, it can be argued that Trotsky’s leadership of the Red Army during the Civil War was just as, or even more important in the Bolsheviks’ seizure of power, as was the image of the Bolsheviks as being patriotic heroes fighting against Tsarist leaders and foreign invaders.
During the 110-year period from 1855 to 1964, there are a several turning points in the development of Russian government in terms of its ideology, structure and practice of which the most significant events are the abolition of serfdom in 1861 which emancipation was introduced, the Bolshevik’s takeover in October 1917, in which it crushed all possibility that liberal democracy might emerge into Russian to the world’s first Communist state and Stalin’s acquisition of power in 1928. The main ideological turning points of the development of Russian government were the abdication of Russia’s last Tsar, Nicholas II, in February 1917, and the Bolshevik’s takeover in Oct 1917, of which the first indicates the end of autocracy while the later indicates the establishment of Communism. Between both, the Bolshevik’s takeover seems to be a more important turning point. In theory, both events are important turning points in the history of the development of the Russian Government, but the February Revolution is not as important is the October Revolution, because the fall of autocracy led to a change to liberal democratic government, which did not last long due to small impact to the country, however the rise of Communism from the fall of liberal democratic government had a massive impact on the development of the government, as the later events, such as the establishment of the One-Day Parliament, Stalin’s acquisition of power occurred based on different views towards the ideology of Communism. The fall of autocratic system is significant in the change of ideology of the Russian government, as it had marked the end of Tsarism, but the October Revolution in 1917 is a more important turning point of the development of the government, as based on Communism, the Russian government had changes in its structure and practices later on.
However there are other reason which just as or more important than Trotsky’s leadership such as the ideas and sacrifices made by Lenin during the year’s 1917-1924 such as signing the harsh treaty of Brest-Litovsk and enforcing the New Economic Policy or NEP, to create economic sacrifices rather than political ones which allowed the Bolsheviks to remain in power. One way and the main way that Trotsky’s leadership of the red army was responsible for the survival of the Bolshevik government was the victory of the Civil war. In 1918 Russia was plunged into civil war when the White army, a group of pro tsarist and pro provisional government supporters attacked the Bolsheviks. However the reds won the war due the work of Leon Trotsky and his leadership of the red army. For example Trotsky organised and disciplined the army very well, he recruited ex tsarist army officers who were experienced in combat also due to his recruitment strategy membership rose from 7000 in March 1918 to 5 million in September 1920 and he also organised key victories such as the last battle between white and red forces between the 7th and 15th of November 1920.
(8 marks) (d) Explain why the Bolsheviks were able to seize power in October 1917. (8 marks) EITHER 2a) Explain how the economic policies of Lenin’s government changed in the years 1918-24. (8 marks) OR 2b) Explain how Stalin was able to overcome his leadership rivals in the years 1924-28. (8 marks) EITHER 3a) Was the use of propaganda the main reason Stalin was able to achieve complete control over the Soviet Union by 1939? Explain your answer.
5.02 Magazine Template Absolute vs. Constitutional Ivan IV , also known as Ivan The Terrible. He was born August 25, 1530. He was the first Tsar of Russia . This couple replaced James II & VII as he fled the country.
During the First World War, Russia initially sided with the Allies until the Bolshevik Revolution in 1918. It was in this time that leader Vladimir Lenin established authority in Russia. He transformed the country into the communistic Soviet Union. Following the communistic revolution, the Allies looked down on the newly formed Soviet Union, and felt they had conflicting values. Later in WWII, Russia and Germany agreed on a non aggression act.
How far do you agree that communists and Tsars ruled Russia in the same way? The February Revolution of 1917 that brought down the Tsarist regime and led to the ascension of the Provisional Government, had much potential to bring about significant change from the autocratic regime of the Tsars. However, the totalitarian government of the communists seized power in the October Revolution and continued to maintain many aspects of Tsarist rule including the top-down approach to rule, their ideology in policy making and their repressive methods. Although the communists and Tsars appeared to rule differently in their theory, in practice their methods were to a very large extent the same. The top-down approach the rulers of Russia had in the period 1855-1964 were superficially different as the communists claimed to represent the people by giving power to the proletariat where as the Tsars were heavily elitist in their ideology.
After the overthrow of the provisional government on November 7th 1917, the congress of Russian Soviets met and handed over power to the Soviet Council of People’s Commissars. Lenin was elected as chairman. Alexander Kerensky, who had managed to escape arrest, assembled troops from the Northern Front. Led by General Krasnov, the Cossacks were defeated by Bolshevik forces at Pulkova. By December 1917 central Russia and Siberia were under the control of Lenin’s government.
Two years after the destruction of the Berlin Wall, the Soviet Union buckled. The Communist party was broken because the Russian Republic hindered to eject Gorbachev from office. In December 1991, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) included Russian Republics. “The Russian Republic assumed leadership of the CIS, but the Soviet Union was no more.” The Cold War was a long drawn out battle between Democracy and Communism. The United States believed that a country should have the ability to choose its government; not be feared of it.