The Seizure of Power by the Bolsheviks in 1917

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The Seizure of Power by the Bolsheviks in 1917

How did the Bolsheviks seize power of the Russia Empire in 1917? They

were able to do this as a result of taking advantage of the current

political and social situations in the country at the time. Through

such decisions as disbanding the army and siding with the majority,

the peasants, though such promises as land, food, equality and peace.

Through such events Lenin was able to take full control for the

Bolsheviks.

The Bolsheviks started off, in 1903, as the main minority of the

Social Democratic Labour Party. As all anti-tsarist groups the party

was illegal. The party was based upon the beliefs of Karl Marx, a

German writer and revolutionary, who believed a revolution could only

be started within the workforce of the major cities. Lenin believed

strongly in these morals and used them as a guide to his goal of

revolution.

The party continued to protest against the current government in

Russia and over time the political, social and economic discontent and

the famous event know as 'Bloody Sunday', where the imperial guards

shot and killed the protesting people of St.Petersburg, eventually

pulled more followers over to the party.

After these events, which were known as the 1905 revolution, the

October Manifesto occurred. This gave the people a lot more rights and

a national parliament, the Duma. All seemed well, but there was one

problem. The Mensheviks, who were the less radical majority of the

Social Democratic Labour Party, argued that the revolution had gone

far enough, however the Bolsheviks insisted that it go further until a

new, soviet state was established. Thus, the party split up and formed

two separate groups. Also, since the revolution hadn't worked, many of

the revolution's leaders, such as Lenin, were forced to go into exile

abroad.

During his time in Switzerland, in exile, Lenin wrote his thoughts in

his revolutionary newspaper, "Pravda". Through this Lenin was able to

show his supporters their mistakes in the first revolution and what

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