Turning Points in the Life of Vladimir Lenin
In 1917 Lenin became the Russian dictator and is known nowadays as a
Founder of Communism. Many events in his life have turned Lenin's
attitude and changed him.
In 1887, Lenin's brother was convicted of an attempted assassination
on the Tsar and was consequently hanged for his crime. His brother's
activity may have sparked Lenin's interest in revolutionary activity
and radicalized him as at this time Lenin began studying the writings
of Karl Marx and Chernoshevsky, who had as well socialistic beliefs.
Graduated from the gymnasium and moving on to the University of Kazan,
Lenin firstly came into contact with revolutionary groups. He was even
expelled in December from university and placed under police
surveillance for his first involvement in a demonstration. However he
continued to study independently and by 1892 had earned a license to
practice law. After a short exile, in 1888, Lenin contacted the
Marxist group for the first time. This event was one of the first
triggers, which turned Lenin into a pure communist, as the Marxist
group taught Lenin everything about socialism.
Consequently, Lenin took his first overseas trip in 1895. He visited
Switzerland, where he came in contact with Plekhanov's 'Emancipation
of Labour' group, Berlin and Paris. Plekhanov's group gave Lenin
different good ideas and advises and taught him a lot of things. With
their advises and experience, which was gained by him from this party,
Lenin has formed 'The League of Struggle for the Emancipation of the
working class' or 'League of Struggle; in short. It was his first
group he founded.
However f...
... middle of paper ...
...peasants to sell some of their produce on the open
market. It was strange of course for communistic country to open
capitalistic market. But if this didn't happen, famine and starvation
could result in overcoming of Communistic Government, including Lenin.
In 1918 Lenin survived an assassination attempt. His long term health
was affected and in 1922 Lenin suffered from his first stroke which
left him partially paralyzed. This event has turned Lenin into
indecisive person, as he wasn't able to realize his communistic
beliefs and ideas. It was at this time than an upstart Georgian began
to criticize Lenin's departure from Marxist ways and rally support.
Throughout 1923, Lenin suffered several other strokes, leaving him
bedridden. Lenin died on January 21, 1924 and is still entombed in a
mausoleum on Red Square today.
The first sight of economic and political challenges were during the Civil War, as the country was falling apart and the Government needed to keep them together therefore the country became more centralised and authoritarian, to gain more control of the people. Lenin brought in War Communism to deal with the effects of the Civil War.
Lenin believed strongly in these morals and used them as a guide to his goal of revolution. The.. The party continued to protest against the current government in Russia and over time the political, social and economic discontent and the famous event known 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, October Manifesto -.
... middle of paper ... ... “ The constitution promised the Soviets freedom of speech, consciousness, press, assembly, and demonstrations in conformity with the interest of the working people and in order to strengthen the socialist system. ”20
Ultimately it was his failure here that prevented him having any long-term significance, despite his huge short-term significance. ‘He had too many characteristics that made it extraordinarily hard to collectively work with him. But he was an industrious worker and a talented person, and for Lenin, that was the main thing’. Trotsky, despite his nuances and arrogance, was hugely significant in the short term through his brilliant tactics throughout the October Revolution where the Bolsheviks took control of Russia. Furthermore, his coordination of the Red Army was definitive in Bolshevik victory in the civil war, removal of opposition in the terror, and he played an under appreciated role in reclaiming of occupied Russian lands following the world war.
Lenin’s pragmatic leadership was the most considerable factor in helping to fortify Bolshevik power. His willingness to take power in October/November 1917 and the successes of the move, through his right-hand man, Trotsky, was critical as it helped give him unquestioned authority within the party despite members of the Central Committee i.e. Zinoviev and Kamenev who suggested industrialisation needed to occur first. This highlighted Lenin’s communist ideology in practice which was essential to the Bolsheviks maintaining power. Following the failure of the Provisional Government, Lenin recognised that it was the Bolshevik’s priority to legitimise their government. As a result, issues of ‘Peace, Bread and Land’ were addressed through the issuing of a number of decrees in late 1917 including decrees on land, peace, Workers’ Rights as well as reforms to marriage and religion. ...
Lenin made a series of policies throughout the beginning of the Revolution and through his short time in public office that came to be collectively known as ‘Leninism’. There were many things that influenced Leninism, such as Karl Marx. Lenin had read Karl Marx and his...
From the very beginning Lenin felt that Russia did not need to participate in World War I because it was the main cause for Russia problems Lenin`s belief were developed from Karl Marx, the father of communism. Lenin believed that a government should really represent the people of Russia, therefore he aimed to overthrow the Russian government because it was said to be the cause of misery in Russia. After being put in exile for sedition, Lenin returns to Russia after news of the February Revolution. The revolution was created from built up tension and Russia being under repression and unrest for a long period time. As a result the Tsar abdicated from the Russian Empire and the making of a Provisional Government. This made Lenin's plan to overthrow the government much simpler.
In 1905 , Russia had a prerevolution that was put down of the Czar. Instead of learning from this prerevolution, Czar Nicholas II, made a very big mistake by in not introducing some reforms to correct the problems. So because of his actions, the situation grew worse. In 1917, the Russians were fighting in World War I. A good majority of the Russian people were weary and uncontent with the way the war was going and with the Czar's rule. This uncontent along with economic hardships caused riots and demonstrations to break out. The Czar called for the army to put down the revolution as they did in 1905. But the army joined the revolt and the Czar was kicked out of power soon afterwards. A temporary government was set up to decide on what kind of government Russia was gonna set up. Two political parties were set up. The Bolsheviks were one of the two. The leader of the Bolshevik party was a man named Lenin. Lenin was a firm believer of the theories and ideas of Karl Marx. So with his slogan of "Bread, Peace and Land", Lenin gained the support of the peasants and gained control of Russia and setup a communist state.
The next few years saw Lenin moving around Europe frantically. He hid out in Finland disguised as a farmer and popped back up in Geneva in 1908. At this time the tsarist began to exact revenge on the revolutions through “execution and exile” labeled the “black reaction.” Workers organizations were dissolved although Lenin vehemently continued to skillfully promote illegal and legal tactics within his Bolshevian congresses and the Duma. He desperately wanted to avoid compromise with the petty-bourgoise amd maintained the Bolshevik ideal of “workers, masses, proletariat, vanguard, and army.” Lenin continued to read radical literature and publish works promoting his vision. Figas comments that “in its fight for the party, for its ideological purist and genuine Marxist philosophy Lenin was impeccable.” Lenin believed that 1905 was only a precursor to bigger things and thanks to his tireless work and “24 hour devotion” to the revolution the Bolsheviks maintained their course, rallied the working class, and took on a fight against the autocracy.
On March 3, 1918 Russia lost 1/3 of its fertile farm lands, 1/3 of its
Over the next few years, Russia went through a traumatic time of civil war and turmoil. The Bolsheviks’ Red Army fought the white army of farmers, etc. against Lenin and his ways. Lenin and the Bolsheviks won and began to wean Russia of non-conforming parties eventually banning all non-communist as well as removing an assembly elected shortly after the Bolshevik’s gain of power. Lenin’s strict government, however, was about to get a lot stricter with his death in 1924.
Inspired by the works of Karl Marx, V.I. Lenin nonetheless drew his ideology from many other great 19th century philosophers. However, Marx’s “Communist Manifesto” was immensely important to the success of Russia under Leninist rule as it started a new era in history. Viewed as taboo in a capitalist society, Karl Marx started a movement that would permanently change the history of the entire world. Also, around this time, the Populist promoted a doctrine of social and economic equality, although weak in its ideology and method, overall. Lenin was also inspired by the anarchists who sought revolution as an ultimate means to the end of old regimes, in the hope of a new, better society. To his core, a revolutionary, V.I. Lenin was driven to evoke the class struggle that would ultimately transform Russia into a Socialist powerhouse. Through following primarily in the footsteps of Karl Marx, Lenin was to a lesser extent inspired by the Populists, the Anarchists, and the Social Democrats.
Lenin lead the first communist government in russia . When communist took over the city of petrograd , they decided to take out the provisional government . “Peace, bread and land” and “All power to the soviets” was said by Lenin to the cities workers with sayings such as these 2. In lenin's eyes he claimed that workers will and can not , be governed by themselves. Lenin promised to the Soviets that he would get his soldiers out of war plus he granted land ownership to the peasants and also gave them a opportunity to own shops in Soviet . The actual revolution only lasted two days. Trotsky had planned this and it was perfect execution . Trotsky held a speech in the city of petrograd to distract them while the red guards took over important parts of petrograd. Almost everything possible was captured. Lenin was like a spy during this revolution, he had to find the leaders of the provisional government and arrest them . At this time Alexander Kerensky was the president of the provisional
Along with this massive group of opponents, Lenin also faced acute starvation as little grain was being produced and this lead to high inflation and so quick action was needed if Lenin was to keep his promise of bread to the people. The... ... middle of paper ... ... private ownership and the militaristic rule over factories was stopped. Money was reinstated and anyone could set up a shop and sell or hire goods for a profit.