Essay

To what extent was Lenin the reason for the Bolshevik Revolution?

In April 3 of 1917 Vladimir Lenin (the Bolshevik leader) returned from exile to Petrograd Soviet with the intentions of taking control of Russia and making it one-party state (Communism). The Bolshevik Revolution was the consequence of a chain of important events seized by Lenin so he could be successful in his purpose of overthrowing the Provisional Government (government in charge after Nicholas II abdicated) and establish the Communist regime. The July Days were thousands of workers and soldiers rioted because of the June offensive (attack to Germany) failure. Also the Kornilov Revolt gave the Bolsheviks more popularity by removing the threat of Kornilovs army from the Petrograd. Finally the Bolshevik Revolution started in The October Revolution (according to Russian Calendar), this time Leon Trotsky was in charge to take control of Russia while Lenin was still in Finland hided from the Provisional Government. Lenin announced in October 26 his new government; the Provisional Government were removed from power by the Red Guards. This was the opportunity that Lenin pursuit long time ago, but still wasnt the time to take over control, three years later after the Civil War, after Lenin defeated his opponents (the Whites; non-Bolshevik) finally he could have Russia and introduce new policies to it. This essay will focus on showing the reasons why without Lenin the Bolshevik Revolution wouldnt happen, taking into account that Trotsky was a potential good leader and the enormous power the Provisional government possessed. Lenin was an intelligent and bold man that fought for his ideologies at any price; his strategies and moves were carefully made in each occasion making Lenin superior from other leaders. First he made the membership grow from 26,000 to 2,000,000 people, he also re-introduce the newspaper Pravda (initially founded in 1912) and the propagation of memorable slogans (Peace, bread and land). With this, Lenin made the Bolsheviks more popular by creating a good image and convincing people they had good intentions. In the July Days it seemed that the Bolsheviks were in troubled when the Provisional Government started to arrest Bolshevik leaders because they accused them to help Germany so the June offensive wouldnt be successful, surprisingly Lenin fled to Finland avoiding from being captured. During this time people shouted a Bolshevik slogan Down the Provisional Government! All power to the soviets! It indicates that Lenins idea succeeded, he won the support of the masses and now the Provisional Government was weaker. Lenin was the only leader capable to restore the Bolsheviks Party in Russia, not even Trotsky could avoid being arrested. Spite those issues, after the Kornilov Revolt, Bolsheviks were back in the game and even stronger, hence Lenin saw the opportunity to take power again when Russia was in crisis (September-October 1917) due to famine in the cities and mutinies. He persuaded the Central Committee and the Bolsheviks to act immediately, Trotsky was in charge of the military operation and the responsible of accomplish Lenins idea. In this occasion Lenin was the one who encouraged the Bolsheviks to react and the one who made possible Trotsky actions. The same

situation happen in the Civil War, without the tactics and the initiative of Lenin the Bolshevik Revolution wouldnt succeed not even begun; he was the brain behind all the action. Trotsky was an excellent strategist and the creator of the Red Army, he had the profile of a revolutionary leader, but he wasnt the main reason for the Bolshevik Revolution. In the October Revolution Trotsky was the one who led the Red Guards to take the control of bridges, telephone exchanges, Government buildings and railway stations. He also announced the end of the Provisional Government when his troops took the Winter Palace and arrested the ministers. Spite his strategy and the military operation he wouldnt have done that if Lenin didnt have the first initiative. Just because Lenin wasnt in Russia, Trotsky could have his opportunity to supervise all the details of the operation. Another reason why Trotsky couldnt began the Bolshevik Revolution it was because he wasnt an original member of the Bolsheviks, before 1917 he was a Menshevik (the other communist group). He was a recent member of the Bolsheviks so he didnt have the enough power to begin a revolution, while Lenin was the leader of the Bolsheviks since their creation and he had already a good reputation between workers and peasants. In the Civil War Trotsky showed an outstanding ability to control the Red Army by using encouragement and terror to make them fight. On the other hand the Bolsheviks won the Civil War because of what Lenin have done through all those years, a united Party with one single purpose and ideologies. Obviously Trotsky did a magnificent job with the troops but their opponents (Whites) were still going to be defeated due to their differences and lack of a single leader. The same Trotsky said once that Lenin was the reason for the Bolshevik Revolution and according to some historians it was an inevitable event just because Lenins presence. The Duma (parliament of the Tsar) created the Provisional Government, they took control over Russia but they failed in all aspects letting Lenin and the Bolsheviks take over. When the minister of the Provisional Government, Alexander Kerensky (a socialist supporter of the PG) was in charge he had to face the end of it. As the June offensive was a total failure, in the July Days soldiers and peasants were angry, the support the Provisional Government had once was vanished. He tried a military offensive but it was a complete catastrophe, by consequence it brought some reverses such as the first warning demonstrations against the Provisional Government. In the Kornilov Revolt, Kerensky accused him of traitor and he decided to give weapons to the Red Guards again after the July Days so they could defeat Kornilov troops. Now the Provisional Government looked so weak because people saw the Bolsheviks as heroes. Kerensky didnt know how to act in the right time and his efforts to make a stable administration were in vain. During the crisis in Russia the anarchy spread very quickly with consequence of mutinies and the disintegration of the army, also they couldnt provide enough food for the workers causing famine. All this problems, as many others said were caused by the mismanagement of the war, the Provisional Government couldnt deal with all the demands. Spite their intentions to fix all the problems they couldnt stop the inevitable which was the Bolshevik Revolution. Lenin was faster than Kerensky in army and strategies, also Lenin had more support of the peasants and workers and he took advantage of all the mistakes the Provisional Government did, in this way Lenin could precede to the Bolshevik Revolution very easily.

In conclusion with the agility, intelligence and initiative of Lenin, the Bolshevik Revolution could happen. He was the unique creator of the Bolsheviks and the creator of Communism in Russia, he was faithful to his ideals and he achieved his goals with perseverance. No one else, not even Trotsky could have that power of persuasion on important individuals to accomplish the victory of the regime. Lenin was born as a leader, he acted like one, he thinks like one and he wasnt going to stop for anyone that stands in his way. Natalia Lemus

Bibliography http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED133288.pdf