Questions and Answers
What was the primary reason for the Bolshevik's hierarchical structure?
According to Vladimir Lenin, what was the correct order of revolutions?
What was the primary difference between the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks regarding the provisional government?
What was the primary goal of the Bolsheviks' 'dictatorship of the proletariat'?
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What was the significance of the Industrial Revolution in the context of communism?
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What was the primary reason for Lenin's opposition to the Provisional Government?
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What was the outcome of the Kerensky Offensive?
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What was the main promise of Lenin's April Theses in 1917?
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What was the significance of the All-Russian Congress of Soviets in June 1917?
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What was the primary appeal of Lenin's slogans 'Peace, bread, and land' and 'All power to the soviets'?
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Study Notes
Bolshevik Consolidation of Power
- The Russian Revolution was sparked by the overthrow of the autocratic rule, which led to the split of the Social-Democratic Party into Mensheviks and Bolsheviks in 1903.
- Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, had a selective membership of skilled revolutionaries and a hierarchical structure, with the goal of guiding the working class towards revolution through education on socialism.
Mensheviks and Socialist Revolutionaries
- Mensheviks, led by Julius Martov, had a broad membership with a democratic structure, allowing members to challenge leaders, and supported the provisional government and continued involvement in WW1.
- Socialist Revolutionaries, led by Alex Kerensky, sought to nationalize land and had the support of the left, right, and peasants.
Overview of Communism
- According to Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, all history is seen as a class struggle, with feudalism leading to bourgeois revolution and capitalism, which enables communists to lead the proletariat revolution.
- Communism aims to create a stateless and classless system, where workers own the means of production and share it equally over time.
Bolshevik Ideology
- Communism, as envisioned by Lenin, requires a "dictatorship of the proletariat" to deal with internal and external enemies, with the state dictating labor use through coercion.
- Businesses would be industrially owned, removing private ownership, to achieve a classless system.
Lenin and the April Theses
- Lenin believed in a professional revolution with a strong leader, emphasizing order and discipline during the transition phase.
- The April Theses of 1917 were critical in gaining support with strong ideological convictions, promising to end WW1, provide food security, and control land distribution.
The Revolutions of 1917
- The February Revolution, sparked by Tsar Nicholas II's abdication, formed a provisional government under Kerensky, which remained in WW1 and had moderate reforms to Russia.
- The October Revolution, led by Lenin, wrestled power from the Provisional government, promising to end WW1, provide food security, and control land distribution.
Provisional Government and its Failings
- The Provisional Government, made up of conservatives, monarchists, and bourgeoisie, failed to address key issues and only lasted 9 months.
- Key failings included WW1, which led to job losses and factory closures, and Petrograd Soviet's dual power system, which undermined authority and lacked execution.
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Description
Learn about the Russian Revolution, the split of the Social-Democratic Party, and the rise of Bolsheviks and Mensheviks. Explore their ideologies and goals in shaping the working class towards revolution.
