FREE ESSAY ON LENIN'S REVOLUTION

LENIN'S REVOLUTION

At the start of the 20th century, the ruling Tsar of Russia had absolute power and his
Government was corrupt, hence, the majority of the people were against him. Vladimir
Ilich Lenin, the leader of the Bolsheviks Socialist Party wanted a revolution to
overthrow the Government. Relative to these times, it was Lenin who directed the course
of the oncoming Russian October Revolution.
The outbreak of the unrest, in January 1905, found Lenin anxious to set down a novel
strategy for revolution: the need for the proletariat (the working class) to win hegemony
in the democratic revolution. He flatly declared to both major political parties of the
time (the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks) that the proletariat was the driving force of the
revolution and that its only reliable ally was the peasantry. He branded the bourgeoisie
as hopelessly counterrevolutionary and too cowardly to make their own revolution.
However, after the defeat of the Revolution of 1905, Lenin was forced into exile from
1907 to 1917. He found serious challenges to his policies not only from the Menshevik
party (formed by the dissatisfied minority of the intelligentsia) but within his own
faction as well. The combination of repression and modest reform effected by the tsarist
regime led to a decline of party membership (Merringer 79). Disillusionment and despair
in the chances of successful revolution swept the dwindled party ranks, rent by
controversies over tactics and philosophy. Attempts to unite the Bolshevik and Menshevik
factions came to naught, all breaking on Lenin's intransigent insistence that his
conditions for reunification be adopted. Yet, throughout the struggle, Lenin?s directing
force was still felt by both the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks. As one Menshevik opponent
described Lenin,
There is no other man who is absorbed by the revolution twenty-four hours a day, who has
no other thoughts but the thought of revolution, and who even when he sleeps, dreams of
nothing but revolution. (Tybursky 182)
Placing revolution above party unity, Lenin would accept no unity compromise if he
thought it might delay, not accelerate the revolution. This makes it quite apparent that
without Lenin; there may have not been a revolution. He clearly pushed its commencement.
Ten years in exile had not swayed Lenin?s determination to create and direct a powerful
revolution. Lenin returned to Russia from exclusion in February 1917, believing that the
time was ripe to seize power. The Russian economy was in ruin after the army was nearly
defeated and the people exhausted as a result of the First World War. The country was in
an unstable state, suitable for a revolution (Levinthal 119). Around October 20, Lenin,
in disguise and at considerable personal risk, slipped into Petrograd and attended a
secret meeting of the Bolshevik Central Committee held on the evening of October 23. Not
until after a heated 10-hour debate did he finally win a majority in favour of preparing
an armed takeover. Now steps to enlist the support of soldiers and sailors and to train
the Red Guards, the Bolshevik-led workers' militia, for an armed takeover proceeded
openly under the guise of self-defense of the Petrograd Soviet. Even at great personal
risk, Lenin was adamant in spurring a successful revolution.
November 7 and 8, the Bolshevik-led Red Guards and revolutionary soldiers and sailors,
under the authoritative direction of Lenin, deposed the Provisional Government meeting
only slight resistance. They then proclaimed that state power had passed into the hands
of the Soviets. The Bolsheviks with their allies constituted an absolute majority of the
Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets. The delegates voted overwhelmingly to and elect
Lenin as chairman of the Council of People's Commissars, the new Soviet Government.
Overnight, Lenin had vaulted from his hideout as a fugitive to head the Revolutionary
government of the largest country in the world. Since his youth, he had spent his life
building a party that would win such a victory, and now at the age of 47, he and his
party had triumphed. Yet, power neither intoxicated nor frightened Lenin. He was born to
lead and lead he did, winning the revolution. 
Even long after the revolution, Lenin?s gift for directive leadership was evident in his
admirable leadership of a Russia torn by unrest. It was largely because of Lenin's
inspired leadership that the Soviet government managed to survive against overpowering
military odds. He caused the formation and guided the strategy of the Workers and
Peasants' Red Army. Although the economy had collapsed, he managed to mobilize sufficient
resources to sustain the Red Army and the industrial workers. 
The era and circumstances that surrounded the Russian revolution clearly happened as they
did because of Lenin?s adamant revolutionary leadership. Had Lenin not lived during that
time, a revolution would probably not have taken place. Russian history continues to
fascinate scholars because of its rich cultural history, a history that Lenin generously
contributed to.
Bibliography List
?Lenin, Vladimir Ilich? Britannica Online. Dec. 1999. 12 Dec. 2000 
Levinthal, George. 20th Century Russia. New York: Grisewood & Dempsey Ltd. 1997.
Merringer, Nicholas. The Russian Revolution. London: Stamford Press. 1989.
Tybursky, Josef. Lenin and the Bolsheviks. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. 1990.