Isabella Carter
The Bolsheviks, a radical faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP), developed a tactic to destroy constitutional illusions and seize power in Russia during the October Revolution phase of the 1917 Russian Revolution. Led by Vladimir Lenin, the Bolsheviks advocated for a smaller party of professional revolutionaries and believed in the need for a dictatorship of the proletariat to hold power until Russia was modernised. They refused to share power with other revolutionary groups and suppressed opposition, eventually becoming the sole legal party in Soviet Russia and the Soviet Union. Lenin's political pamphlet, What Is to Be Done?, and his April Theses, which called for all power to the soviets, were key influences on Bolshevik strategy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Leaders | Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Leon Trotsky, Nikolai Bukharin, Yevgeni Preobrazhensky |
| Origin | The Bolsheviks originated at the second congress of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party in 1903 |
| Membership | 8,400 in 1905, 13,000 in 1906, 46,100 by 1907 |
| Ideology | Leninist and Marxist-Leninist principles, later Stalin's policies of "socialism in one country", rapid industrialization, collectivized agriculture, and centralized state control |
| Base of Support | The proletariat, industrial workers, peasants, soldiers |
| Tactics | Refusal to share power with other revolutionary groups, suppression of opposition, use of militia (Red Guard), secret police (Cheka) |
| Goals | Overthrowing the capitalist state, seizing power, establishing the "dictatorship of the proletariat" |
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What You'll Learn
- The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, seized power in Russia in the October Revolution of 1917
- They refused to share power with other revolutionary groups, except for the Left Socialist Revolutionaries
- The Bolsheviks believed in a dictatorship of the proletariat and wanted to establish a socialist society based on equality
- They did not believe in the existence of the Provisional Government or an elected national assembly
- The Bolsheviks established the Cheka, a secret police force to uncover and punish enemies of the people
The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, seized power in Russia in the October Revolution of 1917
The Bolsheviks, a radical faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, were led by Vladimir Lenin. They seized power in Russia during the October Revolution phase of the 1917 Russian Revolution, overthrowing the Provisional Government. Lenin had returned to Russia in April 1917 and issued his April Theses, which called for "no support for the Provisional Government" and "all power to the Soviets".
The Bolsheviks' rise to power was facilitated by the weakness of the Provisional Government, economic and social problems, and the continuation of the war, which led to growing unrest and support for the Soviets. The Bolsheviks were a revolutionary party, committed to the ideas of Karl Marx. They believed that the working classes would eventually liberate themselves from the ruling classes, enabling the establishment of a socialist society based on equality. Lenin's energy and drive convinced the Bolsheviks to agree on a course of action. He prepared to seize power using a clear plan: first, the Bolsheviks had to gain control of the Petrograd Soviet, and then they would take power in the name of the Soviet, repeating this process in other cities.
The Bolsheviks' popularity was further bolstered by their promises of "Peace, Land, and Bread", which appealed to the masses facing economic hardship. Lenin also ensured the neutrality of the peasants by offering them land. By October, the Bolsheviks had majorities in the Petrograd Soviet, and Lenin was determined to seize power quickly before the upcoming elections.
The Bolsheviks' seizure of power marked a shift from their initial anti-statist posture to a dictatorship, justified by Russia's lack of development and its status as the sole socialist state in the world. They refused to share power with other revolutionary groups and suppressed all rival political organizations. They established the Cheka, a secret police force, to eliminate those considered "enemies of the people" in campaigns known as the Red Terror. The Bolsheviks' ideology, based on Leninist principles, became known as Bolshevism, influencing policies under Joseph Stalin's leadership.
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They refused to share power with other revolutionary groups, except for the Left Socialist Revolutionaries
The Bolsheviks, a radical faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP), were led by Vladimir Lenin. They seized power in Russia during the October Revolution phase of the 1917 Russian Revolution. The Bolsheviks refused to share power with other revolutionary groups, except for the Left Socialist Revolutionaries. This was part of their tactic to destroy constitutional illusions.
The Bolsheviks' refusal to collaborate with other revolutionary groups was indicative of their determination to centralize power and suppress opposition. This power consolidation was a critical step in their broader strategy of establishing a dictatorship of the proletariat. Lenin, the Bolshevik leader, played a pivotal role in this process. He returned to Russia in February 1917 and issued his April Theses, which included the call for “all power to the soviets” and no support for the Provisional Government. Lenin's influence and drive convinced the Bolsheviks to follow this course of action.
The Bolsheviks' decision to exclude other revolutionary groups from power was also influenced by their ideological differences with these groups. The Bolsheviks, as followers of Lenin, advocated for a smaller party of professional revolutionaries, while their rivals, the Mensheviks, favoured a broader party membership. This divide dated back to the Second Party Congress in 1903, when the RSDLP formally split into the Bolshevik and Menshevik factions. The Bolsheviks' insistence on a restricted party membership contributed to their exclusionary approach toward power-sharing.
The Bolsheviks' refusal to share power with most revolutionary groups had significant consequences for Russia's political landscape. It marked the beginning of a period of increasing centralization of power by the Bolsheviks and the suppression of rival political organizations during the Russian Civil War. By 1921, the Bolsheviks became the sole legal party in Soviet Russia and the Soviet Union, solidifying their dominance and eliminating political opposition.
It is worth noting that the Bolsheviks' collaboration with the Left Socialist Revolutionaries was not a long-term alliance. Initially, the Bolsheviks governed in coalition with them, but as they centralized power, they eventually suppressed all rival political organizations, including the Left Socialist Revolutionaries. This consistent pursuit of power consolidation was a defining characteristic of the Bolsheviks' political strategy and had a profound impact on the country's political trajectory.
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The Bolsheviks believed in a dictatorship of the proletariat and wanted to establish a socialist society based on equality
The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, were a radical faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP). They believed in a dictatorship of the proletariat, a concept first introduced by Karl Marx in a series of articles later republished as "The Class Struggle in France 1848–1850". Marx and Friedrich Engels developed the communist doctrine of class struggle, theorizing that a dictatorship of the proletariat was necessary to transition from a capitalist system to a socialist state and classless communist society. This transitional phase involves the post-revolutionary state seizing the means of production, mandating the implementation of direct elections, and instituting elected delegates into representative workers' councils that nationalize ownership of the means of production from private to collective ownership.
Lenin's interpretation of Marxism, known as Leninism, further developed the idea of a dictatorship of the proletariat. He believed that a vanguard party was necessary to lead a proletarian uprising and assume power of the state, the economy, the media, and social services on behalf of the proletariat. Lenin described the governance of the dictatorship of the proletariat as "diversity in discussion, unity in action". Lenin also believed that the dictatorship of the proletariat was "unlimited power, based on force instead of on law", and was not bound by any restrictions or laws.
The Bolsheviks wanted to establish a socialist society based on equality. They initially governed in coalition with the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries but increasingly centralized power and suppressed opposition during the Russian Civil War. By 1921, they became the sole legal party in Soviet Russia and the Soviet Union. Lenin's political philosophy was based on the principles of vanguardism and democratic centralism, which contributed to the Bolsheviks' belief in a dictatorship of the proletariat.
The Bolsheviks' belief in a dictatorship of the proletariat led them to destroy constitutional illusions and democracy in Russia. They ceased to call themselves social democrats and instead adopted the name communists. Lenin considered constitutional systems to be irrelevant, arguing that they ultimately represented a dictatorship of the bourgeoisie because the policies implemented defended capitalism. The Bolsheviks, therefore, saw themselves as destroying the illusions of democracy and establishing a dictatorship of the proletariat to transition to a socialist and classless society.
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They did not believe in the existence of the Provisional Government or an elected national assembly
The Bolsheviks, a radical faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, seized power in Russia during the October Revolution phase of the 1917 Russian Revolution. Led by Vladimir Lenin, the Bolsheviks developed and executed a plan to gain power by exploiting the weaknesses of the Provisional Government and the general dissatisfaction with the continuation of the war and existing social problems.
Lenin's plan, outlined in his April Theses, called for "no support for the Provisional Government" and "all power to the Soviets". The Bolsheviks did not believe in the existence of the Provisional Government or an elected national assembly. Lenin's energy and drive convinced his party members to agree on this course of action. The Bolsheviks aimed to gain control of the Petrograd Soviet, take power in the name of the Soviet, and then repeat this process in other cities.
The Bolsheviks' popularity grew among urban workers and soldiers in Russia after the February Revolution, particularly as Lenin returned to the country in April 1917, demanding immediate peace and that the workers' councils, or Soviets, assume power. The Bolsheviks offered "Peace, Land and Bread" to the masses, promising an end to the war, land for the peasantry, and an end to famine. This message resonated with the people, especially as the Provisional Government continued fighting the war despite public opposition.
The Bolsheviks also believed that the working classes would eventually liberate themselves from the economic and political control of the ruling classes. They intended to establish a "dictatorship of the proletariat" to hold power until Russia was modernised and a genuine socialist society based on equality could be realised. This belief in the need for a transitional period of proletarian rule set them apart from the Mensheviks, who advocated for a slower revolution as they believed the workers needed more time to prepare for self-rule.
By October 1917, the Bolsheviks had majorities in the Petrograd Soviet, and Lenin was determined to seize power quickly. The Bolsheviks' refusal to recognise the legitimacy of the Provisional Government or an elected national assembly was a critical tactic in their rise to power and the subsequent establishment of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR).
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The Bolsheviks established the Cheka, a secret police force to uncover and punish enemies of the people
The Bolsheviks, a radical faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, seized power in Russia in the October Revolution of 1917. Led by Vladimir Lenin, they established the Russian Communist Party, which later became the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
To enforce their rule and protect their power, the Bolsheviks established the Cheka, a secret police force with a broad mandate to uncover and punish enemies of the state. Formed in December 1917, shortly after the October Revolution, the Cheka served as the "sword and shield" of the revolution. It was tasked with investigating and suppressing any opposition or threats to the new Bolshevik government.
The Cheka, led by Felix Dzerzhinsky, operated with little constraint and had the authority to arrest and execute individuals deemed counter-revolutionaries or saboteurs. They were known for their ruthless tactics and their black leather attire, including long flowing coats. The Cheka's broad mandate and lack of legal restrictions allowed them to act with impunity, making them a feared force in Soviet Russia.
The Cheka played a significant role in combating desertion within the Red Army, with their "Special Punitive Department" arresting and executing hundreds of thousands of deserters. They also targeted "bandits," a term used to cover both ordinary criminals and political opponents, leading to a significant number of executions. The exact number of executions carried out by the Cheka is disputed, with official figures considered understated by many scholars.
The Cheka became a model for 20th-century secret police agencies in totalitarian states, influencing organizations such as the Gestapo, the Stasi, and the KGB. Their establishment as a tool to enforce the Bolshevik rule underscores the party's tactics in consolidating power and destroying any constitutional illusions that may have existed following the revolution.
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Frequently asked questions
The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, developed a plan to seize power and destroy the constitutional illusions of the time. Lenin's April Theses, issued after his return to Russia in February 1917, called for "no support for the Provisional Government" and "all power to the soviets". The Bolsheviks aimed to gain control of the Petrograd Soviet, take power in the name of the Soviet, and repeat this process in other cities. Lenin's energy and conviction drove the Bolsheviks to agree on this course of action.
The Bolsheviks were a faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP) that believed in a socialist society based on equality. They advocated for the dictatorship of the proletariat, holding power until Russia was modernised.
The Bolsheviks gained popularity, especially among industrial workers, soldiers, and the urban middle class, by promising "Peace, Land, and Bread." They offered an end to the war, land for peasants, and a solution to food shortages.
The Bolshevik tactics led to the October Revolution of 1917, where they seized power and overthrew the Provisional Government. They established the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) and later became the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
The Bolsheviks' tactics resulted in the destruction of the democracy established by the March Revolution. They centralised power, suppressed opposition, and became the sole legal party in Soviet Russia and the Soviet Union by 1921.
