It will secure the transfer of the land of the landed proprietors, the crown and the monasteries to the peasant committees without compensation. However the surprising lack of knowledge of even the best contemporary revolutionaries makes it necessary to emphasise basic historical arguments rather than theory. How lenin and the bolsheviks remained in power between. Bachelor thesis duco heijs, 3829677 462014 revolutions in comparison dr. This seizure of power placed the bolshevik party in a position that enabled them. Feb 25, 2012 by demanding all power to the soviets the bolsheviks were tapping into popular democratic demands. A very useful history of the russian revolution in the sense that it really deals with the details, rather than just the outlines and key developments. Read this essay on asses the reasons why lenin and the bolsheviks were able to seize power in october 1917. The bolsheviks come to power, and the bolsheviks in power. A very useful history of the russian revolution in the sense that it really deals with the details, rather than just. Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this the bolsheviks come to power study guide and get instant access to the following analysis. Fr and us as red wanted to revolutionise the world communism why did the reds win the civil war. The period covered by the bolsheviks in power is a crucial one, because 1918 was the make or break year for the bolshevik regime. The provisional government was the unfortunate authority that was in control at.
Live bolsheviks have been openly talking about an upcoming insurrection for a while. Power to the soviets distanced the bolsheviks from the pg and the bourgeois corruption lenin claimed they were involved in. When an attempted assassination attempt failed on lenin the cheka began the red terror it. Reflections on the bolsheviks, the october revolution, and early soviet. Why were the bolsheviks able to seize power by october. It examines events that profoundly shaped the soviet political system that endured through most of the 20th century. As a result, it was because of this, that the strong leadership of lenin could come into play, thus, i agree that the bolsheviks were able to seize power in october 1917 because of the weakness of the provisional government, which unquestionably is the most important and underlying factor leading to the eventual revolution. First, the bolshevik program of land, peace, and bread had widespread support among the masses. The bolsheviks in power february 1917 the tsar is overthrown by popular revolt.
The chances of the bolsheviks ever attaining power in russia seemed remote. The bolsheviks rise to power the bolsheviks were a political party who led the russian revolution. How did the bolsheviks consolidate power by harry rowland. This history authoritatively restores the upheavals primary social actorsworkers, soldiers, and peasantsto their rightful place at the center of. Wc played a major role in the bolshevik victory in the civil war and thus allowed them to maintain power and control in russia. The author of the most important academic study of the 1917 russian revolution has now written the most serious archival study of the early revolutionary regime. The influence of the past on the mighty social upheaval of 1917 was of a twofold character. In this absorbing narrative, alexander rabinowitch counters the claims by mainstream historians that the revolution was a military coup led by lenin and a small band of fanatics. The bolshevik seizure of power in petrograd in october 1917 was celebrated for over seventy years by the soviet government as a sacred act that laid the foundation for a new political order which would transform backward russia and after 1923 the soviet union into an advanced socialist.
How did the bolsheviks gain power and how did the consolidate. Alexander rabinowitch, indiana university press, 2007, isbn. Mar 29, 2018 answer to were famines common in russia before the ussr. From this point onward the government would resort to increasingly undemocratic and repressive measures in an attempt to block the growing influence of bolshevik ideas among the masses. New laws were passed by the new government called the provisional government, many russians faced by poverty were expecting changes, but the laws did not pass their expectations. Come browse our large digital warehouse of free sample essays.
Bolsheviks consolidated their rule with their victory in the civil war. They led the revolution under the new name of the communist party and soon became the ruling party of the soviet union. Lenins arrival in petrograd in april provided a major boost for bolshevik morale. First of all the russian socialdemocratic labour party the precursor of the soviet communists had its leadership in exile in switzerland and was on the verge of a bankruptcy. However, from the bolsheviks initial seizure of power in. Get the knowledge you need in order to pass your classes and more. The inability of moderate socialists to mobilize the population enabled the bolsheviks to gain strength within the workers and soldiers soviet groupings, which remained incensed at the prowar policy of the. But in late 1917, bolshevik leader lenin decided that the conditions in russia were ripe for revolution. Apr 20, 20 by demanding all power to the soviets the bolsheviks were tapping into popular democratic demands. Sep 10, 2012 how did the bolsheviks consolidate make strong their rule. The bolsheviks come to power should be read by every person interested in the russian revolution. Bolsheviks seize power in petrograd archive, 8 november. The bolshevik seizure of power in petrograd in october 1917 was celebrated for over seventy years by the soviet government as a sacred act that laid the foundation for a new political order which would transform backward russia and after 1923 the soviet union into an advanced socialist society.
Alexander rabinowitch rewrites the russian revolution slavica. In this essay i will analyse a combination of reasons on how the bolsheviks came to power and discuss events such as the february and october revolutions, the fall of the tsarist rule and the provisional government. It describes in great detail the evolution of the bolshevik regime over the first year of its existence. President donald trump and white house coronavirus task force daily press briefing the hill 4,152 watching live now. In the bolsheviks come to power, i tried my best to reconstruct the bolsheviks successful pursuit of these tactics rather than lenins in particular, their utilization of a counterrevolutionary threat to help create an ostensibly nonparty organ, the military revolutionary committee of the petrograd soviet. But when they began their coup in petrograd, it still took some time even to notice it.
Jun 14, 2016 as a result of a number of factors, which got intermingled. Paul avrich rabinowitch comes to several conclusions. Russia, in the soviet satellites with the exception of red china. The bolsheviks come to power alexander rabinowitch. As a result of a number of factors, which got intermingled. The measures of the bolsheviks to maintain power and address the problems of russia before the outbreak of civil war after the bolsheviks seizure of power in november 1917, lenin needed to ensure all previously made promises were kept. How and why did lenin and the bolsheviks come to power.
Support for the bolsheviks was greatly increased by their skilful use of propaganda. Trotskyists and the bolsheviks in power this article raises numerous theoretical questions about the precise nature of the degeneration of the russian revolution. Why did the bolsheviks gain power in russia in 1917 in march, 1917, tsar nicholas resigned from the throne. They used a culmination of tactics in order to instigate a revolution, that they felt was required. Why were the bolsheviks able to seize power in russia enotes. Bolsheviks in power professor alexander rabinowitchs. The following excerpt reveals the logic of lenins early belief in the immi. How were the bolsheviks able to seize power in october 1917.
By demanding all power to the soviets the bolsheviks were tapping into popular democratic demands. Nov 08, 2017 bolsheviks seize power in petrograd archive, 1917 8 november 1917 the maximalists have occupied the central telegraph office, state bank and marie palace wed 8 nov 2017 00. Bolsheviks, hence why the whites consisted of such a mixed group tsarist officers, socialist revolutionaries, mensheviks, etc. The skill of the bolsheviks was in gearing their ideas and slogans towards these three groups workers, soldiers and peasants and organising support to increase their power. Red victory was therefore a key means of maintaining communist power in russia. War communism wc was of substantial importance to the bolshevik consolidation of power.
Paul avrich, author the russian anarchists rabinowitch comes to several conclusions. How did the bolsheviks keep hold of power between 1917 or 1918 and 1921 or 1924. Essay about why did the bolsheviks gain power in russia in. Remember to check the dates in the question to use the right examples. The bolsheviks take power november 7 newstyle calendar, october 25 oldstyle marks the 70th anniversary of the greatest event in human history. To what extent was victory in the civil war the main reason that lenin was able to maintain his grip on power between 1918 and 1924. How lenin and the bolsheviks remained in power between november 1917 and lenins death in 1924 the bolsheviks set up a government called the council of peoples commissars or sovnarkom for short. The bolsheviks and their allies occupied government buildings and other strategic locations in the russian capital of petrograd now st. The inability of moderate socialists to mobilize the population enabled the bolsheviks to gain strength within the workers and soldiers soviet groupings, which remained incensed at the prowar policy of the kerensky. The bolsheviks, the lower classes, and soviet power, petrograd.
Lenin promised bread, peace and land and all power to the soviets. For generations in the west, cold war animosity blocked dispassionate accounts of the russian revolution. The soviet government will propose an immediate democratic peace to all the nations and an immediate armistice on all fronts. This sequel to prelude to revolution 1968 begins with the period of intense repression in russia following the july 1917 popular upsurge, which the bolsheviks had not endorsed. In 1900 russia was a great empire ruled by the tsar nicholas ii. He also excelled in his service contributions to the. The main people in the government were lenin was the chairman, trotsky was the commissar for war, stalin was commissar for nationalities and one.
Alexander rabinowitch is the author of the outstanding the bolsheviks come to power. Although he had been ordered by the bolshevik central committee to stay in. The bolsheviks take power chapter 9 the russian revolution. The revolution of 1917 in petrograd alexander rabinowitch download bok. Asses the reasons why lenin and the bolsheviks were able. Not least was the fact that the bolsheviks only controlled a very small part of russia basically the land between petrograd and moscow, a rectangular band of territory 30 miles by 400 miles. How and why did the bolsheviks gain power in russia. The bolsheviks come to power is one of the most important histories of the russian revolution to challenge the mainstream narratives. Bolsheviks nationalised factories so had control over main cities moscow and petrograd also had control of railways resources and a strict army discipline with 30,000 men nep local nationalities allows to bring back their own language and customs. An analysis of the role of the military revolutionary committee in the bolshevik seizure of power on october 25, 1917. When the bolsheviks took power, they were a small unpopular government but lenin in a very short time passed decrees, which satisfied the people and set up a strict secret police, which squashed opposition completely. The first year of soviet power international socialist. The bolsheviks rise to power making history at northumbria.
Famines was huge problem and main reason of three russian revolution during 19051917 period. Some twenty years in the making, the bolsheviks in power is the logical successor of alexander rabinowitchs the bolsheviks come to power. I have already started to read rabinowitchs sequel the bolsheviks in power, and based on the first 100 pages its probably even better than this one. The provisional government was the unfortunate authority that was in control at the time of the bolshevik revolution.
Read online and download ebook the bolsheviks come to power. The measures of the bolsheviks to maintain power and. Even the magisterial account by trotsky, lenins second in command in the october. The petrograd bolsheviks and the july 1917 uprising, alex taught countless numbers of undergraduates and trained over twenty doctoral students in soviet history. Brestlitovsk treaty the cheka were brutal and merciless in their killing for example 800 people were arrested in the spring of 1918 in petrograd and shot without having been put on trial. Petersburg and within two days had formed a new government. July days storming of the winter palace ordinary people opposed the war kerensky launched attack on germans defeat mistake petrograd demonstrations july days soldiers, sailors, workers protest. It was these contributions made it possible for the bolsheviks to seize power.
The masses saw that the bolsheviks had become a power, and the vacillating were drawn to them, said trotsky. Transforming a seizure of power in the name of soviet power into a bolshevik. The revolution of 1917 in petrograd and prelude to revolution. Bolsheviks seize power in petrograd archive, 1917 8 november 1917 the maximalists have occupied the central telegraph office, state bank and marie palace wed 8 nov 2017 00. Soviet power in petrograd in the late spring and summer of 1918. When the bolsheviks seized power in petrograd in november 1917, they faced many problems.
The bolsheviks were a political party who led the russian revolution. The course and character of the russian bolshevik revolution and of the soviet. The promise of peace attracted the army, land distribution gained the support of the peasants, bread the industrial workers suffering from food shortages. A major contribution to the historiography of the world in the 20th century, the bolsheviks in power focuses on the fateful first year of soviet rule in petrograd. Bolsheviks seize power seventeen moments in soviet history. Lenin led the bolsheviks and trotsky led the red army.
Why were the bolsheviks able to seize power in 1917. Assess the importance of war communism to the bolshevik consolidation of power. The garrison crisis and the military revolutionary committee 14. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. For the first time ever, a state came into existence which represented the majority of society, the laboring masses, as against a narrow class of exploiters. The revolution of 1917 in petrograd alexander rabinowitch. May 22, 2015 when the bolsheviks seized power in petrograd in november 1917, they faced many problems. Asses the reasons why lenin and the bolsheviks were able to. By focusing on events in the storm centre of the revolution, petrograd now st petersburg, he showed that ordinary working class men and women were the driving force in 1917 and that they acted upon the bolshevik party, who in turn acted upon the masses. Soon after i arrived in moscow in june 1991 to begin what i thought would be th e. The bolsheviks come to power the geopolitical economy.
131 1492 153 1369 907 1148 18 66 19 415 813 579 229 1511 241 1315 911 310 807 1283 744 1194 20 1409 136 1175 1529 1367 888 34 1484 647 306 243