This paper explains the economic, political and military reasons for the Bolshevik victory in the Russian Civil War that occurred after the 1917 revolution.
Abstract This paper examines the strengths of Soviet organization, as well as the weakness of the Whites, who were backed by western intervention. The paper looks at measures taken, such as "War Communism" used to supply food to the army and the ruthless structure of communist forces, which lead to the Bolshevik victory in the Russian Civil War.
From the Paper "In 1917 Lenin and the Bolsheviks, known as the Communists or Reds, had seized control over Petrograd and Moscow quite easily. However, they controlled only part of Russia and many groups opposed them. Could they hang on to power? The Mensheviks, Social Revolutionaries and supporters of the Tsar said they had no right to rule. Collectively, these opponents became known as the Whites. The Whites were opposed to the Reds for two main reasons: they seized the land, property and factories of the well off and they attacked religious beliefs. By the end of 1918 civil war had broken out in Russia between the Whites and the Reds. The Whites were supported from abroad by the Allies; Britain, France, the USA and Japan. The Allies opposed Lenin in retaliation for his Brest-Litovsk peace treaty with Germany in March 1918. They had also lost capital and property as the Reds refused to repay loans which had been made to the Tsar's government, and had nationalised foreign owned businesses' in Russia without compensation. Yet, despite a large number of anti-Bolshevik groups within Russia, who were backed by the most powerful countries in the world, the Bolsheviks did eventually win the Russian Civil War. But why?"
Tags: civil, communist, lenin, russia, trotsky, war, bolshevik, economic, political, military
Abstract The paper discusses how the Bolsheviks were able to gain control of Russia during the revolutionary period due to a combination of factors. The paper explains how the Bolsheviks built upon the existing economic, social and political turmoil created by the tsarist regime, used the mistakes of the Provisional Government to their advantage and gained control over other revolutionary parties by way of their charismatic leaders, control of the army and control of the major industrial cities. The paper shows how the Bolsheviks had to fight to secure their government by successfully wiping out opposition during the Russian Civil War and satisfying the demands of the people for "Peace, Land and Bread."
From the Paper "Historically the tsarist regime has been contested with revolutionary action; in fact, the Romanov Dynasty was born out of autocratic turmoil during the "times of trouble" from 1584 to 1613 . During this time there were many rebellions, riots, and mutinies, they were not directed at reforming the autocratic institution, but merely aiming to take its place. Revolutionary action continued after the death of Alexander the Great, who did not name an heir, as there was a rapid turnover in the occupation of the throne. This period was known as the "era of the palace revolutions" and is characterized by an increased importance in maintaining the loyalties of the senior military."
This paper argues that the 1917 Bolshevik revolution in Russia came not from the power and influence of the masses, but instead from Lenin and other top political leaders.
Abstract The paper evaluates the arguments of three different authors on the question of how the Bolsheviks gained and sustained power. The paper maintains that the argument by Diane Koenker appears to have overextended herself in her belief of the role of the people, claiming them to be the source of the revolution.. The paper supports Richard Pipes' theory of the revolution from above, combined with Jeffrey Brooks' examination of the influence of the media on the revolution. The paper concludes that it was the actions of Lenin and the other leaders from above, not the masses, that chartered the revolution's course and successfully explains how the Bolsheviks gained power in Russia. The paper includes MLA style footnotes but does not append a bibliography.
From the Paper "The pivotal question in the discussion of how the Bolsheviks were successful in gaining power is whether the revolution came from above (the Party leaders) or below (the people). Diane Koenker, in her book From Moscow Workers and the 1917 Revolution, suggests that the revolution indeed came from the people. After the fall of the Tsar, the dominant form of revolutionary activity for the workers was the rally. Koenker claims that the thousands of resolutions that came out of these workers' meetings faithfully reflect the active and articulate participation or ordinary workers in the revolution, and in essence, shaped the direction and actions of the Bolshevik Party and the Revolution. However, this view poses a couple of problems."
Abstract This paper is an in-depth analysis of the causes of the Bolshevik Revolution. The author discusses the harsh economic conditions of the times, the rule of Czar Nicholas, the oppression of the lower class, and the influences of Karl Marx on the intelligentsia who wanted reform. The paper looks at the numerous riots that took place, the effects of World War I, and the crumbling of the Romanov dynasty.
From the Paper "The causes of the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 were many. The revolution was the culmination of a long period of repression and unrest. The Tsar ? weaknesses in his character and reactionary policies and his failure to understand his people: From the time of Peter I (Peter the Great), the czardom increasingly became an autocratic bureaucracy that imposed its will on the people by force, with wanton disregard for human life and liberty. The last Tsar Nicholas II (1894-1917) was a loyal family man but he had serious defects of character. He was easily influenced by his wife (German), he ignored his ministers and he failed to understand the problems of his people (he was too remote from them). He was a reactionary and an indecisive autocrat. Moreover the Czarist monarchy dramatically demonstrated the weaknesses to which a hereditary system is prone. A male heir to the throne was necessary to assure the continuation of the dynasty. The son of the Czar and Empress, Alexis, was a frail boy who suffered from the crippling hereditary disease of hemophilia."
Abstract This paper will explain the emergence of a totalitarian state under Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union after 1917 and how the Bolsheviks came to power in spite of the fact that they were neither the greatest nor the most influential movement in Russia at the time.
Abstract The first of these two-page essays examines the Bolshevik Revolution, and discusses the key factors that contributed to the success of Lenin and the Bolsheviks. The author concludes that Lenin knew exactly what to do, what to say, and what to conceal. He took advantage of the Russian people's desperate hopes for peace, bread, and an end to tsarist autocracy by promising them all three. The second essay examines the reasons for the fall of communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. The author discusses the economic, political, and social flaws of communism, and explains why they led to its demise.
Abstract This paper discusses the Peace Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, arguably one of the most important milestones in modern history. The paper determines why a peace treaty so unfavorable to Russia was ratified by the Soviet government. The personal intentions of Lenin are examined and the paper explains how they differ or parallel to those of the socialist revolution. The paper presents an evaluation of the extent of the German assistance to the Bolsheviks prior to the revolution and describes how Lenin attempted to fulfill the promises given to the Germans in exchange for their help. The paper traces the method by which the peace treaty was ratified on the VII Party Congress despite wide spread opposition.
Outline
Introduction
Lenin's Intentions
German Assistance to the Bolsheviks Promises Fulfilling
Growth of Domestic Opposition
The VII Party Congress of March 1918 and the Ratification of the Treaty
Conclusion
From the Paper "The Peace of Brest-Litovsk is one of the most important milestones in modern history, for with its signature begins a chain of events which led directly to the outbreak of the Second World War. This treaty not only signified the apparent and complete victory of German arms in the East and the greatest diplomatic and military humiliation which Russia had ever sustained, but, with the exception of the Treaty of Versailles, it had consequences far greater than any other peace settlement since the Congress of Vienna. It was the course of negotiations at Brest-Litovsk which prompted President Wilson to formulate his famous Fourteen Points in an attempt to keep the Russians from signing a separate peace. The rapacity of the Germans in the terms imposed on Russia disclosed to the rest of the world the extent of the Supreme Command's domination and the impossibility of arriving at peace with Germany in the hands of such rulers. This realization produced the final unity among the Western powers, thereby assuring the ultimate defeat of Germany."
Abstract This paper attempts to determine why a peace treaty so unfavorable to Russia was ratified by the Soviet government. It first examines the personal intentions of Lenin and how they differ or parallel to those of the socialist revolution. It then evaluates the extent of the German assistance to the Bolsheviks prior to the revolution and how Lenin attempted to fulfill the promises given to the Germans in exchange for their help. Finally, it traces the method by which the peace treaty was ratified on the VII Party Congress despite wide spread opposition.
Outline
Lenin's Intentions
German Assistance to the Bolsheviks Promises Fulfilled
Growth of Domestic Opposition
The VII Party Congress of March 1918 and the Ratification of the Treaty
Conclusion
From the Paper "The evolving question of Lenin's intentions after his coming to power in October of 1917 and of the goals that Lenin strived for before and after the revolution is the essential objective in studying the history of the Peace Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Lenin did not change his focus based on the circumstances, rather he tried to find the most suitable way of fulfilling his goals. Lenin began his struggle for power around 1903. It is not clear whether he needed this power for the victory of the revolution or the revolution was a means for fulfilling his personal ambitions."
Abstract This paper explains that the October Revolution of 1917 was an event that was the culmination of many years of discontent. The author points out that, although it is seen as the major revolution which changed Russia into a socialist country and brought widespread changes to Russia, it was an anti-climactic event that was really the result of many other revolts and uprisings which took place beforehand. The paper relates that, while the October Revolution was not the February Revolution which Lenin hoped for in terms of massive support and uprising by the peasantry, it was a calculated and successful taking over of the government by the Bolsheviks. However, it was not effective in bringing relief to the peasantry because political dissent among the Mensheviks and Bolsheviks ended up in another bloody civil war.
From the Paper "Although most Russians welcomed the end of autocracy; that was the only point on which they agreed. The provisional government had little popular support, and its authority was limited by the Petrograd workers' and soldiers' soviet, which controlled the troops, communications, and transport. The Petrograd Soviet furthered the military breakdown by establishing soldiers' committees throughout the army and making officership elective. Disagreement in the provisional government set the stage for the arrival of Vladimir Lenin who returned to Russia from exile along with other revolutionaries who were exiled by the aristocratic government."
Abstract This paper discusses how Communist ideology and doctrine is based on the teachings of Marx and Engels who advocated that class was the most important determining factor of a person and his position within society. In particular, the paper looks at how Lenin, the Bolsheviks and Marx all had very similar understandings of what communism was and how it should be achieved and how Lenin and the Bolsheviks did depart from traditional Marxist - communist doctrine occasionally, stating that it was important to depart from Marxist ideology in order to ensure the furthering of the communist proletarian revolution.
From the Paper "However the crucial point of communist thought was that it was a revolutionary theory and that the way that this revolution was achieved was of immense importance. Revolutionary politics however had to wait for the right circumstances to arise before a revolution could take place which would overthrow the capitalist system. "Revolutionary politics had to wait for the social forces and economic crises needed to sustain them" . These circumstances however, could not be forced and could only be brought about through an evolutionary process of state development. "Marx wanted a dictatorship which would rest on the support of the main body of industrial workers but would be exercised with this support by a closely knit group of leaders acting under a common discipline" , otherwise known as democratic centralism. Furthermore, he insisted that these leaders must not attempt to force the pace of revolution unduly and must never allow themselves to get out of touch with the movements of working class opinion. "
Abstract This paper explores the role Rasputin the holy man had in the fall of the Romanov Dynasty, and ultimately, the Bolshevik Revolution. The author discusses some of the events leading up to the revolution and examines how Rasputin's involvement impacted them.
From the Paper "Rasputin was the holy man whose presence in the Romanov family caused tension and discomfort among the nobility and Russian peasantry. His uneasy presence and claims of supernatural power were heard by many, but none dared to object to his gloating, for he was the direct line to the king and queen, and the supposed lover of Tsarina Alexandra. His connection to the Tsarina was deep, and he often advised her on matters pertaining to the country. When Rasputin first entered the scene in 1911 from Siberia, the country was on the verge of civil war, as the Revolution of 1905 and the ensuing events had left the Russian country demoralized and debilitated. Rasputin's cult of personality and his actions signified the end of the ruling Romanov dynasty, and the beginning of the Bolshevik ascension to the throne. The fall of the Romanov Dynasty was the indirect result of the problems and strife caused by Rasputin, placing the royal family and the rest of Russia in unrest."
Tags: alexander, bloody, bolshevik, sunday, tsar, society
Abstract This paper examines the political and military atmosphere in Russia at the out break of the Great War, which is also called World War I. It describes a weakened industrialized nation under the Tsarist rule that was unable to reach it full military might and lacked popular support for the war. The paper describes the political affects of emergence of the Bolsheviks during the war, which than lead to the Russian Revolution.
From the Paper "Russia's poor combat performance during the war has become well-known. Different explanations have been offered. The one that was preferred by many ex-tsarist officers who emigrated after the war was that Russia's technological level was not up to that of the rest of the world: "that is, that Russia lacked the technology to manufacture the arms and material needed to prosecute the struggle" (Fuller 38-39). Russia did have a burgeoning industrial sector, but she was still inferior to her neighbors in terms of her output of such commodities as electrical equipment, chemicals, and machine tools. Before the war, Russia's total production of machinery of all kinds filled less than half of her internal demands. Once she had exhausted her stockpile of rifles, bullets, and shells, she was unable to replace them as rapidly as could Germany, which contributed to the German conquest of Poland, Livonia, and much of the Baltic coast. The lack of these goods also added to the demoralization of the troops (Fuller 39)."
Tags: wwi, world, war, i, tsar, russian, revolution, russia, bolsheviks
Abstract This seven-page undergraduate paper explains what Lenin and the Bolsheviks did to the Orthodox Church. They divided the Church to some degree, and seemed to have destroyed it. What they really did was to make it stronger than ever.
Abstract In the wake of the intellectual revolution in China, one major political event developed as a result of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917, namely, the rise of the Communist Party, which played a major role in shaping the course of the contemporary history of China. This paper looks at the challenges faced by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Kuomintang (KMT). It examines the influence of Mao Tse Tung and the international influences of Mao and the CCP. The paper includes a full introduction and conclusion.
From the Paper "Though deeply committed to international communism, Mao and the CCP were national communists at heart and were keenly aware of China's place in the international arena. Most importantly, the Soviet Union promoted China's interests by allowing her to play a major role in the affairs of Asia, one being Peking as the site for the Asian and Australasian Trade Union Conference in 1949. China's relations with other Asian states also reflected her intense drive for leadership in Asia in such countries as Korea and Vietnam. In regard to non-communist states such as India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Burma, Laos and Cambodia, the CCP attempted to neutralize them by expressing a mutual respect for each other's territory and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other's domestic affairs, an equality of relationships and mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence."
Abstract This paper is about a spy operation that the Soviets ran during the mid-1920s. It explains that, to date, it is still one of the most successful counter-intelligence operations ever undertaken by any intelligence agency. It explains how Lenin had most of the world fooled shortly after his Bolshevik revolution. It was the persistence of a few Polish officers that brought the whole operation down.
From the Paper "Lenin turned to Feliks Dzerzhinsky (the creator and chief of the Cheka) to eliminate all internal and external threats and factions. Dzerzhinsky devised a plan named Tres. It was an operation that would infiltrate an anti-Bolshevik, and highly secretive organization; the "Monarchist Union of Central Russia" (MOTsR). The "leader" of the MOTsR organization was Alexander Yakushev. He was a Czarist bureaucrat of the Exploitation Department of Waterways Administration (under the Bolsheviks it was known as the Soviet Waterways Department), who subsequent to the Russian Revolution, was attached with the Narkomat of External Trade."
