Outline the distinctive features of the major political groups vying for power in Russia in 1917 - What was it about the Bolsheviks which enabled them to take power?

The first 200 words of this essay...

Outline the distinctive features of the major political groups vying for power in Russia in 1917. What was it about the Bolsheviks which enabled them to take power?

Scope

This essay will detail the major political groups during the first and second revolutions of 1917 and their various ideas and approaches and will demonstrate why it was the Bolsheviks who ultimately gained power over the others. I will not analyse how the Bolsheviks consolidated their power after although it is none-the-less important.

Introduction

1917 was a year of immense upheaval in Russian Politics and History. It saw the embryonic stages of a new system of government that the world had never before seen, and would ultimately have a large impact on world events and politics. It is necessary to chronicle, briefly, the events of the early part of the year to set the basis for the essay.

January and February saw waves of industrial unrest across Russia, particularly in cities such as the then-capital Petrograd. Around 670,000 workersi went on strike across Russia, with around 80-100,000 in Petrograd alone, 15,000 coming from the Putilov Factory. To make matters worse bread shortages began on February 19,