He had three main aims/plans in the theses to aid life for the Russian lower classes which became the motto: “Peace, Bread and Land”. He offered long term peace and no war, food for peasants to eat and sell, and equal amounts of land each so that all could produce something to sell and earn a living.
A few weeks later, Lenin, now the real keystone to the intimidating Bolsheviks, had won support Germany who was keen on his views. The German’s had heard of Lenin’s April Theses and liked his aims. This was because Germany had seen that Lenin wanted to pull out of the war, which was a good thing for the Germans as it meant that their opposition (Britain, France, etc.) would lose a powerful ally. Germany offered to fund the Bolsheviks to mount their publicity campaigns.
Also, the speech had won the support of or increased the support of many peasants and workers throughout the nation. It created many people who had become dedicated to the revolution ideas. These people formed an army under the control of Leon Trotsky. They were known as the “Red Guard” (Red being the colour of the Bolshevik flag) and gave the Bolsheviks the military power to win a war. Because Lenin made sure that the army was run with strict control and because he demanded complete obedience of his men, the troops were well disciplined and organised.
The famous slogans “Peace, Bread, Land” and “All Power to the Soviets” won the publics support as the Bolsheviks promised to provide what they offered. Their arguments were believed too complicated for people to understand and so commoners just stuck with the Bolshevik’s slogans.
Lenin’s return to the country after the Tsar was overthrown, and his April Theses had helped the Bolsheviks success in the 1917 October Revolution. His speeches had inspired thousands to stand up and join the Bolsheviks to win a better future for them. Workers, military members from the navy, air force and peasants along with various other classes all joined and helped fight for a better tomorrow for all Russian people. The Provisional Government was failing, and since overthrowing the Tsar, had achieved little to help solve the country’s problems after the February 1917 revolution. Lenin was a brilliant leader for the Bolsheviks. He was a professional revolutionary with an iron will, he was ruthless, a brilliant speaker, and a good planner with one particular aim which would provide the country with so much more – to overthrow the government. He was the forefront for the Bolsheviks and promoted them greatly. The Bolsheviks, extremely well led, and who now had a strong fit army, had several aims to help the country’s people, had plans to set about a greater future for Russia and financial support of a strong foreign country, all thanks to their leader’s great public speeches, and campaign. If it had not been for Lenin, the Bolsheviks would be slacking in some of the above categories, or not achieving what was desired. This almost certainly shows that Lenin was in fact extremely important to the 1917 revolution, because of the power that he brought and gave the Bolsheviks.
