Lenin's Role in History

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Kate Manson

G.C.S.E History Coursework

Lenin’s Role in History

How important was Lenin to the success of the October 1917 Revolution?

The October Revolution, also known as the Bolshevik Revolution happened on October 25 1917. It was the second phase of the overall Russian Revolution of 1917, following the February Revolution that took place earlier that year. The October Revolution was very successful, as it overthrew the Provisional Government and gave all power over Russia to the Bolsheviks. But to whom could this great success be attributed? How important was Lenin? Historians have argued over this question for many years. In this essay I will be exploring Lenin’s ability as a leader and his actions and how they contributed to the Revolution, along with other factors that I consider important.

Lenin gave powerful speeches that motivated the people of Russia and persuaded them to want to follow Lenin and his ideas. It was clear that Lenin was a great demagogue and he was able to appeal to the passions and prejudices of his audience. He also showed this in his writing. When he published his April Theses, which he wrote during a train journey, it turned out to be the most significant work produced by Lenin during his career. It showed how Lenin was ready for action and in these writings he urged a revolt against the provisional Government and the transfer of power to the Soviets. These documents armed the Party and working class of Russia with a concrete plan of struggle for the transition from the bourgeois-democratic revolution into a socialist one. In April 1917 Lenin was lifted onto a car and riled the people up with his art of public speaking. He concluded his short speech with the flaming words: "Long live the socialist revolution!”. His speeches excited the people, which was significant to the Revolution as everyone was ready for action. Lenin’s message of ‘Peace, Bread and Land’ was just what the people of Russia wanted.

The precise roles of Lenin and Trotsky in the October Revolution have been debated and the subject of considerable propaganda. The facts, however, are clear. It was Trotsky who proposed the organisation of a Military Revolutionary Committee from the Petrograd Soviet, and it was this committee which organized and led the coup d’etat which seized control of the Winter Palace and other key points in the capital. Lenin approved of Trotsky’s plan. Trotsky planned and organized how the Bolsheviks seized power. Could Lenin still be described as a good leader? It is clear that Trotsky was a better leader than Lenin. The Organisation of the Bolshevik troops- the Red Guards- was brilliant as they were well trained and ruthless.

Many believe that Lenin’s role in the coup was not crucial. Indeed, the Central Committee ordered him to stay in hiding. However he went against these orders and made his own decision to travel by tram to the Smolny Institute. But as armed units of the Red Guard occupied their designated spots in Petrograd, Lenin waited in the Smolny. It was Trotsky who directed most of the operations. It was also Trotsky’s idea to use the Congress as a cover to seize power and to claim it was all done for the Soviet. Eventually, after the arrest of the Provisional Government, Lenin appeared at the Second Congress of Soviets and announced the success of the Revolution. Yet it had been down to Trotsky that the coup had been a success. Lenin had not appreciated Trotsky’s suggestion of getting the Petrograd Soviet to authorise the coup but now Lenin reaped the benefits of his actions.

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Also I think that the victory of the revolution would not have been achieved as easily had it not been for the downfall of the Provisional Government. They were not well prepared at all. They did not have a good army, which was made up of women and war invalids. This army could not stand up to the Bolshevik army who were mostly fit, young men. They were only armed with light artillery and no machine guns. Also, the provisional Government had lost a lot of its support so when it was attacked no one tried to help it.

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