StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

The Bolshevik Revolution - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
From the paper "The Bolshevik Revolution" it is clear that generally, the French Revolution was superior in terms of long-lasting goals. The Russians had numerous powerful strategies and actions that were not past the 1930’s, which left the nation broken…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER93.5% of users find it useful
The Bolshevik Revolution
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "The Bolshevik Revolution"

QN. 11. THE BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION I defend the assertion that the Bolshevik Revolution also referred to as the Russian Revolution has significant similarities and dissimilarities to the French revolution. To the history of the world, it remains one of the most essential revolutions. I will personally place it in the third place after the French and American revolutions. The Russian Revolution bears close resemblance to the French Revolution; both these two revolutions were in opposition to economic oppression. To add to this, the Russian Revolution just like the French revolution started as a rebellion against undemocratic principles. Fundamentally, in the 20th century Russia was an exceedingly subjugated country managed by the Czars. Ruled by feudal tenets of dictatorship, the citizens’ of Russia were terribly oppressed, cold, poor, and starving, in addition they had no authentic course or hope. In essence, Russia had never undergone any open-minded revolutions, which were occurring in other parts of the globe. This made Russia remain as one of the real last remnants of the medieval European-American society. The rebels through acts of rebellion, revolutionist, and terrorism overthrew the Czars government. To start with, the Bolsheviks and Lenin were outside Russia when the revolution took place. Some of them were Russians while others were not Russians. They were socialists and Marxists revolutionaries existing in Europe studying sociology, science, economics, history, and many more from a Marxist viewpoint. The Bolsheviks did not necessitate the removal from power of the Russian government, after the coup, they came in with the intention of putting Marxist hypothesis and ideology to practice. Their major plan was to develop Russia into a social state through social revolution and spread their ideologies to Europe, America and eventually the whole world (Wiesner-Hanks & Wheeler 2007, 67). This portrays a major difference between the French revolution and the Russian revolution. Foreigners played a major role in the Russian revolution while only the French participated in the French revolution. Eventually, the Bolsheviks managed to overthrow the residual powers of Czars authoritarianism in October revolution. They began reforms through establishing legislative assemblies called the Soviets. The same way the French came up with representative units called the constituencies. These soviets consisted of openly elected officials who were in charge of the affaires of the citizens including peasants, soldiers, and workers. To add to that, they launched attacks on private belongings and other social and economic crimes to the population that angered the rest of the world. In addition, they publicized all the surreptitious files that were contained in the government archives. They also, exposed all the clandestine treaties that the former government had prepared with a variety of neighboring states. They were doing this to please their public and brainwash their thinking, that their form of governance was open, independent, and straightforward. This compares to the democratic governance system established by the French after they threw out the monarch system of government in the French revolution. Furthermore, Pipes (1996, 87) goes ahead to say, these types of actions by the Bolsheviks’ only gravitated international pressure and resistance to the Russian authorities. At the end of World War I, more than twenty countries across the world including America, and Europe began sustaining the counteraction of the revolution in Russia attempting to topple the Bolshevik administration. Russia entered a period of civil war, now with the Whites and the Reds. Leon Trotsky led the Red soldiers’ while the Czars supported by external countries like the America led the White army. The Reds took a direction known as War Communism, which in simple terms mean to be additionally authoritarian and extremely militant as a self-protective measure. The same way Napoleon Bonaparte usurped the dictatorial system of government after brainwashing the public of being a democrat and transparent transformational leader. To add to that, according to Trotsky (1980, 113) he further illustrates that, Woodrow Wilson, by then the American president sent 12,000 soldiers to help the White army fight then Red army. Fascinatingly, the American soldiers suffered greater casualties from the White army than the Red army. The American army commanders in the battlefield said that the Czarist supremacy of terror was too terrific and destabilizing the proceedings of the Red army. American soldiers also found out that a grater majority of the Russians sympathized with the Bolsheviks, in this regard supported the revolution. American soldiers went back home at the end of the war, without any appreciation. This military project was well thought-out as one of the mainly unfortunate interventions of American troops that ever took place in the American History. Major General Graves who led the American troops was blamed for being a Red supporter and was generally dishonored back home. Argumentatively, Napoleon in the French revolution blamed the resistance to the revolution in the neighboring countries supporting the monarch. Moreover, D’Agostino (2010, 79) says that, several things emerged from this struggle, among them; Russia was unable to undergo a social revolution, which according to Marxist theory, Russia would foremost set up a capitalist system to expand its economy. The contrasting view was that a socialist state ought to be forced upon Russia and that it is supposed to lead by example. Stalin was an enthusiastic supporter of this-national socialism, which contradicted opinions of a majority of the Bolsheviks, including Trotsky and Lenin, two of the chief leaders in the Bolshevik Revolution. The Marxist supposition of socialism stated that, socialism would not be probable in a solitary state, but that it required a worldwide revolution to make sure that all states worked together in order to sustain each other through collective resources, labor and supply services and goods to satisfy all the demands of their people and citizens. This affirmed the fundamental similarity to the French revolution, due to the expansionist tendencies of Napoleon Bonaparte military strategy. In this regard, this was the most fundamental similarity in ideologies between the two revolutions. To support my views further, Figes ( 1998, 167) gives an account that, in 1921, Lenin was shot but not killed by a woman known as Fanya Kaplan, a socialist who thought that Lenin had betrayed their struggle by not promoting socialism. As Lenin’s physical health deteriorated, Stalin by then the General Secretary began building his influence in the party. Stalin began replacing his political enemies in the Soviets’ and took a dictatorial position. At this point, Lenin tried getting the assistance of Leon Trotsky in opposing Stalin but was in vain. Stalin had by then consolidated enough power. Before his death from a stroke in 1924, Lenin had warned the Russians against the headship of Stalin and proposed that the Soviets become more democratic and open. Napoleon engaged the same methods as Stalin in the management of government affairs in the formative stages of their leadership, that of being democratic and transparent. In 1928, Stalin’s first five-year roadmap went into effect. Under his control, fast industrialization took place. Although, he was an authoritative leader, the developments that took place in Russia during his reign shocked the world. The same thing happened in France, when Napoleon initiated developmental projects that improved the livelihood of their citizens. However, the 17th Soviet Congress of the 1928 voted out Stalin’s leadership. He managed to steal the votes although Sergei Kirov had won the elections. He went further and murdered Kirov and other 1300 members of the 17th Congress who were entirely communists. He also eventually assassinated Leon Trotsky while in exile in Mexico. Russian considered Stalin a deserter of socialist revolution, while the French referred to Napoleon as a traitor of democratic principles later on in his leadership. In addition, according to Pipes (1991, 45) the Russian Revolution just like the French Revolution, the clergy and the churches supported the Czars of Russia. This was because of a cordial relationship among the Russian Orthodox and the Czars; just the same, way there was a good relationship between the Catholic Church and the French Crown preceding the French Revolution. Furthermore, more similarities are seen, because, the two scenarios had their beginning in a main new political principle, which had different mythical heroes for the Russian Communism it was Karl Marx while for the French Republicanism it was Voltaire. Both revolutions find their force in peasant classes who were struggling to make ends meet in corrupt and undemocratic governments. In both cases, the civil turbulence aimed at monarchy itself, which was living a luxurious lifestyle while the rest of the population was in abject poverty. The following blood-spattered aftermath, was atrocious and spared nobody including the royal family. In the two revolutions, both leaders are very intelligent politicians. Stalin in Russia and Napoleon in France, both managed to quietly usurp authoritarian leadership without a representative form of government being elected. Both leaders have good military strategies as they managed to overthrow the previous regimes without much difficulty. Without a radiant leader the French Republic would have been easily defeated, the same applies to Stalin in Russia. Nevertheless, the two revolutions have several differences in terms of citizenship, religion, and role of women in the community. The Russian Revolution in 1917 was more radical as compared to the French Revolution. In the Russian Revolution women rights was a huge worry to the Bolsheviks’ as compared to the French Revolution. This struggle culminated just a year after the Bolsheviks ascended to power in 1918 by submitting a brand new family code, which helped protect families and women, a policy never seen anywhere else in the entire globe that time (Coffin & Stacey 2009 85-87). The family code had everything from divorce, marriage, abortion; alimony, land privileges and most uniquely stated that women’s social rights were equivalent to that of men. If you compare it to the French Revolution, citizenship and other benefits accorded to the men because they were the soldiers who took part in the struggle. In sum, the Bolshevik Revolution in the provisions of religion was additionally thorough because it looked for the deep-seated power structure in the church and condemned the religious institutions that were corrupt while at the same time carrying out structural adjustments in the institutions framework. In France, a limited effort was used, to tame and intimidate the church, which only brought anger and chaos. In conclusion, the French Revolution was superior in terms of long lasting goals. The Russians had numerous powerful strategies and actions that were not passed the 1930’s, which left the nation broken. The French had inadequate ideas but they continued building up in the coming years, and they ended up having the best long-term strategies, which have even contributed to the modern world today. However, acknowledgement of the importance and contributions of the Russian Revolution to civilization and the entire history of the globe is undeniable. Bibliography Coffin, Judith and Stacey, Robert. Western Civilization. New York: W.W Norton & Company, 2009. D’Agostino, Anthony. The Russian Revolution, 1917-1945. Weston Connecticut: Praeger, 2010. Figes, Orlando. A People’s Tragedy: The Russian Revolution: 1991-1924. London: Penguin, 1998. Fitzpatrick, Sheila. The Russian Revolution. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008. Pipes, Richard. The Russian Revolution. New York: Vintage; 1st Vintage Books, 1991. Pipes, Richards. A Concise History of the Russian Revolution. New York: Vintage, 1996. Trotsky, Leon. History of the Russian Revolution. Chicago: Pathfinder, 1980. Wiesner-Hanks, Merry and Wheeler, Bruce. Discovering the Western Past: Look at the Evidence, Volume II, Since 1500. Wardsworth Publisher, 2007. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 14”, n.d.)
History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 14. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1586030-history
(History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words - 14)
History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words - 14. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1586030-history.
“History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words - 14”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1586030-history.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF The Bolshevik Revolution

Why did the Cold War not escalate into full-scale war between the USA and the USSR

To be precise, the cold war started in 1917 immediately after The Bolshevik Revolution and ended in 1989 after the break up of USSR.... The actual cause of the cold war was The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917.... After the end of the second word war in 1945, the world was divided on the basis of political ideology....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia

The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia Name: Institution: The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia otherwise referred to as the Red October, or October Uprising was a politically motivated revolution, which took place in 1917.... Bolsheviks, who used their power in the Petrograd Soviets to gain support from the armed forces, successfully propagated The Bolshevik Revolution.... The Bolshevik Revolution came at a time when Russia was at the brick of collapsing under its numerous problems occasioned by its leadership (Litvin 2001, 49)....
8 Pages (2000 words) Research Paper

The nature of the Bolshevik takeover in October 1917

However there are others like (A) who offer a very weak interpretation of the events that perpetuated in The Bolshevik Revolution of October 1917 and hence does not add anything substantial to the debate on the role of the failure of the provisional government in the rise of the Bolsheviks.... “The Bolsheviks were the principal beneficiaries of the Kornilov crisis, winning their first majority in the Petrograd Soviet on 31 August” shows that (C) simply links the Kornilov crisis with the Bolsheviks winning the Petrograd Soviet; as also does, “in party-political terms, the prime beneficiary of this reaction to the Kornilov affair was the bolshevik party” in (D)....
6 Pages (1500 words) Coursework

What Caused the Failure of Communism in Russia

Communism first made its impact to the full in Russia after The Bolshevik Revolution.... ommunism made its grand entrance to the world in Russia after The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917.... Collectivisation of agriculture, prohibition of opposition and all basic freedoms including freedom of the press and religion and propaganda were the order of the bolshevik rule and all facets of life whether political, social, economic or cultural were under tight Communism grip....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

Marxist philosophy

The Bolshevik Revolution, led by Lenin and compatriots, adopted this philosophy to address oppression of the large Russian peasantry at the hand of the Tsar regime.... The Bolshevik Revolution.... Finally, the paper will study the actual implementation of the theory in practice by Vladimir Lenin in the 1917 Russian bolshevik revolution.... The main argument is that means of production affect all Marxist Philosophy: 1917 Russian revolution 25th March Marxist Philosophy: 1917 Russian revolution This paper defines Marxistphilosophy as propounded by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in theoretical analysis of society....
1 Pages (250 words) Assignment

French and Bolshevik Revolution

This essay shall critically evaluate various facets of both French Revolution and bolshevik revolution in an attempt to establish whether they really improved the lives of women.... ears before the onset of bolshevik revolution, women had no voice in the Soviet Union.... Before the revolution, the Soviet women were treated as typical housewives whose roles were only limited to the domestics chores.... he French revolution that began in 1790 was marred with...
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

To What Extent is the Bolshevik Revolution of November 1917 a Turning Point in the Development of Modern Russia

"To What Extent is The Bolshevik Revolution of November 1917 a Turning Point in the Development of Modern Russia" paper analyses why 1917 was such an important turning point in Russian history and investigates and analyzes major turning points between 1856 and 1964.... The Bolshevik Revolution paved the way for the establishment of the U.... and this essay aims to answer the question, to what extent is The Bolshevik Revolution of November 1917 a key turning point in the development of modern Russia in the years 1856-1964?...
6 Pages (1500 words) Coursework

Propaganda and Foreign Policy

The focus of the paper "Propaganda and Foreign Policy" is on The Bolshevik Revolution, the propaganda machine the effects and factors that make propagandas effective, Authoritarian propaganda, Democratic propaganda, Neutrality vs.... ccording to Claire (2003), The Bolshevik Revolution succeeded as a result of seven main factors.... Once they were in power, the upper leadership of the bolshevik government had to somehow try and tell the world that the great symbol of freedom and liberation of the Russian people had somehow grown into a force that needed to be stopped....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us