‘Bolsheviks success in the October/November 1917 revolution was due to successive
governments’ failure to meet peasant demands from 1891.’ Explain why you agree or
disagree with this view.
As stated in the question, evidently the failure to meet peasant demands was an important
factor towards the Bolsheviks success. However, this factor cannot be viewed as the single
most important as arguably the Bolshevik’s success can be put down to a number of
benefitting factors such as Lenin’s tactics and the Provisional Governments poor leadership.
In agreement with this statement, evidently the government’s failures to meet peasant
demands can be seen to have resulted in the Bolshevik’s success. From 1861, peasantry
discontent continued, firstly with the unsatisfactory emancipation, which had not dealt with
the peasant demand for land as many had received limited allocations and until 1905 were
tied to the Mir with redemption payments, contradicting the idea of increased freedom.
Furthermore, Stolypin’s reforms arguably did not go far enough as although a percentage
did buy land and prospered, many were reduced to landless labours and showed their
discontent in the unrest of 1903 to 1904 in the years of the Red Cockerel. In relation to the
war, peasants resented the conscription and mismanagement and consequently many
deserted to seize land, an action that the Provisional Government appeared powerless to
resolve. This discontent which had accumulated up to 1917, led to the increased Bolshevik’s
peasantry support and the declining Provisional government support. Moreover, Lenin
successfully appealed to the peasants through his April Theses, mentioning the
redistribution of ‘land’. This therefore meant that the peasants were more likely to be
accepting of the October/November revolution, as it appeared that the Bolsheviks were
addressing an important peasantry demand. However, although the failure to meet peasant
demands was a contributing factor, other reasons resulting in the Bolshevik’s success should
also be considered, as it was an accumulation of factors, which enabled the Bolsheviks to
successfully takeover.
Arguably… (preview ends)
governments’ failure to meet peasant demands from 1891.’ Explain why you agree or
disagree with this view.
As stated in the question, evidently the failure to meet peasant demands was an important
factor towards the Bolsheviks success. However, this factor cannot be viewed as the single
most important as arguably the Bolshevik’s success can be put down to a number of
benefitting factors such as Lenin’s tactics and the Provisional Governments poor leadership.
In agreement with this statement, evidently the government’s failures to meet peasant
demands can be seen to have resulted in the Bolshevik’s success. From 1861, peasantry
discontent continued, firstly with the unsatisfactory emancipation, which had not dealt with
the peasant demand for land as many had received limited allocations and until 1905 were
tied to the Mir with redemption payments, contradicting the idea of increased freedom.
Furthermore, Stolypin’s reforms arguably did not go far enough as although a percentage
did buy land and prospered, many were reduced to landless labours and showed their
discontent in the unrest of 1903 to 1904 in the years of the Red Cockerel. In relation to the
war, peasants resented the conscription and mismanagement and consequently many
deserted to seize land, an action that the Provisional Government appeared powerless to
resolve. This discontent which had accumulated up to 1917, led to the increased Bolshevik’s
peasantry support and the declining Provisional government support. Moreover, Lenin
successfully appealed to the peasants through his April Theses, mentioning the
redistribution of ‘land’. This therefore meant that the peasants were more likely to be
accepting of the October/November revolution, as it appeared that the Bolsheviks were
addressing an important peasantry demand. However, although the failure to meet peasant
demands was a contributing factor, other reasons resulting in the Bolshevik’s success should
also be considered, as it was an accumulation of factors, which enabled the Bolsheviks to
successfully takeover.
Arguably… (preview ends)
