Lenin- political theory, background, character and return to Russia

Question 1

upbringing

Answer 1

middle-class family
older brother hanged for the attempted assassination of Alex III
father civil servant- achieved the rank of noble
university-educated

Question 2

political theories and idelogies

Answer 2

a committed follower of Marx
revolution through small vanguard party
working class revolution of workers.
belonged to Social democrat party before Bolshevik menshevik split

Question 3

1905 revolution- Lenin’s role

Answer 3

complete surprise

bolshevik leaders in various exile and out of russia

Question 4

view on war

Answer 4

welcomed outbreak of first world war - believed social and economic demands would lead to socialist revolutions across Europe

Question 5

major writings

Answer 5

‘What is to be done?’ 1902-advocated for vanguard party -took the title from novel he read about professional revolutionaries
‘Imperialism, the highest state of capitalism’ 1916- marxist explanation of outbreak of ww1- he belived capitalism led to monopolies who force the gov to war to gain more power. he had russia in mind as capitalisms weakest link

Question 6

Lenin returns to Russia

Answer 6

1917- exile in Zurich
received permission from germans to travel across germany to sweden
3 April- arrived at Petrograd- condemned the prov gov

Question 7

The April Theses

Answer 7

3 April 1917 
Peace, Land and Bread
All power to the soviets 
stated:
-end war immdediately 
-no support for prov gov 
-abolish police, army and bureaucracy
-confiscate land