"The goal of socialism is communism." - Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Lenin was born and raised in Simbrisk, Russia. April 20th, 1870 was the date of his birth into his well educated family. Starting at age, he loved school and greatly excelled at his studies. When his father died he was severely traumatized emotionally. After his father's death began to act erratically and confrontational. Tragedy struck again in Lenin's life when the government executed his brother for conspiracy to kill the Tsar.
Young Adult Life and Radicalism
Lenin left Simbrisk with his mother to go to Kazan University. Here Lenin was exposed to many radical ideas and movements. Spurred on by his brothers radical ideas, Lenin began to take an interest in the very same radical beliefs. At Kazan, Lenin joined the People's Freedom Party, a radical group poised against the government. After becoming a very active member in the group, he was arrested and expelled from the university. The police also exiled him to live in Kokushino where he read many communist documents and books. His mother who strongly disliked Lenin radicalism, she requested him be able to study abroad to finish his schooling. Her request was denied, but they let him return to Kazan where he began to get back involved in the radical scene. Lenin soon began to study Marx and soon after finished college at the University of Saint Petersburg.
Politcal Activism
"No amount of political freedom will satisfy the hungry masses." - Lenin
"When one makes a Revolution, one cannot mark time; one must always go forward - or go back. He who now talks about the 'freedom of the press' goes backward, and halts our headlong course towards Socialism." - Lenin
"When one makes a Revolution, one cannot mark time; one must always go forward - or go back. He who now talks about the 'freedom of the press' goes backward, and halts our headlong course towards Socialism." - Lenin
February Revolution
When revolution broke out in Russia, Lenin was in exile in Switzerland. Lenin was sent there due to revolutionary activities in the early 1900's. When the word of revolution finally trickled to Switzerland, Lenin knew immediately that he had to return to lead the riots. In February of 1917, Europe was in the middle of World War I, making it almost impossible for Lenin to return to his homeland because Switzerland was completely surrounded by the major warring countries. Lenin had no access to the water, air travel wasn't much of an option at the time, and Lenin would have to cross through Germany or Austria-Hungary, both enemies of the Russians, to get to Russia by land. The Germans were in processes with the Provisional Government for the Germans to send Russian exiles in in Switzerland in-return for POW's that Russia has captured. The talks between between Germany and Russia weren't going anywhere so a Swiss Communist went to the German Ambassador to get permission to send off Lenin, it was granted.Lenin and other exiles were secured in a sealed carriage cart on a train and were sent to Russia. The goal of the Germans was to make unrest in Russia so the Russian army would no longer pose a problem to the German's war goals. Lenin finally got to the motherland on April, his train pulled into Petrograd. Lenin was greeted by a group of workers, Soviets, and soldiers he addressed the crowd saying, "The piratical imperialist war is the beginning of civil war throughout Europe ... The world-wide Socialist revolution has already dawned ... Germany is seething ... Any day now the whole of European capitalism may crash ... Sailors, comrades, we have to fight for a socialist revolution, to fight until the proletariat wins full victory! Long live the worldwide socialist revolution"
When revolution broke out in Russia, Lenin was in exile in Switzerland. Lenin was sent there due to revolutionary activities in the early 1900's. When the word of revolution finally trickled to Switzerland, Lenin knew immediately that he had to return to lead the riots. In February of 1917, Europe was in the middle of World War I, making it almost impossible for Lenin to return to his homeland because Switzerland was completely surrounded by the major warring countries. Lenin had no access to the water, air travel wasn't much of an option at the time, and Lenin would have to cross through Germany or Austria-Hungary, both enemies of the Russians, to get to Russia by land. The Germans were in processes with the Provisional Government for the Germans to send Russian exiles in in Switzerland in-return for POW's that Russia has captured. The talks between between Germany and Russia weren't going anywhere so a Swiss Communist went to the German Ambassador to get permission to send off Lenin, it was granted.Lenin and other exiles were secured in a sealed carriage cart on a train and were sent to Russia. The goal of the Germans was to make unrest in Russia so the Russian army would no longer pose a problem to the German's war goals. Lenin finally got to the motherland on April, his train pulled into Petrograd. Lenin was greeted by a group of workers, Soviets, and soldiers he addressed the crowd saying, "The piratical imperialist war is the beginning of civil war throughout Europe ... The world-wide Socialist revolution has already dawned ... Germany is seething ... Any day now the whole of European capitalism may crash ... Sailors, comrades, we have to fight for a socialist revolution, to fight until the proletariat wins full victory! Long live the worldwide socialist revolution"
April Theses and October Revolution
Lenin's April Theses called for the second step of the revolution, destroying the Provisional peoples republic and replacing it with the a government run by the poorest class of the people. Lenin was presented an opportunity to make it happen in the October of that year. Lenin was exiled from Russia again, to Finland for supporting revolutionary riots. After the country lost faith in the Provisional Government, they voted many Bolsheviks into the Soviets all around the country giving Lenin footing to return to Russia. Lenin returned in early October, from October 6th to 8th he planned the overthrow of the government. From the 7th to the 8th they stormed the winter palace, establishing the Bolshevik government.
Lenin's April Theses called for the second step of the revolution, destroying the Provisional peoples republic and replacing it with the a government run by the poorest class of the people. Lenin was presented an opportunity to make it happen in the October of that year. Lenin was exiled from Russia again, to Finland for supporting revolutionary riots. After the country lost faith in the Provisional Government, they voted many Bolsheviks into the Soviets all around the country giving Lenin footing to return to Russia. Lenin returned in early October, from October 6th to 8th he planned the overthrow of the government. From the 7th to the 8th they stormed the winter palace, establishing the Bolshevik government.
"All power to the Soviets" - Lenin
Later Life and Death
Lenin headed this New Government for the rest of his life. He established an all Soviet Congress for this new government. Not everyone agreed with this new regime in Russia and opposition revolutionists attempted Lenin's life twice. Lenin also initiated a civil war against the anit-Bolshevik whites, his red Bolshevik army won the civil war. Lenin lead his Socialist government until he died of syphilis on January 24th, 1924.