Bolsheviks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bolsheviks
Большевики
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| Founder | Vladimir Lenin |
| Founded | 1903 |
| Succeeded by | Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) |
| Newspaper | Pravda |
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| Political position | Far-left |
| National affiliation | Russian Social Democratic Labour Party |
The Bolsheviks were a major political group in Russia. They were led by Vladimir Lenin. The name "Bolshevik" comes from a Russian word meaning "majority." This group was part of the larger Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP). In 1903, they separated from another group called the Mensheviks, whose name meant "minority."
The Bolshevik party officially formed in 1912. They took control of Russia during the October Revolution in 1917. After this, the party changed its name several times. It eventually became known as the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Their main ideas, developed by Lenin, were called Bolshevism.
Lenin believed the party should be small and made of dedicated, full-time revolutionaries. The Mensheviks wanted a larger party with many members. These two groups had different ideas for many years. In 1912, they officially split into two separate parties.
The Bolsheviks followed Lenin's ideas, which focused on a strong, central leadership. Lenin also found various ways to fund the party's work. By 1917, after World War I, Lenin thought Russia was ready for a big change. He believed that poor farmers could join forces with factory workers.
After the February Revolution in 1917, Lenin came back to Russia. He called for the government to be replaced by local councils called "soviets." Many workers joined the Bolsheviks that summer. They then planned the October Revolution, which successfully took over the government.
The Bolsheviks first worked with another group, the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries. However, they soon took more control. During the Russian Civil War, they became the only legal party in Russia. Later, under Joseph Stalin, the party focused on making Russia an industrial and farming power.
Contents
How the Party Split
Lenin's Ideas in What Is to Be Done?
In 1901, Lenin wrote a pamphlet called What Is to Be Done?. This writing helped cause the split between the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks. The book was published in Germany in 1902. However, it was banned in Russia due to strict rules.
Lenin believed that a revolution needed strong, dedicated leaders. These leaders would be professional revolutionaries. They would work to organize the entire country. After the old government was overthrown, this leadership would guide the new socialist party. Lenin thought that without strong leaders, the workers' movement might lose its way.
Lenin's ideas also matched the goal of a classless society. Most party members wanted fair treatment for all workers. They believed in a society where social classes no longer existed. Lenin also disagreed with a group called "Economists." This group wanted economic changes but not a full government overthrow. Lenin felt they did not understand the need to unite all workers.
The Second Party Meeting
In August 1903, the RSDLP held its Second Party Congress. This meeting took place in Brussels and then London. Here, Lenin and Julius Martov had a big disagreement. They argued about who could be a member of the party.
Lenin, supported by Georgi Plekhanov, wanted only full-time, dedicated members. These members would follow the party's leaders completely. Martov, however, wanted to allow anyone who agreed with the party's goals to join. He believed in a wider membership.
Lenin thought his plan would create a strong group of professional revolutionaries. They would work hard to lead a successful revolution against the Russian ruler, the Tsar. Martov, a friend of Lenin, agreed on the need for professional revolutionaries. But he felt the party should be open to more people.
Their differences grew, and the party eventually split. They also disagreed on how the party should be structured. Lenin wanted a very strict and organized party. Other leaders, like Martov and Leon Trotsky, disagreed with this strict approach.
What "Bolshevik" and "Menshevik" Mean
At first, Lenin's supporters were called "hards" and Martov's were "softs." During the 1903 Congress, Lenin's group won most of the important votes. Because of this, they became known as the Bolsheviks. This name comes from the Russian word bolshinstvo, meaning "majority."
Martov's group became known as the Mensheviks. Their name comes from menshinstvo, meaning "minority." Even though Lenin's side won more votes, the Congress was actually quite evenly split.
The Bolsheviks eventually became the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. They took power in Russia during the October Revolution in 1917. They were also known as the "Reds." After winning the Russian Civil War (1917–1922), they helped form the Soviet Union in 1922.
Who Were the Members?
The average age of party members was quite young. In 1907, many Bolsheviks were under 30 years old. Most members were industrial workers. A smaller number were from noble families or were farmers.
In 1907, most Bolsheviks were Russian, and some were Jewish. The Mensheviks had a different mix of members. The number of Bolshevik members grew from 8,400 in 1905 to 46,100 by 1907. The Mensheviks also grew during this time. By 1910, both groups together had fewer than 100,000 members.
The 1905 Revolution
Between 1903 and 1904, members often switched between the two groups. Georgi Plekhanov, a founder of Russian Marxism, first supported Lenin. But he later disagreed with the Bolsheviks. Leon Trotsky also first supported the Mensheviks. He later joined Lenin and the Bolsheviks in 1917.
In 1905, almost all members of the RSDLP Central Committee were arrested. The remaining member sided with the Bolsheviks. The split between the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks became clearer in April 1905. The Bolsheviks held their own meeting in London, calling it the Third Party Congress. The Mensheviks held a separate meeting, making the split final.
The Bolsheviks played a smaller role in the 1905 Russian Revolution. They were a minority in the main workers' council in Saint Petersburg. However, they controlled the Moscow council. These councils, called "Soviets," became important models for future events in 1917.
Attempts at Unity (1906–1910)
As the 1905 Revolution continued, the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks tried to reunite. They met at the Fourth Congress of the RSDLP in April 1906. However, both groups kept their own structures. The Bolsheviks formed a "Bolshevik Centre" to lead their faction. At the Fifth Congress in 1907, the Bolsheviks were the majority. Still, the two groups mostly worked separately.
In January 1910, both groups were weaker due to internal disagreements and government actions. They tried again to reunite at a meeting in Paris. Lenin was against reuniting, but other Bolshevik leaders wanted to try. A temporary agreement was made, but it failed by August 1910.
One reason for the failed unity was the Russian police. Spies from the police worked within both parties. They reported on each group's plans and disagreements. This kept tensions high and made it harder for them to unite.
Forming a Separate Party (1912)
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The two groups permanently separated in January 1912. The Bolsheviks held their own meeting in Prague. They officially removed Mensheviks from their party. They then declared themselves an independent party. It was called the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (Bolsheviks), or RSDLP(b). People often just called it the Bolshevik Party.
Over time, the party changed its name several times. In 1918, it became the All-Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks). From 1925 to 1952, it was the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks). Finally, from 1952 to 1991, it was known as the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
The Bolsheviks and Mensheviks also had different ways of funding their activities. The Mensheviks relied on membership fees. Lenin's group needed more money for their full-time revolutionaries. They used various methods to get funds. Lenin paid his dedicated revolutionaries salaries for their hard work. He also used party money to print pamphlets and spread their ideas. Both groups also received donations from wealthy supporters.
As World War I approached, more differences appeared. Joseph Stalin hoped the war would lead to a conflict between social classes in Russia. Lenin believed that workers and farmers would resist the war. He thought they would then join the socialist movement. This would force Russia to leave the war and deal with its internal problems. However, Lenin's predictions were not entirely correct.
Even though the Bolshevik leaders decided to form a separate party, it was hard to convince all pro-Bolshevik workers in Russia to follow. Eventually, the Bolsheviks formed their own group within the Russian parliament in September 1913.
The Bolsheviks were very determined to reach their goals. Lenin was also willing to change political plans if it meant long-term benefits for the party. For example, they promised peasants and uneducated workers a better life after the revolution.
Bolshevik leaders like Anatoly Lunacharsky and Moisei Uritsky believed Lenin had a huge impact on the party. However, they noted that the October Revolution followed Leon Trotsky's plan more closely than Lenin's.
The Term "Bolshevik" in Other Ways
Sometimes, the word "Bolshevik" was used in a negative way. British soldiers fighting in Russia during the Russian Civil War called them "Bolo." Later, leaders like Adolf Hitler used the term to criticize the worldwide communist movement.
During the Cold War in the United Kingdom, some people used "Bolshies" to insult trade union leaders or left-wing individuals. This was similar to how "commie" or "Red" was used in the United States. Over time, "Bolshie" also became a slang term for anyone who was rebellious or difficult.
See also
In Spanish: Bolchevique para niños
- Left Socialist-Revolutionaries
- Leninism
- Marxism–Leninism
- Old Bolsheviks
- Soviet Revolutionary Communists (Bolsheviks)
- Trotskyism
- Vikzhel negotiations
