ams of nothing but revolution. (Tybursky 182) Placing revolution above party unity, Lenin would accept no unity compromise if he thought it might delay, not accelerate the revolution. This makes it quite apparent that without Lenin; there may have not been a revolution. He clearly pushed its commencement.Ten years in exile had not swayed Lenin?s determination to create and direct a powerful revolution. Lenin returned to Russia from exclusion in February 1917, believing that the time was ripe to seize power. The Russian economy was in ruin after the army was nearly defeated and the people exhausted as a result of the First World War. The country was in an unstable state, suitable for a revolution (Levinthal 119). Around October 20, Lenin, in disguise and at considerable personal risk, slipped into Petrograd and attended a secret meeting of the Bolshevik Central Committee held on the evening of October 23. Not until after a heated 10-hour debate did he finally win a majority in favour of preparing an armed takeover. Now steps to enlist the support of soldiers and sailors and to train the Red Guards, the Bolshevik-led workers' militia, for an armed takeover proceeded openly under the guise of self-defense of the Petrograd Soviet. Even at great personal risk, Lenin was adamant in spurring a successful revolution.November 7 and 8, the Bolshevik-led Red Guards and revolutionary soldiers and sailors, under the authoritative direction of Lenin, deposed the Provisional Government meeting only slight resistance. They then proclaimed that state power had passed into the hands of the Soviets. The Bolsheviks with their allies constituted an absolute majority of the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets. The delegates voted overwhelmingly to and elect Lenin as chairman of the Council of People's Commissars, the new Soviet Government. Overnight, Lenin had vaulted from his hideout as a fugitive to head the Revolutionary government of the...
