This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Jeronimo (talk | contribs) at 14:02, 28 July 2002. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 14:02, 28 July 2002 by Jeronimo (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (April 22, 1870 - January 21, 1924) who used the alias Lenin, was a Russian revolutionary, first leader of the Soviet Union and the namesake of Leninism. Born in Simbirsk, Russia and died in Gorki, Soviet Union after a series of strokes resulting from an assassination attempt. His embalmed body is on permanent exhibition in Moscow.
Lenin was the son of a civil service official, and distinguished himself in the study of Latin and Greek. In May of 1887 his eldest brother Alexander was hanged for for participation in a plot on the life of Tsar Alexander III. This radicallized Lenin and later that year he was arrested, and expelled from Kazan University for participating in student protests. He continued to study independently and by 1892 he gained a license to practise law.
However, rather that settle into a legal career he became more involved in propaganda efforts, and the study of Marxism, much of it in St. Petersburg. On Dec. 7 1895 he was arrested and held by authorities for an entire year, followed by exile to Siberia.
In July of 1898 he marriest N.K. Krupskaya and in April of 1899 he publishes the book The Development of Capitalism in Russia. In 1900 his exile ends. He travelled in Russia and Europe, and published the paper Iskra as well as other tracts and books related to the movement.
He is active in the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party (RSDLP), and in 1903 he leads the Bolshevik faction after the split with the Mensheviks in 1903 that was partly inspired by his pamphlet What is to be Done?. In 1906 he is elected to the Presidium of the RSDLP. In 1907 he moves to Finland for security reasons. He continues to travel in Europe and partipate in many socialist meetings and activities.
In 1917 he returns to Petrograd after Czar Nicholas II abdicates and takes a leading role with the Bolsheviks publishing the April Theses. After a failed Bolshevik uprising in July Lenin flees to Finland, and returns in October to successfully lead an armed coup against the Kerensky provisional government.
A Soviet government is formed with Lenin as Chairman. In August of 1918 he survives a failed assassination attempt by Fanny Kaplan.
In 1921, on Lenin's initiative, the New Economic Policy (NEP) was adopted, allowing a limited amount of private enterprise in an attempt to rebuild industry and especially agriculture.
In May of 1922 Lenin has his first stroke. His role in government declines and in after a second stroke in December the Politburo order that he be kept in isolation. In March of 1923 he suffers a third stroke and is no longer able to speak and dies of a fourth stroke in January of 1924.
After his first stroke he published a number of papers indicating future directions for the government and critisizing Stalin; however, some of these were suprressed for decands and after his death Stalin gained control the party.
Lenin was known for his great intellect, his modesty and was not given to personal excess. Was he was kind in personal matters, he was hard willed in political matters and was not above exiling, imprisoning and executing thinkers and artists who opposed his regime.
See also: Russian Revolution, Joseph Stalin, Lenin Peak, Communism
Links: