Monday, May 18, 2020

Poverty And Poverty America s Income Inequality

The view that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer has been heard repeatedly in reference to America’s income inequality. Though ironic, it comes as no surprise that America, a continent that easily trumps other countries in terms of wealth would be affected by the issue of poverty at such high levels. While much has said regarding the poverty levels, many economists, educators and scholars feel that the income inequality in America may be the reason why it is difficult to live and maintain a middle class lifestyle or to rise out of poverty into the middle class in the current economic state. With this in mind, the only way America, has a chance of lessening or eliminating poverty altogether is by understanding how it exists. A key factor to understanding how poverty exists is to understand what it does to the victim’s brain. The conditions that come with living in poverty such as overcrowding and exposure to violence can affect a developing brain negatively in the same way drugs or alcohol does. The stress that comes with living in poverty during childhood has over time led people into depression and certain forms of addiction in their adulthood. According to Ostrander, â€Å"poverty perpetuates poverty, generation after generation, by acting on the brain.† The maternal stress response system is a very crucial thing to the development of a child’s brain and may crumble under pressure, releasing certain hormones that affect its development. While some children are able toShow MoreRelatedPoverty Between Poverty And Poverty831 Words   |  4 PagesPoverty line is a level of personal or family income below which one is classified as poor according to governmental standards. Generally, a person who falls below this line is without any basic needs like food, shelter, clothing etc. Every government strives to reduce the number of poor people in the country. The poverty line should be defined in such a way that no needy person is left out. Around the world, in rich or poor nations, poverty has always been present. It’s a very important tool inRead MoreSocial Class As A Way That Constrains Someone s Life Chances And Opportunities For Social Mobility1395 Words   |  6 Pages America is a country that has been founded on the myth of equality and opportunity. The â€Å"Horatio Alger† myth, which states that people who work hard will survive and thrive in America, has passed away to the notion of generational privilege (Alger, 1910). Economic inequality absolutely exists in America today, and the social class into which an individual is born affects their life chances and opportunities for social mobility to a stunning and upsetting degree. In this essay, I will argue thatRead MoreThe Education and Healthcare Gap1686 Words   |  7 Pagesconcerning the relative equality or inequality in America. Over the past one hundred years, we have seen a sizable shift toward equality in the legal rights of minorities. However, this legal equality is undermined by a pervasive and broadening socioeconomic inequality, especially in regards to healthcare and education. These issues disproportionately affect minorities. This paper will first touch on two other types of inequality: civic and income. Then it will move into how healthcareRead MoreThe Poverty Of The United States1486 Words   |  6 PagesAmerica is one of the wealthiest nations in the world with having a high inequality than other industrialized countries. Inequality exists in income, wealth, power and education. People who are legally and socially poor in the United States tend to stay in a cycle through life, not always by choice, but because they are given less opportunities, education and tools to achieve their success. The poverty stricken class has a significantly larger income gap than the upper class, the American Dream isRead MorePoverty in the U.S.961 Words   |  4 Pagesarticle in the Economist, the US currently boasts the highest post-tax level of income inequality of any high-income country in the world (Economist 2013). The nations Gini Coefficient – a measure of wealth inequality – currently stands at .42, well above that of other nations such as Switzerland and Sweden, which have Gi ni Coefficients of .31 and .33 respectively. Unfortunately this high level of income and wealth inequality is growing. Between 1979 and 2011, American earners in the top one percent sawRead MoreEssay on The Impact of the Remittances in Latin America1400 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction In Latin America migration and remittances have become structural features in the economy, the society, and in the political environment; due to the underdevelopment and inequality of the region. Because they relative importance, trends in migration and the impact of remittances in population of Latin America are the main topics that we will analyze in this research focusing on reduction of poverty and inequality. This research will aim to answer the next: Do remittances financeRead MoreThe Effects of Wealth Inequality in the U.S.1484 Words   |  6 PagesAnthony Giovenco Political Science Inequality Paper 12-18-14 The Effects of Wealth Inequality in the United States Wealth inequality in the United States has grown tremendously since 1970. The United States continuously reveals higher rates of inequality as a result of perpetual support for free market capitalism. The high rates of wealth inequality cause the growing financial crisis to persist, lower socio-economic mobility, increase national poverty, and have adverse effects on health andRead MorePoverty Inequality : The United States1040 Words   |  5 PagesPoverty is one of the greatest problems in the United States today. Poverty is the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; a condition of being poor.Many people, especially African Americans and children, live in poverty. People in poverty are left to face different social, cultural, physical and mental challenges.The American Dream is to have a well paying job and to be comfortable, but most Americans are forced to live a life of poverty. Although the UnitedRead MoreOrlando Padilla. Mrs. Miller. Engl ish 1A . Flawed Economic1562 Words   |  7 PagesOrlando Padilla Mrs. Miller English 1A Flawed Economic System How is it possible for people to be able to hit the lotto for millions and yet there is people starving in their homes ? How can there be so much misery in midst of such abundance ? Inequality is the source of enormous frustration among groups who no longer believe that they can achieve a reasonable facsmile of consumption as those of the upper classes. The social problems that result from such feelings represent some of the most fundamentalRead MoreThe System Of Social Class Essay1401 Words   |  6 PagesThe system of social class in America and Haiti work by everyone belonging to a different category. There are three categories of social class: the one percent, the middle class and the people who live in poverty. There is a controversy about how poverty does not exist in America because it’s not noticeable and it also one of the richest countries. From the knowledge, I know the poverty in America exists in the countryside or outside of big cities. The inequality that has b een created by the social

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Essay on The Fall of the Western Empire in the Fifth Century

In the year 330 Constantine founded a new imperial city in the east, which became known as Constantinople. Accompanying Diocletians system of tetrarchy, the creation of this new city affirmed the separation of the Roman Empire into the east and the west. The Eastern Roman Empire held a series of advantages over the west both socially and economically. The Western Roman Empire was the weaker empire and a bad leadership and government along with attacks from barbarians led to the demise of the Western Roman Empire. However the Roman Empire was severely weakened by the fourth century and the government was less capable of withstanding the barbarian attacks. There are many reasons for the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the†¦show more content†¦His murder in AD 192 was followed by a civil war by rivals to the throne. A series of rulers under what was known as `The Severan Dynasty ensued. Lucian Septimius Severus who became emperor in AD 193 severely weakened the imperial defenses when he disbanded the Praetorian Guard and replaced them with his own troops. While Rome remained a large empire there was a complete lack of constitution. After Septimus Severus all power derived from the army, which led to corruption in a quest for power. Between 235 and 284 there was a series of insane emperors who were frequently assassinated. Farmers who could not afford to pay the high taxes of the government fled their land. Barbarians occupied this abandoned land. Anarchy and the decaying of trade routes resulted in the decline of commerce. There was a devaluation of the currency, which reduced the state to a barter economy. The burdens of taxation and poverty crushed both the rural and urban masses resulting in widespread revolts. During the third century there was a series of renegade armies, rebellions and foreign invasions. This chaos brought the social and economic system to the point of collapse. Extraordinary leadership came from Diocletian who ruled from 284-305. He implemented a series of reforms such as his `Edict on Prices. He created what was known as a tetrarchy. This divided the empire, which eventually led to the collapse of theShow MoreRelatedThe History of the Byzantine Empire Essay897 Words   |  4 Pages As the Roman Empire expanded to help govern it better it brought out the Western (old) Romans in Western Europe and the Eastern (new) Romans in Eastern Europe. Many in the west saw the east as Greeks, but the Eastern Romans saw themselves as the Roman Empire with its capital in Constantinople. Early on Emperor Constantine sought to keep the two united but as the fifth and sixth centuries rolled around they each had gone their separate ways. With chaos in the west, the east thrived after the westRead MoreThe Fall Of The Roman Empire856 Words   |  4 PagesAlthough it was believed that the Roman Empire would never come to an end, inevitably it fell. The Roma n Empire is an extremely historic empire that left a massive legacy behind. It collapsed during the fifth century. The empire was having serious military struggles. They received threats from other European tribes along with diminished military funding. A military who does not have proper funding will slowly fall apart. Other than the military, the Roman Empire had a few key social and cultural problemsRead MoreThe Fall of the Roman Empire609 Words   |  3 PagesThe Fall of the Roman Empire There are adherents to single factors, but more people think Rome fell because of a combination of such factors as Christianity, and economy, and military problems. 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The familial aspects of choosing the next emperorRead MoreThe Fall Of The Roman Empire1216 Words   |  5 PagesDuring the fall of the Roman Empire, the Church was able to stand tall and survive through the ruin. The power of Christianity prevailed as the glory of the city of Rome departed. The fall of Rome marked and epoch in the history of the west. Rome was no longer the city of Caesar, but it would now become known as the City of the Pope. The Catholic Church stepped in a filled the void left by the fall of Western Roman Empire. Several factors led to the papacy in Rome becoming the center of power.Read MoreThe Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Essay822 Words   |  4 PagesDecline and Fall of The Roman Empire The Roman Empire was a beautiful place ruled by Augustus. The borders of the empire during the Pax Romana measured 10,000 miles and enclosed an area of more than 3 million square miles, that’s about the size of the United States today. The population of the empire during this period was between 70 and 90 million people. The city of Rome itself was home to about one million people. During the third century (A.D. 200-300), problems confronted the Roman Empire. The declineRead MoreWestern Civilization: A Very Brief Overview from the Romans to the Counter-Reformation1111 Words   |  5 Pagescity-states and to develop a world-state with the different nations of the Mediterranean. In the eight century, B.C., peasant communities, along with Etruscan cities south to the Greek cities were absorbed by the Romans. Throughout this century, Roman acquired architectural styles and skills in road construction, sanitation, hydraulic engineering to include underground conduits. By the sixth century, Rome evolved into a republic, landowners, aristocrats and patricians overthrew the Etruscan king andRead MoreThe Fall Of The Roman Empire1404 Words   |  6 PagesThe Fall of Rome The Fall of the Roman Empire, one of the greatest empires that human civilization has ever encountered, is viciously debated today among scholars all over the world. No one theory is the absolute truth as there are many fatal factors and mistakes that forged the collapse of this supreme civilization. Problems ranging from political instability, to different economic predicaments, to barbaric invasions, to imperialistic ideologies, the empire just became too complex for its own goodRead MoreEvents that Took Place in The Fall of the Roman Empire Essay examples3292 Words   |  14 Pages-----The fall of the Roman Empire marked the end of one of the greatest and longest-lived empires in the ancient world. The official date of the fall of the Roman Empire is often considered to be the date of when the barbarian general Odoacer overthrew the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, Romulus Augustulus, in 476 CE (Nardo-2004 97). The demise of this Empire was a result of multiple internal and external causes. The first plague that contributed to this decline and fall was the AntonineRead MoreThe Fall Of Rome s Collapse1199 Words   |  5 PagesEvan Reilly Professor Latham Western Civ 1 12 December 2015 The Fall of Rome For hundreds of years the empire of Rome and its citizens fought with neighboring territories and expanded their territory until they had created a vast empire which included much of modern day Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Although many historians and professors claim the fall of the Roman empire was because of excess and corruption, invasions by barbarian tribes, military overspending, economic problems

Russian Revolutions of 1917 Essay Example For Students

Russian Revolutions of 1917 Essay Russian Revolutionsof 1917The abdication of Emperor Nicholas IIin March 1917, in conjunction with the establishment of a provisional governmentbased on Western principles of constitutional liberalism, and the seizureof power by the Bolsheviks in November, are the political focal pointsof the Russian Revolutions of 1917. The events of that momentous year mustalso be viewed more broadly, however: as an explosion of social tensionsassociated with rapid industrialization; as a crisis of political modernization,in terms of the strains placed on traditional institutions by the demandsof Westernization and of World War I; and as a social upheaval in the broadestsense, involving a massive, spontaneous expropriation of gentry land byangry peasants, the destruction of traditional social patterns and values,and the struggle for a new, egalitarian society. Looking at the revolutionaryprocess broadly, one must also include the Bolsheviks fight to keep theworlds first proletarian dictatorship in p ower after November, firstagainst the Germans, and then in the civil war against dissident socialists,anti-Bolshevik White Guards, foreign intervention, and anarchist peasantbands. Finally, one must see the psychological aspects of revolutionarychange: elation and hope, fear and discouragement, and ultimately the prolongedagony of bloodshed and privation, both from war and repression, and thebony hand of Tsar Hunger, who strangled tens of thousands and, in theend, brought the revolutionary period to a close after the civil war byforcing the Bolsheviks to abandon the radical measures of War Communismin favor of a New Economic Policy (NEP). We will write a custom essay on Russian Revolutions of 1917 specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Throughout, the events in Russia wereof worldwide importance. Western nations saw immutable values and institutionssuccessfully challenged, COMMUNISM emerged as a viable social and politicalsystem, and Third World peoples saw the power of organized workers andpeasants movements as a means of liberating themselves from bourgeoisexploitation. As such, the Revolutions of 1917 ushered in the great social,political, and ideological divisions of the contemporary world. Historical BackgroundHistorians differ over whether the Revolutionsof 1917 were inevitable, but all agree on the importance of three relatedcausal factors: massive discontent, the revolutionary movement, and WorldWar I, each operating in the context of the ineptitude of a rigid, absolutiststate. The emancipation of the serfs in 1861 left the countrysidein deep poverty. The newly freed peasants received inadequate land allotments,particularly in areas of fertile soil, and even these had to be purchasedwith redemption payments. Class antagonisms sharpened, particularly sincegovernment-promoted industrialization sent impoverished peasants flockingto jobs in urban areas for low wages under oppressive conditions. Governmentefforts to industrialize also required huge tax revenues, which intensifiedpressures on workers and peasants alike. Meanwhile, the rising businessand professional classes expressed unhappiness with tsarist rule and yearnedfor a Western-style parliamentary system. By 190 5 discontent amongthe bourgeoisie, peasantry, and proletariat had spurred Russian intellectualsto create the major political organizations of 1917. Populist groups, organizedin the countryside by the 1890s, joined radical socialist workers groupsin the founding of the Socialist Revolutionary party in 1901. The MarxistSocialDemocratic Labor party was established in 1898. Five years laterit divided into two factions: the Mensheviks, who favored a decentralized,mass party; and the Bolsheviks of Vladimir Ilich LENIN, who wanted a tightlyorganized, hierarchical party (see BOLSHEVIKS AND MENSHEVIKS). Middle-classliberals formed the Constitutional Democratic party (Cadets) in 1905. Russian losses in the RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR precipitated the RUSSIAN REVOLUTIONOF 1905. The massive urban strikes, rural rioting, and almost total liberaldisaffection from the tsarist regime in 1905 have been called a dressrehearsal for 1917. Reluctantly, Nicholas II granted a range of civilliberties, established limited parliamentary government through a DUMA,abolished peasant redemption payments, and under Pyotr STOLYPIN began anagrarian reform program to promote the growth of a rural middle class. These measures momentarily quieted the populace, but they also raised newexpectations; many concessions were later withdrawn, thus exacerbatingtensions. Furthermore, the social stability that some thought the tsarspromises offered required time to develop, and this Russia did not have. The March RevolutionIn 1914, Russia was again at war. Landreform was suspended, and new political restrictions were imposed. Disastrousmilitary defeats sapped public morale, and ineffective organization onthe home front made the governments incompetence obvious to all. The emperor,assuming command of the army in 1915, became identified with its weakness. The sinister influence of Empress ALEXANDRAs favorite, Grigory RASPUTIN,increased. By the winter of 1916-17, disaffection again rent all sectorsof society, including liberals, peasants, and industrial workers. .u85dd605fc28858d06f4dd8baeb6d3c5c , .u85dd605fc28858d06f4dd8baeb6d3c5c .postImageUrl , .u85dd605fc28858d06f4dd8baeb6d3c5c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u85dd605fc28858d06f4dd8baeb6d3c5c , .u85dd605fc28858d06f4dd8baeb6d3c5c:hover , .u85dd605fc28858d06f4dd8baeb6d3c5c:visited , .u85dd605fc28858d06f4dd8baeb6d3c5c:active { border:0!important; } .u85dd605fc28858d06f4dd8baeb6d3c5c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u85dd605fc28858d06f4dd8baeb6d3c5c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u85dd605fc28858d06f4dd8baeb6d3c5c:active , .u85dd605fc28858d06f4dd8baeb6d3c5c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u85dd605fc28858d06f4dd8baeb6d3c5c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u85dd605fc28858d06f4dd8baeb6d3c5c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u85dd605fc28858d06f4dd8baeb6d3c5c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u85dd605fc28858d06f4dd8baeb6d3c5c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u85dd605fc28858d06f4dd8baeb6d3c5c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u85dd605fc28858d06f4dd8baeb6d3c5c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u85dd605fc28858d06f4dd8baeb6d3c5c .u85dd605fc28858d06f4dd8baeb6d3c5c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u85dd605fc28858d06f4dd8baeb6d3c5c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: What Is Cystic Fibrosis EssayWhen food shortages provoked street demonstrations in Petrograd on March8 (N.S.; Feb. 23, O.S.), 1917, and garrison soldiers refused to suppressthem, Duma leaders demanded that Nicholas transfer power to a parliamentarygovernment. With the Petrograd Soviet of Workers and Soldiers Deputies,a special Duma committee on March 15 (N.S.; March 2, O.S.) establisheda provisional government headed by Prince Georgi Lvov, a liberal. On thesame day, the emperor abdicated. He attempted to give the crown to hisbrother Michael, but Michael refused to accept it. The 300-year-old Romanovdynasty came to an end. The new provisional government wasalmost universally welcomed. Civil liberties were proclaimed, new wageagreements and an 8-hour day were negotiated in Petrograd, discipline wasrelaxed in the army, and elections were promised for a Constituent Assemblythat would organize a permanent democratic order. The existence of twoseats of power, howeverthe provisional government and the PetrogradSovietnot only represented a potential political rivalry but alsoreflectedthe different aspirations of different sectors of Russian society. For most Russians of privilegemembersof the bourgeoisie, the gentry, and many professionalsthe March Revolutionmeant clearing the decks for victory over Germany and for the establishmentof Russia as a leading European liberal democracy. They regarded the provisionalgovernment as the sole legitimate authority. For most workers and peasants,however, revolution meant an end to an imperialist war, major economicreforms, and the development of an egalitarian social order. They lookedto the Petrograd Soviet and other soviets springing up around the countryto represent their interests, and they supported the government only insofaras it met their needs. Political PolarizationDiffering conceptions of the revolutionquickly led to a series of crises. Widespread popular opposition to thewar caused the Petrograd Soviet on April 9 (N.S.; March 27, O.S.) to repudiateannexationist ambitions and to establish in May a coalition governmentincluding several moderate socialists in addition to Aleksandr KERENSKY,who had been in the cabinet from the beginning. The participation of suchsocialists in a government that continued to prosecute the war and thatfailed to implement basic reforms, however, only served to identify theirpartiesthe Socialist Revolutionaries, Mensheviks, and otherswith governmentfailures. On July 16-17 (N.S.; July 3-4, O.S.), following a disastrousmilitary offensive, Petrograd soldiers, instigated by local Bolshevik agitators,demonstrated against the government in what became known as the July Days.The demonstrations soon subsided, and on July 20 (N.S.; July 7, O.S.),Kerensky replaced Lvov as premier. Soon, however, the provis ional governmentwas threatened by the right, which had lost confidence in the regimesability to maintain order. In early September (N.S.; late August, O.S.),General Lavr KORNILOV was thwarted in an apparent effort to establish aright-wing military dictatorship. Ominously, his effort was backed by theCadets, traditionally the party of liberal constitutionalism. The crisesfaced by the provisional government reflected a growing polarization ofRussian politics toward the extreme left and extreme right. Meanwhile, another revolution was takingplace that, in the view of many, was more profound and ultimately moreconsequential than were the political events in Petrograd. All over Russia,peasants were expropriating land from the gentry. Peasant-soldiers fledthe trenches so as not to be left out, and the government could notstem the tide. New shortages consequently appeared in urban areas, causingscores of factories to close. Angry workers formed their own factory committees,sequestering plants to keep them running and to gain new material benefits. By the summer of 1917 a social upheaval of vast proportions was sweepingover Russia. The November RevolutionSensing that the time was ripe, Leninand the Bolsheviks rapidly mobilized for power. From the moment he returnedfrom exile on Apr. 16 (N.S.; Apr. 3, O.S.), 1917, Lenin, pressing for aBolshevik-led seizure of power by the soviets, categorically disassociatedhis party from both the government and the accommodationist socialists. Liberals support the war and the interests of the bourgeoisie! he insisted,adding that socialist lackeys aided the liberals by agreeing to postponereforms and continue fighting. With appealing slogans such as Peace, Land,and Bread! the Bolsheviks identified themselves with Russias broad socialrevolution rather than with political liberty or the political revolutionof March. Better organized than their rivals, the Bolsheviks worked tirelesslyin local election campaigns. In factories they quickly came to dominatemajor committees; they also secured growing support in local soviets. ABolshevik-inspired military uprising was suppressed in July. The next month,however, after Kornilovs attempted coup, Bolshevik popularity soared,and Lenins supporters secured majorities in both the Petrograd and Moscowsoviets, winning 51 percent of the vote in Moscow city government elections. .u1c3ef0e8308f4e4439424a2c103cf5ad , .u1c3ef0e8308f4e4439424a2c103cf5ad .postImageUrl , .u1c3ef0e8308f4e4439424a2c103cf5ad .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1c3ef0e8308f4e4439424a2c103cf5ad , .u1c3ef0e8308f4e4439424a2c103cf5ad:hover , .u1c3ef0e8308f4e4439424a2c103cf5ad:visited , .u1c3ef0e8308f4e4439424a2c103cf5ad:active { border:0!important; } .u1c3ef0e8308f4e4439424a2c103cf5ad .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1c3ef0e8308f4e4439424a2c103cf5ad { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u1c3ef0e8308f4e4439424a2c103cf5ad:active , .u1c3ef0e8308f4e4439424a2c103cf5ad:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1c3ef0e8308f4e4439424a2c103cf5ad .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1c3ef0e8308f4e4439424a2c103cf5ad .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1c3ef0e8308f4e4439424a2c103cf5ad .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1c3ef0e8308f4e4439424a2c103cf5ad .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u1c3ef0e8308f4e4439424a2c103cf5ad:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1c3ef0e8308f4e4439424a2c103cf5ad .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1c3ef0e8308f4e4439424a2c103cf5ad .u1c3ef0e8308f4e4439424a2c103cf5ad-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1c3ef0e8308f4e4439424a2c103cf5ad:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: What Do Christians Believe About Ghosts? EssayReacting to the momentum of events, Lenin, from hiding, ordered preparationsfor an armed insurrection. Fully aware of what was about to transpire,the provisional regime proved helpless. On the night of November 6-7 (N.S.; October24-25, O.S.) the Bolsheviks seized power in Petrograd in the name of thesoviets, meeting little armed resistance. An All-Russian Congress of Sovietsof Workers and Soldiers Deputies, meeting in Petrograd at the time, ratifiedthe Bolsheviks actions on November 8. The congress also declared the establishmentof a soviet government headed by a Council of Peoples Commissars chairedby Lenin, with Leon TROTSKY in charge of foreign affairs. The Civil War and Its AftermathFew, however, expected Lenins proletariandictatorship to survive. Bolsheviks now faced thesame range of economic,social, and political problems as did the governments they had replaced. In addition, anti-Bolsheviks began almost at once to organize armed resistance. Some placed hope in the Constituent Assembly, elected November 25 (N.S.;November 12, O.S.); others hoped for foreign intervention. Few appreciatedLenins political boldness, his audacity, and his commitment to shapinga Communist Russia. These traits soon became apparent. TheNovember Constituent Assembly elections returned an absolute majorityfor the Socialist Revolutionaries, but Lenin simply dispersed the Assemblywhen it met in January 1918. He also issued a decree on land in November1917, sanctifying the peasants land seizures, proclaiming the Bolsheviksto be a party of poor peasants as well as workers and broadening his ownbase of support. He sued the Germans for peace, but under terms of theTreaty of BREST-LITOVSK (March 1918) he was forced to surrender huge portionsof traditionally Russian territory. Shortly afterward, implementing policiescalled War Communism, Lenin ordered the requisition of grain from the countrysideto feed the cities and pressed a program to nationalize virtually all Russianindustry. Centralized planning began, and private trade was strictly forbidden. These measures, together with class-oriented rationing policies, promptedtens of thousands to flee abroad. Not surprisingly, Lenins policies provokedanti-Bolshevik resistance, and civil war erupted in 1918. Constituent Assemblydelegates fled to western Siberia and formed their own All-Russian government,which was soon suppressed by a reactionary White dictatorship under AdmiralAleksandr Kolchak. Army officers in southern Russia organized a VolunteerArmy under Generals Lavr Kornilov and Anton Denikin and gained supportfrom Britain and France; both in the Volga region and the eastern Ukraine,peasants began to organize against Bolshevik requisitioning and mobilization. Soon anarchist Greens were fighting the Reds (Bolsheviks) and Whitesalike in guerrilla-type warfare. Even in Moscow and Petrograd, leftistSocialist Revolutionaries took up arms against the Bolsheviks, whom theyaccused of betraying revolutionary ideals. In response, the Bolsheviksunleashed their own Red Terror under the Cheka (political police force)and mobilized a Red Army commanded by Trotsky. The Bolsheviks defeatedAdmiral Kolchaks troops in late 1919, and in 1920 they suppressed thearmies of Baron Pyotr N. WRANGEL and General Denikin in the south. Foreigntroops withdrew, and after briefly marching into Poland the Red Army concentratedon subduing peasant uprisings. Some Western historians attributeultimate Bolshevik victory in this war to White disorganization, half-heartedsupport from war-weary Allies, Cheka ruthlessness, and the inability ofGreens to establish a viable alternative government. Most important, however,was the fact that even while Bolshevik popularity declined, Leni n and hisfollowers were still identified with what the majority of workers and peasantswanted most: radical social change rather than political freedom, whichhad never been deeply rooted in Russian tradition. In contrast, the Whitesrepresented the old, oppressive order. Nevertheless, with the counterrevolutiondefeated, leftist anti-Bolshevik sentiment erupted. The naval garrisonat Kronshtadt, long a Bolshevik stronghold, rebelled in March 1921 alongwith Petrograd workers in favor of Soviet Communism without the Bolsheviks!This protest was brutally suppressed. The Menshevik and Socialist Revolutionaryparties, harassed but not abolished during the civil war, gained supportas the conflict ended. The Bolsheviks outlawed these parties, signalingtheir intention to rule alone. Lenin, however, was astute enough to realizethat a strategic retreat was required. At the Tenth Party Congress, in1921, the NEW ECONOMIC POLICY was introduced, restoring some private property,ending restrictions on private trade, and terminating forced grain requisitions. The foundations had been laid for building Bolshevik socialism, but therevolutionary period proper had come to an end.