In February 1917, a revolution in the Russian Empire overthrew the centuries-old government of the Tsar. It was a revolution fueled by poverty, war, and a hatred for the system itself. After Nikolai II was overthrown, an interim government, dominated by socialists, took control over what remained of the Russian Empire. However, Russia was not destined for a democratic future. Instead, a communist group known as the “Bolsheviks” sought total control over the whole of Russia. In October 1917, the Bolsheviks lead by Vladimir Ilych Ulyanov (Lenin) took control in what would be known as the Great October Socialist Revolution. The world’s first constitutionally established socialist/communist state was born. The United States, under President Woodrow
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Also, Russia had become embroiled in a civil war between the communists, socialists and so-called “whites” which were a collection of anti-Bolshevik groups. Wilson was recorded as being hesitant to intervene in the Civil War. On July 16th, 1918 he wrote, “It is the clear and fixed judgment of the Government of the United States…that military intervention there would add to the present sad confusion in Russia rather than cure it, injure her rather than help her… ” However, Wilson was, after a series of “intolerable wrongs” firmly committed to winning the First World War. Wilson had committed the resources of the United States fully to winning the war and aiding the allies in Europe. Meanwhile, Russia was divided into many small regions governed by different factions. Moscow and Petrograd were under control over the Bolsheviks, while parts of the south and north of Russia were under control of various White Movement leaders. The Bolshevik (Soviet) government sought to end its war with Germany. In 1918, the Soviet government made peace with Germany by signing the treaty of Brest-Litovsk. This allowed the Bolsheviks to focus fully on winning the civil war that was now ongoing. Wilson meanwhile had developed his Fourteen Points plan which combined American moral leadership with liberal democracy and capitalism. Wilson’s plan also encompassed principles of self-determination, anti-colonialism, and …show more content…
Wilson believed that the Bolsheviks had prevented the Russian people from seeing clearly the advantages of defeating Germany and embracing capitalism. He remarked to Congress (speaking of the Russian people), “Had they believed these things at the very moment of their revolution and had they been confirmed in that belief since, the sad reverses...towards an ordered and stable government of free men might have been avoided. The Russian people have been poisoned by the very same falsehoods that have kept the German people in the dark…” Even though Wilson had a distaste for Bolshevism, he was still not yet prepared to send in troops to Russia. Lenin, however, used the threat of an allied intervention into Russia as a tool to rally the people to
Also, Russia had become embroiled in a civil war between the communists, socialists and so-called “whites” which were a collection of anti-Bolshevik groups. Wilson was recorded as being hesitant to intervene in the Civil War. On July 16th, 1918 he wrote, “It is the clear and fixed judgment of the Government of the United States…that military intervention there would add to the present sad confusion in Russia rather than cure it, injure her rather than help her… ” However, Wilson was, after a series of “intolerable wrongs” firmly committed to winning the First World War. Wilson had committed the resources of the United States fully to winning the war and aiding the allies in Europe. Meanwhile, Russia was divided into many small regions governed by different factions. Moscow and Petrograd were under control over the Bolsheviks, while parts of the south and north of Russia were under control of various White Movement leaders. The Bolshevik (Soviet) government sought to end its war with Germany. In 1918, the Soviet government made peace with Germany by signing the treaty of Brest-Litovsk. This allowed the Bolsheviks to focus fully on winning the civil war that was now ongoing. Wilson meanwhile had developed his Fourteen Points plan which combined American moral leadership with liberal democracy and capitalism. Wilson’s plan also encompassed principles of self-determination, anti-colonialism, and …show more content…
Wilson believed that the Bolsheviks had prevented the Russian people from seeing clearly the advantages of defeating Germany and embracing capitalism. He remarked to Congress (speaking of the Russian people), “Had they believed these things at the very moment of their revolution and had they been confirmed in that belief since, the sad reverses...towards an ordered and stable government of free men might have been avoided. The Russian people have been poisoned by the very same falsehoods that have kept the German people in the dark…” Even though Wilson had a distaste for Bolshevism, he was still not yet prepared to send in troops to Russia. Lenin, however, used the threat of an allied intervention into Russia as a tool to rally the people to