History The Russian Revolution Questions
The main differences between the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks were their ideologies and strategies. The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, believed in a revolutionary overthrow of the capitalist system and the establishment of a socialist state. They advocated for a small, disciplined party of professional revolutionaries and believed in the necessity of a violent uprising to achieve their goals. On the other hand, the Mensheviks, led by Julius Martov, believed in a more gradual and peaceful transition to socialism. They supported a larger, more inclusive party and believed in working within the existing political system to achieve their objectives. Ultimately, the Bolsheviks emerged as the dominant faction and successfully led the Russian Revolution in 1917.