Final answer:
The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, were a militant revolutionary group that seized power in Russia to establish a communist state, while the Mensheviks preferred a more democratic, gradual social change. The Bolsheviks had a more significant impact during the Russian Revolution and Civil War, overshadowing the minority Menshevik faction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Descriptions of the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks
In the turbulent period of Russian history surrounding the revolutions and the rise of communism, two factions stood out prominently: the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks. The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, were a militant group with a vision of a vanguard party and held the belief that a violent revolution was necessary to overthrow the existing tsarist state and implement a socialist regime. They had widespread contacts in the army, navy, and working classes and utilized the chaos of World War I to seize control and further their revolutionary agenda, ultimately taking over the government and establishing a communist state.
On the other hand, the Mensheviks, known as the 'smaller group,' favored a more democratic approach and were open to cooperating with other parties for a gradual move towards socialism. However, they were overshadowed by the Bolsheviks who won in the ensuing civil war. The term 'Menshevik' is derived from the Russian word for 'minority,' whereas 'Bolshevik' comes from the word for 'majority,' even though ironically at their inception, the Bolsheviks did not actually consist of the larger group within the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party.
The Bolsheviks were characterized by their militant revolutionary tactics and readiness to employ violence, as well as their ability to mobilize the masses through propaganda and strong central leadership. They were adept at translating complex ideological concepts into accessible ideas for the public, partially by leveraging the familiar language and symbols of the Russian Orthodox Church. Notably, they rebranded themselves as the Communist Party after taking power in November 1917.