Final answer:
The Bolsheviks followed the teachings of Karl Marx and sought to establish a socialist government, while the Mensheviks favored a gradual transition through democratic means. Vladimir Lenin played a critical role in the Russian Revolution and the establishment of the Soviet Union.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks were two political groups in Russia during the early 20th century. The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, believed in the ideology of communism and followed the teachings of Karl Marx. They sought to establish a socialist government and advocated for a revolution of the working class. The Mensheviks, on the other hand, were a more moderate faction within the socialist movement. They also believed in socialism but favored a gradual transition to a socialist state through democratic means.
Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the Bolsheviks, played a crucial role in the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the establishment of the Soviet Union. He led the Bolshevik takeover of the government and implemented various policies to transform Russia into a communist state. Lenin's government introduced the New Economic Policy, collectivized agriculture, and built a one-party state based on communism.