Vladimir Lenin was a Russian revolutionary and communist politician who lived from 1870 to 1924. He was the founder and leader of the Bolshevik Party, which seized power during the Russian Revolution of 1917, and later became the first head of the Soviet Union. Lenin was born to a wealthy family in the city of Simbirsk (now Ulyanovsk), and received a good education. He became interested in revolutionary politics while studying law in Kazan, and soon became involved in Marxist circles. In 1895, he was arrested and exiled to Siberia for his political activities. After his release in 1900, Lenin spent much of his time organizing and agitating for revolution. He was a prolific writer and speaker, and his ideas on Marxist theory and tactics had a significant impact on the revolutionary movement in Russia and around the world. Lenin led the Bolsheviks to victory in the October Revolution of 1917, after which he became the head of the new Soviet government. He implemented policies to nationalize industry and redistribute land, and established the foundations of the Soviet state. Lenin’s legacy is mixed. While he is widely admired by communists and socialists for his role in the Russian Revolution and the establishment of the Soviet Union, his policies and methods also led to repression, violence, and economic hardship for many people.
