The Bolsheviks were a faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party led by Vladimir Lenin. They believed in a revolutionary overthrow of the Tsarist autocracy in Russia and the establishment of a socialist state. The Bolsheviks ultimately seized power in the October Revolution of 1917 and formed the Soviet government.
Bolshaviks There were several revolutionary parties: the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party, which was split into Menshevik and Bolshevik sides. In addition there were the Social Revolutionaries. This was a large revolutionary party, which used terrorism and violence to achieve its aims.