In 1917 Russia was in political turmoil. The Tsar, whose Romanov dynasty had been in power for 200 years, had fallen. Tsar Nicholas II had abdicated and in his position was placed a provisional government, led by Alexander Kerensky. Vladimir Lenin, leader of the Bolshevik party, wanted to overthrow the government and create a completely communist state. In order to establish communist rule in Russia, Lenin needed to remove the provisional government from power, deliver on his promises to the Russian people, and win the civil war.

The first issue Lenin faced was to abolish the provisional government; this idea led to the Bolshevik revolution. In 1917 Germany transferred Lenin back to Russia in the famous "sealed train." Unlike the first revolution, the Bolshevik revolution was considerably bloodless. Much of the fighting was in Petrograd, the then capital of Russia, led by Leon Trotsky and the Red Guards. They took over...