There were actually two revolutions that took place in Russia that gave rise to the communist party. The first was the Russian revolution that was born out of the terrible conditions faced by most Russians in the decades leading up to World War I. The people were able to rise up and overthrow the Tsarist government and instituted a provisional government. The Bolshevik (or Communist) Revolution was spawned from discontent with this provisional government. Their motto was “Peace, Land, and Bread”, as they sought to improve conditions for the common man. Led by Vladimir I. Lenin, the Communists were able to take control from the provisional government despite some setbacks.