At the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets held in Petrograd, Vladimir Lenin delivered a passionate speech advocating for the October Revolution. The Congress was an assembly of representatives from various workers' councils known as Soviets. In his speech, Lenin emphasized that the Provisional Government had proven incapable of addressing the pressing needs of the populace, particularly the workers and soldiers who had been exerting considerable pressure for change. He argued for the immediate need to seize power, presenting the Bolshevik party’s program that called for land redistribution, peace, and food for the hungry. His compelling address not only outlined the theoretical foundation for a socialist state but also served as a rallying point for the discontented masses rallying around the Bolshevik banner.

Lenin’s speech found support among many delegates who resonated with his call for action. The urgency of the moment was palpable, and as the momentum built, talks quickly shifted from debate to planning action. Lenin laid out a clear plan to overthrow the Provisional Government, resorting to armed insurrection as the necessary means. The Congress ultimately voted overwhelmingly in favor of Lenin’s proposals, solidifying the Bolsheviks’ position and paving the way for the actual uprising that would occur days later, leading to the Bolsheviks taking control of key areas in Petrograd.

The call for the October Revolution marked a definitive turn in the Russian Revolution, as it aligned various factions of the working class and the army under a single purpose. This setting initiated the dissolution of the Provisional Government and allowed the Bolsheviks to assume power, which signaled a new era in Russian and world history as the ideas of Marxism would be put into practice, creating a socialist state that would significantly influence global politics in the 20th century.