History vs. Vladimir Lenin - Alex Gendler

View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/history-vs-...
Vladimir Lenin overthrew Russian Czar Nicholas II and founded the Soviet Union, forever changing the course of Russian politics. But was he a hero who toppled an oppressive tyranny or a villain who replaced it with another? Alex Gendler puts this controversial figure on trial, exploring both sides of a nearly century-long debate.
Lesson by Alex Gendler, animation by Brett Underhill.

[@sillyloser8302]

The two men arguing: Lenin: 🗿

[@VUfElectrolyticCapacitor]

Yo Angelo!

[@rusty3073]

Ok

[@sabianrios3747]

@@VUfElectrolyticCapacitor i never expected a jojo reference here

[@yeezyyankie324]

I like your funny words, magic man

[@okuyasu1066]

Yo, Angelo

[@JohnWick-xh6in]

TED-Ed just invented a new accent(Russian-Scottish)

[@michaelp.4890]

Indeed!

[@123NickSully]

Lmfao

[@can3809]

No its the all accents in one accent

[@acutechicken5798]

@@can3809 Still not as bad as my fake Russian accent.

[@cosminblk8359]

Scottish accent isn't just regular english with russian accent ?

[@Memelander]

That accent on the lawyer's part is actually an attempt at portraying Lenin's accent when speaking English accurately. Since Lenin was taught English by an Irish-Scot, he spoke English with an accent similar to this. The more you know.

[@user-ry9om6es8t]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWq0h4SsfLimgas

[@EightyFourThousands84000s]

@@user-ry9om6es8t smh

[@user-ry9om6es8t]

@@EightyFourThousands84000s (^◉ω◉^)??

[@Xaviergonzalez85]

@Cristofer Andrade pretty much.

[@poc9652]

What is an 'Irish Scot' ?

[@palatonian9618]

I hate how much time was spent debating whether the monarch was awful or not. I feel like a lot of time is spent debating peripheral subjects instead of Lenin’s involvement

[@george4281]

Well to be fair if the monarch really is bad then it's a point in Lenin's favour. But they didn't do this with the French revolution, Nicolas could've got his own video and this doesn't actually talk about after Lenin had power so I see kind of

[@helrem]

​@@george4281Yeah, that's a good idea, although I'd probably do something similar to the one here.

[@samsca8529]

Would you feel the same way about the American revolution and the founding fathers as compared with the British monarchy?

[@bas8792]

It's like when introverts have argument in their head and roasting themselves

[@mr.knowitall5019]

*NERDS

[@mikewilson8221]

I’m shook from how extremely accurate that describes me.

[@Amelia_-qy9nz]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmPZqWWrqKetpqc

[@tarielkaroldan4106]

You have no idea

[@saywhatnow2173]

This is literally me every day. Jesus!

[@violetta_edel117]

if you're American always remember. RUSSIAN history is taught to you by AMERICAN teachers, in AMERICA.

[@souljacem]

I think the history of Russia is not nearly covered enough in European schools either. I‘ve just heard of this story after graduation.

[@blukester7994]

Yeah but they killed 3 million people in 1 1\2 years so yeah

[@mr.monhon5179]

@@blukester7994 That's just nonsense, my friend. Your point almost just do nothing than bother people looking at it. Can you express the idea in a more understandable way?

[@joshuasquire1879]

Yes but Britain be like I used to rule the world you know

[@PuglordGabe]

Lenin was a tyrant who spend his entire life turning what could of been an at least semi-prosperous democratic country (with even possible socialist elements from the socialist parties that held influence) into a horrid dictatorship that destroyed everything it touched and spiraled into disaster and ruin.

[@Tiana_Do]

As a Vietnamese, Lenin is one of the most respected leaders in my country

[@jeremigawkowski9775]

why? in my country pretty much everyone hates him@@rimaq_

[@minhgiang5078]

@@jeremigawkowski9775 and we never read US or Western news cuz they have their power to control it :))

[@Prororo]

@@jeremigawkowski9775because Vietnam is a socialist country and Lenin is seen as basically a kickstarter for socialist revolutions

[@davisdelp8131]

Hahah how’s that going for you 😂

[@mikadeksjur653]

@@davisdelp8131 how dear you putting this emoji. have your country ever been bombed for couple of years straight by capitalist usa? also literally wietnam is groving so mad its impressive meanwhile we are losing our laws in jobs and slowing down with economy at the same time, not even talking about debt. communist countries was always oppressed by capitalist countries from the beggining. also west is making world unliveable for our kids, we should start putting socialist policies asap. Stay strong all of you vietnamese, keep your grind on. ❤from polish guy

[@CarlMarxPunk]

"I honor Lenin as a man who completely sacrificed himself and devoted all his energy to the realization of social justice. I do not consider his methods advisable, but one thing is certain: men of his type are the guardians and restorers of the conscience of humanity"- Albert Einstein.

[@channingbloom7125]

So Einstein is saying that he respected Lenin drive and determination. But let’s not forget that he was very critical over Lenin’s leadership and questioned the ways he was leading the country. Let that be understood.

[@CarlMarxPunk]

@@channingbloom7125 Yes. Indeed.

[@jim6038]

@channingbloom7125. There was a Russian serial killer that wanted to get 64 murders to complete his chessboard. This is the kind of determination and drive is what should be admired? There was a man with a mustache in the 1930s and 40s that had drive like Lenin too. Kind of think that Einsteins take on Lenin is a best horrifically misguided.

[@channingbloom7125]

@@jim6038 Do you compare Lenin to a serial killer that wanted to kill 64 people to complete a chessboard? Is this to be understood?

[@jim6038]

@channingbloom7125 no Lenin was worse. Much more worse than that. I was pointing out the quite terrible analogue of Lenin being great made by Einstein.

[@Umirua]

No matter what kind of political leader you are you'll still be considered both hero and villian.

[@Umirua]

And the argument is always unending and unanswerable

[@OfficialHighduke]

IShallUseFire! Unless you're Stalin... He did nothing good but stop the Nazi's in Russia, and even that was to the misfortune of his people.

[@100aegir]

OfficialHighduke Well, technically Stalin was the one who actually made the soviet union into the super power it became, Lenin practically did nothing in making it like that. Not saying Stalin was a good man, there is too much evidence against that idea, but he was not a pure villain despite whatever the shit Trotsky said, a man who had been a rival to Stalin long before anyone else even recognised Stalin at all, so a very biased individual is the one who tells the story of how Stalin's mass killings were different from his own mass killings.

[@Umirua]

100aegir My point exactly

[@lochlannwatling3482]

The_Pyromancer you are right

[@MrRattlebones640]

I'm flattered.

[@arnabsaha9778]

Vladimir Lenin You are great comrade

[@Ray-mw1fx]

you're flatulence.

[@lafeinte1084]

You’re a hero

[@turtleguitar9990]

Privet mui drug kak dela

[@user-py1cc9nj7z]

I’m communist but I don’t like you, Lenin

[@squirrele4495]

“A society should be judged not by how it treats its outstanding citizens but by how it treats its criminals.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky The tragedy of the 20th century wasn’t the dictatorships- they were nothing new. The tragedy was the millions of politically active, educated citizens of the world who knew better, fought for a more equal world, and were aware enough to watch it all fall apart.

[@estanislaobiertosz7011]

damn, really deep. I can tell that most of every human tragedy has already happened but in many cases we are falling on the same hole. Fyodor was someone aware of things (because he experienced them) as someone who was very close to death,

[@user-ry9om6es8t]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWq0h4SsfLimgas

[@Ivan-uk4zm]

Really sad for people who are sober feeling of pain.

[@terrorgaming459]

America is a authoritarian dictionary

[@fsdds1488]

Same thing happen in both camps.

[@TheAlps36]

4:05 that's an excellent point I never thought about before. There will always be people who want the old ways to return. It happened in France and in England. Even imprisoning or banishing an heir can't stop them returning to power if they have support

[@Doublemonk0506]

That is why King Louis and Marie Antoinette were executed. If they lived and fled, which they already tried to do, foreign powers would stomp over the people to place the rulers back on the throne

[@kim2894]

At the very least Charles I and Louis XVI had a trial to justify their execution.

[@soggmeisterlasagnagarfield]

Conservatism. That’s why revolutions are bloody.

[@shedisdumb1726]

@@kim2894 to be fair with Lous it was basically a kangaroo court trial cause really think about how the French Repblic would respond if they just went "Yeah guys we're just gonna let him live after he literally tried to run away"

[@Davros539]

True but several countries managed to get rid of their monarchies without killing the monarchs, but to be fair, a lot of those, like Romania and Bulgaria, did so later.

[@tylerford2370]

Me: *scrolls down to comment section expecting to see debates between Lenin’s supporters and his opponents* The comment section: fAKe ruSsIAn ACcEnT

[@tantainguyen4290]

Metoo

[@strongfp]

Because no one has an actual argument against what Lenin accomplished.

[@thesenate5913]

@@strongfp if this was about stalin the comment section would be a war zone

[@Luca-bv5ic]

@@thesenate5913 But Joseph Stalin was definitely bad. Lenin is a more ambiguous figure.

[@thesenate5913]

@@Luca-bv5ic yes Stalin only did 2 good things: Modernized Russia Beating (or helping beating) the Germans Thats just it I dont wanna talk about lennin cus i have not researched him enough

[@stefanetienney2666]

I need to start calling people I don’t like « incompetent bourgeois failures » in that Russian accent. Has a nice ring to it.

[@lazypops3117]

2:35

[@scottskinner577]

Im all on on this. Ill send pics of the reactions I get

[@thoth7858]

If "people I don't like" means your boss, it might be an accurate description too

[@scottskinner577]

Every time you think this guys accent is fake, just think of that guy from FPSRussia saying "Trust me. Im a professional Russian!" And just like that....im a believer again 👍

[@darkjester53]

Try a French accent. It just cuts that extra bit deeper.

[@matthewmaguire2151]

I love how these videos don’t convince us to take a side but rather allow us to decide

[@asdqwe8837]

This video is presented as nuanced, but it is actually anticommunist propaganda and historically inaccurate.

[@RandomInternetUser-yi5cc]

Don't listen to the propogandist bot here. He's either brainwashed or he's being paid good enough money to write these comments.

[@matthewmaguire2151]

@@asdqwe8837 some aspects yeah but the person arguing in favor of Lenin make’s arguments that make it hard to see as anti communist propaganda

[@minhgiang5078]

@@asdqwe8837 absolutely agree

[@brennans2286]

Side with Lenin

[@addrickstich6385]

I do like that you gave a proper argument for both sides, i wish we had more of this..

[@leovenegas5338]

Note to TED-Ed: When you mix a Russian accent with a Scottish accent, it sounds like a cat gurgling water.

[@magnumomg1427]

Lol

[@Hessonite_Dragon_Helen]

I kind of agree...and I haven’t had a cat in like 8 years

[@sillyloser8302]

Lol...

[@rashmicp4356]

😂😂😂

[@whimsinator2982]

Sounds like you’re triggered!

[@andreipaun5627]

Coment section: 95%-fake Russian accent 5%-it was diatlov

[@jinnwilli]

Haha! “you didn't see graphite on the roof because it wasn't there!”

[@moriarty.exe.4872]

Lol

[@MacRubik351]

Andrei Paun lmao 😅😅😂😂

[@ankitamandal6535]

Vladimir Lenin. Not great, not terrible.

[@sneakysnek8416]

Whos Diatlov?

[@riqueman23]

I love how both the defender and the prosecutor agreed that Stalin was a tyrannical dictator.

[@diwang3845]

I mean their putting Lenin on trial not Stalin

[@riqueman23]

@@diwang3845 I know that, but if you go to the part about Stalin, you can see that even the defender agrees that Stalin was a dictator.

[@pedroaugustodoamaral8119]

And both are wrong.

[@jeffreygao3956]

@@pedroaugustodoamaral8119 Holodomor. Nuff said!

[@handsfortoothpicks]

​@@pedroaugustodoamaral8119Stalin killed the international movement

[@braviary211]

From now on, I'm gonna call politicians I don't like "incompetent bourgeois failures."

[@derekwang7330]

“You were supposed to be my right hand man, but your loyalty shriveled up like your right hand man!” - Vladimir Lenin

[@iamgreatalwaysgreat8209]

Erb

[@carlosbenavides3023]

Our future was bright, but you let your heart grow dark

[@reginaldokeke8354]

And stopped the greatest revolution since the birth of Marx!!!!!

[@carlosbenavides3023]

@@reginaldokeke8354 did somebody say birthmarks?

[@reginaldokeke8354]

@@carlosbenavides3023 I'm the host with the most glasnost.

[@minervamcgonagall7410]

These videos aren't made to prove that a hated historical character was actually good. They're made to show us that this historical figure did both Good AND bad.

[@user-sh7md4nx3j]

Unless Lenin, because... Союз нерушимый республик свободных Сплотила навеки Великая Русь Да здравствует созданный волей народов Единый, могучий Советский Союз Славься, Отечество наше свободное Дружбы народов надёжный оплот! Партия Ленина - сила народная Нас к торжеству коммунизма ведёт Сквозь грозы сияло нам солнце свободы И Ленин великий нам путь озарил На правое дело он поднял народы На труд и на подвиги нас вдохновил Славься, Отечество наше свободное Дружбы народов надёжный оплот Партия Ленина - сила народная Нас к торжеству коммунизма ведёт В победе бессмертных идей коммунизма Мы видим грядущее нашей страны И Красному знамени славной Отчизны Мы будем всегда беззаветно верны Славься, Отечество наше свободное Дружбы народов надёжный оплот Партия Ленина - сила народная Нас к торжеству коммунизма ведёт

[@zegpath81]

Семён Шиповалов I'm guessing this is Never Gonna Give You Up in Russian.

[@user-sh7md4nx3j]

@@zegpath81 some kind of that

[@maharaja8099]

Lenin is a better hero than the Churchill and anyone u romanticize

[@prometheus5405]

@@maharaja8099 komunis indo

[@lucusekali5767]

I am always impressed by the fact that they always have answer to each other arguments

[@StarBoundFables]

Thanks for the well-made edutainment, Ted-Ed 🙏🏼

[@lilcracker692]

As a Russian, that accent feels like a screwdriver being jammed into my ears. Great video though, very accurate.

[@Jose04537]

Yes, but they forgot the part where Lenin allowed fair elections to form a Constitutional Assambly, which his party dissolved ONE DAY AFTER it's formation, just because they lost the election. He was undeniable a tirant that didn't respect the will of the people since that day.

[@cindric3128]

@@Jose04537 Who asked you that?

[@Jose04537]

@@cindric3128 pointing an obvious inaccuracy.

[@cindric3128]

Thats not what Lil is talking about

[@unpopuler]

@@Jose04537 this kid might be Cuban

[@binh3308]

*Not Le-NON, Le-NIN!*

[@jimmywaardenburg9145]

THE RUSSIAN COMMUNIST, OCH, I’LL GET HIM MYSELF

[@jimmywaardenburg9145]

WHO WANTS TO START A REVOLUTION

[@omkarnagarhalli5217]

*Soviet anthem blares*

[@howtocossackdance]

LenEEn

[@persianjew1746]

*oversimplified introduction with ussr anthem blaring intensifies*

[@benjaminli3572]

"Was killing peasants with poison gas for the people?" "Yes!"

[@logans3365]

I don’t know the full story, but it sounds like they were trying too redistribute food too those in need, and those peasants were being greedy. I could have the whole narrative wrong, but given the values of communism it adds up.

[@kimbanton4398]

@@logans3365 *"I don’t know the full story, but it sounds like they were trying too redistribute food too those in need, and those peasants were being greedy."* I would really REALLY be careful with that. Don't get me wrong, I am a socialist myself. But this claim that all the massacred peasants were just greedy kulaks who refused to share their produce with the poor people who needed them, because they wanted to hoard it all for themselves, is just propaganda and an ideological excuse. Fact is, under Lenin and especially under Stalin they called every peasant a kulak who ended up having even somewhat for themselves, regardless whether they produced it through their own labor or not. And peasants who weren't literally starving were quick to be called rich well-off kulaks and were deported into labor camps. *"I could have the whole narrative wrong, but given the values of communism it adds up."* It only adds up if you are a hardcore-tankie who will immediately call every peasant who has enough to fend for himself a bourgeoisie owner. No doubt there were kulaks, but Lenin & Stalin were too quick & too paranoid to brand people as "counter-revolutionaries who wanted to cause chaos and prevent communism from realization".

[@evryatis9231]

when leningrad is near starvation due to the incessant war, can you afford to let people stall you for long in not taking grain? if that didn't happen, leningrad & moscow would have starved, and you people would have went "oh my god communist famines lol!"

[@aysenilguzel8459]

Serfdom was never abolished. Instead, it was replaced with gigantic levels of debt that the average person was still effectively in slavery.

[@logans3365]

We use the same system in America too this day. Time too remove them from power

[@flyingsquirrell6953]

They just replaced serfdom with feudalism lol.

[@glif1360]

However, the debt was abolished in 1907 by Stolypin's government. Besides abolition of serfdom refers to the fact that peasants could no longer be sold after 1861. The landlords also no longer can use corporeal punishment against them. It also granted full freedom for domestic servants ("дворове") effective since 1863.

[@Feupaleee]

An interesting fact: Lenin believed that the revolution would happen, but believed that it would happen later. He wrote that he probably did not expect her during his lifetime, but that the ground had to be prepared. But, what happened happened and we can say that the paths of history are pretty inscrutable, chaotic and random (though we tend to see patterns in everything that surrounds us)

[@unbearablyyours]

well said!

[@user-ry9om6es8t]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWq0h4SsfLimgas

[@ethanhopping7296]

He was also expecting Revolution in other parts of Europe first, that was kind of the rationale behind Revolution in the first place. He never meant for Moscow to become the headquarters of global communism, they were just supposed to hold down the fort until Revolution in Germany or somewhere else happened.

[@Feupaleee]

Lenin also wrote in May 1917: "If there had been no war, Russia could have lived for years and even decades without revolution." Perhaps this will be applicable to the Russia of the present. Will see.

[@Makarosc]

I thought that was Marx

[@ScottJB]

The fake Russian accent was a little too much.

[@OtherwiseBother909]

made me jump to the next video

[@light9808]

Nah not really at least for me

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

It was bad but a fake Russian accent can be fun. But it was bad even for a fake accent. Bliat!

[@theno-trustassociation6241]

I find it weird that everyone seems more corncerned with the accent than the arguments in the comments.

[@alenaj1579]

Scott Butler nah, it was sorta funny.

[@newstartyt3700]

I love such videos, as it presents both sides of the argument and doesn't show bias within anything, this is what I like.

[@Your_Local_WeirdWeeb]

We all heard of the quote 'The victors get to write history', it which it just means what it means, and I gotta say, the victors don't always treat the losers nicely

[@killerknight123]

Oversimplified: WHO WANTS TO START A REVOLUTION.

[@alessiodelcastillo1613]

*Soviet Union Anthem Intensifies*

[@PitunghereTNOschizo100]

Oversimplified :Cold War part 1

[@alessiodelcastillo1613]

@@PitunghereTNOschizo100 facys

[@alessiodelcastillo1613]

@memequeen wwe fr

[@aidanthird]

this is exactly what happened in history. Lenin was writing a book or something, and then people exploded through the wall.

[@DieselTreleaver99]

Not sure I believe everyone had food on their plate. There are stories of famine and families hiding potatoes under their houses etc.

[@noodleexpanding3407]

Yea that sounds like wild unfounded claim

[@Ms.-Lily]

Propaganda much?

[@vasilisioannou5794]

In the video he talked about USSR in general not under Lenins rule. There was a famine during the Civil war and during and after WW2m If i am not mistaken there were no other famines

[@vjazz9374]

We need more of this!

[@colinrobinson1924]

The anti-Lenin guy says that Vladimir Lenin had nothing to do with the overthrow of the Tsar in February 1917, since Lenin was then in Switzerland. It's true that Lenin was in Switzerland then, but it's also true that his Bolshevik Party had a network of members and supporters within Russia, who had been working systematically for years to undermine the old regime. One way they did this was by smuggling Lenin's revolutionary newspapers into the country for opponents of the Tsar to read and pass on. Which is why Lenin got such a welcome in April 1917 when he got off the train at St Petersburg's Finland Station..

[@fredthebear277]

Colin Robinson interesting,know where I can read more about Lenin

[@fredthebear277]

Colin Robinson thank you

[@phatle2737]

so propaganda and brainwash, got it commie.

[@oddacity5883]

@Phat Le So apparently knowing the details of a specific event in history means that you’re brainwashed by propaganda Welp, there goes the years of Vietnamese History lessons, guess i’m brainwashed now

[@Babayaga34567]

@@phatle2737 McCarthyism at its finest.

[@imdrum6881]

Lenin: When I die, put anyone on power except from Stalin Lenin: *dies* Stalin: It's free real estate

[@Thunder_Sniper]

LMAO 🤣

[@theironcross2933]

Yeah, but who would take his place. Trotsky was unpopular with pretty much everyone, including Lenin.

[@cruzado3516]

@@theironcross2933 trotsky was very popular,he was second man in a country.Everyone knew him as a creator of red army,as the man who with lenin was doing october revolution,cause he ruled revolutionary military council and as the great marxist theoretic.But the problem is that when lenin was alive there was a party democracy in bolshevik party,some people like preobrazhensky or buharin could argue with lenin and won.After lenin death left opposition with trotsky as a leader tried to restore party democracy,but they lost and dictatorship of stalin established

[@asgardianbouy7472]

@@cruzado3516 same Trotsky that Lenin discribed as a political prostitue.

[@daniellassander]

Not true, Lenin handpicked Stalin as his successor.

[@valen000]

i love the balance of this video! good job :)

[@estanislaobiertosz7011]

I think that some of the most interesting views on Lenin (that id love to hear), are those from who lived under the soviet union regime. not saying these are necesarly more valid, but they literally lived the impact of his actions

[@daniellassander]

Well those that would complain the most are dead because he killed them.

[@jelenamartinovic1647]

@@daniellassander Nope,he didn't. It was Stalin

[@thetwopunchman6113]

@@jelenamartinovic1647lenin did silence and imprison his political enemies

[@kakyoin9688]

History vs Otto Von Bismarck

[@bobjimenez1716]

that'd be amazing!

[@kakyoin9688]

Bob Jimenez it would

[@kakyoin9688]

Otto Von Bismark oh hey buddy

[@kakyoin9688]

Otto Von Bismark I don't know Fredrick the great was petty good, also he's guilty

[@kakyoin9688]

Otto Von Bismark yup

[@adamweishaupt3733]

Why would anyone defend Tsar Nicholas?

[@bingisbahn3374]

Adam Weishaupt because the soldiers rebelled against him

[@hinahinananoha7783]

Adam Weishaupt Because with all the injustice of the tsar era, USSR was hell compared to that.

[@adamweishaupt3733]

Nadiya Nanoha Just because there's a worse option doesn't mean you should defend a bad one (kind of fitting for the US elections)

[@therandomguy6979]

+Adam Weishaupt im wishaupt and from the Netherlands

[@adamweishaupt3733]

TheRandomGuy My name isn't actually Adam Weishaupt, he was a German philosopher.

[@hsiegamer]

The german soldier's helmets are inaccurate. By 1917, the Pickelhaube was fully replaced by the Stahlhelm.

[@mini-tj9cr]

현재 평범한 학생인데 이런 좋은 영상과 한국어 자막을 제공해 주셔서 감사합니다

[@ssnorlax9597]

as a Russian. That fake accent hurt me

[@anotherthink9236]

Me too

[@nigeh5326]

It is as close to any Russian accent I have ever heard as Chekhov's accent in Star Trek. It is bloody awful

[@AnotherLifeish]

ᴉɐloʞᴉN the American southern accent he typically does makes me want to slam my head into a wall. This accent is somehow even worse.

[@onlyonemitch5049]

Why?! They tried!

[@Happy_Teddy24]

Your not Russian mate

[@trotskycancook2400]

History vs me

[@eggofknowledge3346]

you should've stayed in my party

[@skullcrusherm7425]

How is your neck sir

[@nonh1]

Trotsky would win, because he has history on his side.

[@skullcrusherm7425]

And he had a vision of global socialism

[@ceasefire2825]

nice chance to lead Russia you have there...it would be a shame if some steel boi....stole it

[@nickolahs7781]

Also his accent is a reference to how Lenin spoke English with A Irish accent!

[@taopilot2669]

"Forever changing the course of one of the world's largest countries." Not one of the largest. THE largest. By a long shot.

[@flamingpi2245]

0:28 all jokes aside a “history against Lennon would actually be a great idea”

[@adiyaroy0]

After reading this comment, I kept hearing Lenin as Lennon.

[@nighty6274]

@@adiyaroy0 wha- not LENNON, LENIN the Russian Communist. What!? Why do I need a BEATLE?!

[@baseballguy3741]

@@nighty6274 “ah, I see you’re a man of culture as well”

[@bluiedaniel2739]

@@nighty6274, man of culture i see

[@poots605]

@@nighty6274 Beatle not beetle

[@HapticGamerHD]

Are the exaggerated accents really necessary?

[@fabrizio483]

+HapticGamerHD Yes.

[@welshzecorgi7903]

+HapticGamerHD DA, TOVARISH! EK-CENT NESSESA-RRRY FUR DRUMAT-TICK EF-FEKT!

[@thetruereality2]

+Fabrizio Aldonne lol true dat

[@chrischavez7984]

+HapticGamerHD albiet kinda cheasy it does make the narrative easier to follow by giving distinct voice to the character

[@setiem13]

Dude just watch the video l:V

[@Watchingvideoslikeu]

Not gonna lie. Not saying Lenin was a good guy but arguing for the Czar isn't great as well. Russia has been in a tough spot in terms of leadership for a few centuries now.

[@alnerisoldier8081]

Lenin was a great man, pp dont know anything about him and judge

[@jelenamartinovic1647]

Lenin was one of the greatest mind of 20th century so he was a good guy. Instead of hearing propaganda,some of you can just read some history and Lenin's books :)

[@EightyFourThousands84000s]

Legit, read the books he wrote. Lenin really was good. The ruling Capitalist class just wants people to think he was bad because they're scared of the proletariat. In a socialist world, Capitalists lose power. Capitalist bourgeois like to trick us into fighting amongst ourselves so that we do not organize and take the true rulers down haha.

[@Yo-ps2pf]

Lenin was a great guy lol

[@darexinfinity]

How are the defensive arguments for Lenin's brutality as the government builds itself not applicable to their predecessor?

[@OnyxAgainstTheWorld]

History vs. Fidel Castro. That would be interesting.

[@petitedanni]

@Moonbat i see what you did there

[@cbenz3946]

idk about that

[@lid.or.whatever]

@Stooven McStoovenson not misunderstood, he sold the Cuban ppl one thing and ended up with another. The beginning and the idea was great, but there was poor execution and no acceptance of change, which has hurt the Cuban people.

[@lid.or.whatever]

@Stooven McStoovenson everyone who has ever done anything is worthy of been studied, but we can't mistake interest for idolizing

[@samedwards3285]

now i want a milkshake

[@sillynelson1]

Leonardo Dicaprio needs to play Lenin in a movie

[@ayazahamed2883]

GrapeDrank25 Robert Downey Jr took the role

[@tlr9403]

NOOOOOO

[@emiyakiritsugu4473]

Seirios yes

[@thepugawsomegamer1722]

GrapeDrank25 I think you mean Leninardo Di Capriro

[@ryanricke2247]

GrapeDrank25 yeeerre is eessssddddddddsssss

[@DeathGaurdPaints]

Please revive this format

[@kingtut4734]

Man I love this trial videos!

[@heathercalun4919]

It's not a question of "Was this long-dead guy good or evil?". It's a question of what we can learn from his mistakes.

[@Ben-zq8ug]

we can't learn anything then can we? as lenin did absolutely nothing wrong

[@seamedsworduae3803]

wow

[@Andy-km1xp]

Ben Van Rooy what about censorship of newspapers and killing his opponents?

[@Ben-zq8ug]

It was necessary to avoid further civil war or defection to the whites, which could have potentially killed many more russians in the long run. Many other powers have detained people without trial due instability or simply misguided fear, such as america with the japanese in world war two. Many countries censor newspapers and limit freedom of speech during wars, which many democratic countries have also done, such as news having to pass through the office of war information in america during world war two. And the tsar did both of those things quite often as well as authorizing programs against the jews, who he just didn't like.

[@Andy-km1xp]

Ben Van Rooy is seizing land from its owners and dividing it among peasants also justified? And who could forget the red terror?

[@realitywarper936]

One thing I like about this series is how it portrays both sides fairly and lets them make good arguments.

[@fbibarbie]

I think it is weighted a bit to heavily in the prosecutions favor it in every vid and he always seems to get the last word ect.

[@Liberty2100]

+Howard Ackerman The defense got the last word in Napoleon Bonaparte

[@nocucksinkekistan7321]

It's weighed way too heavily in the defendants favour.

[@apelincoln]

I wish they didnt have to keep trying new accents...

[@nocucksinkekistan7321]

Gnarly Derpderp Thats the only good thing about this series.

[@Nelster]

it is good to also dive into the ideas that drove them in addition to looking at the goods and bads of what they accomplished,.

[@phuocnguyenngoc7821]

If you have seen sort of videos about "History on trial" released by Ted ed You may notice some significant references from "the Prince" by Niccolo Machiavelli Like the act of killing the royal family that Lenin did was previously mentioned in Machiavelli's book 400 years before. Other notorious politicians in the "History on trial" I guested, may probably be influenced by Machiavelli's work as well.

[@willfakaroni5808]

I don’t think Machiavelliwas the only person to conceive of that

[@arachnid83]

History vs Winston Churchill

[@Salman.914]

@@rubin6202 a good dog tho

[@boiiiii9627]

@@rubin6202 a dog who saved many more millions

[@Artist_of_Imagination]

Continue this epic battle you two. Gotta grab my popcorn.

[@Maxims1]

@@rubin6202 millions of indians who were fighting the japanese in burma a country with a large navy

[@noblechief4023]

@Masters Rubin He helped stop WW2, reformed British law and parliament, and basically helped Europe not become full of nazis. But you Idiots will continue to dog pile on him because of ONE mistake he did.

[@Liberty2100]

History vs Woodrow Wilson

[@LukrixGaming]

This would be cool

[@stuartz.h1774]

George Washington History vs Georgia Rasputin

[@beez6039]

George Washington vs history

[@joshproductions4283]

+Stuart Hatherley It's Gregori, not Georgia mate

[@stuartz.h1774]

Joshproductions sorry I have some spelling problems I have dyslexia

[@ronmiller5871]

To be honest I learned more history on KZbin then my school

[@pierceriddick7311]

Actually great video I couldnt pick up on any bias other than not explaining Tambov and grain confiscation

[@surafelgeleta8533]

"Volrd Var Vone " LOL

[@vladimirlenin7930]

surafel geleta Superior Soviet Accent

[@localcrazyrussian4511]

NO

[@matthiaskonold6976]

Nice to see some anarchists here , comrad

[@brandondriver1377]

History vs. Mao Zedong!

[@jeremywan8868]

+Brandon Driver Not possible. Mao did only bad. It was Deng who reformed China into what it is now.

[@TheRacistsMustDie]

+wan jeremy From Kishore Mahbubani's The New Asian Hemisphere: "Mao's communist revolution may have failed in many ways, but there awas one area in which his revolution succeeded: it destroyed the feudal mindset that had bedeviled Chinese society until early in the twentieth century. He encouraged in China's peasants an enormous sense of pride and equal citizenship. After Mao, they stopeed believing that they were naturally inferior. When Deng delivered the economic revolution with the introduction of free-market economics, one reasono why China was able to take off so quickly was that the social revolution unleashed by Mao had already broken the class barriers to advancement." It's apologetics without doubt, but it has a logic to it.

[@garroshhellscream7178]

+Brandon Driver This would be a good one

[@pg955203]

+Brandon Driver In Chinese words, it says Mao as "Merit in founding the nation, incompetent in ruling the country, and guilty of Culture revolution. All in all a negative remark. Chinese Communist party nowadays are moving further and further away from Mao and his ideologies, but they will never Demaonize like Soviets did to Stalin because they need him as a figurehead to hold power.

[@josephang9927]

Destroyer of China's culture.

[@rebika2726]

Everybody talking about fake Russian accent Me: I don't see where- " 0:51 " Ohh 👁️👄👁️

[@jerry3790]

Never a video about Lenin without a Beatles reference

[@constanse2625]

Serfdom was replaced by mortgage slavery .Forty years the peasants paid for their freedom (until 1905)

[@rorymosley9356]

Then that was replaced with state slavery during collectivization

[@-fm3701]

@@rorymosley9356 никакого рабства в колхозах не было

[@katharina9814]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmPZqWWrqKetpqc

[@daniellassander]

Get a grip on basic economics kid.

[@hehmda]

and now we have mortgage slavery again

[@risinglolreplays1299]

Ted talk has done a very good job exploring questionable leaders through international historical timelines. As a Chinese Canadian, could we try Ted Ed: History vs Mao ZeDong? I would just like to know other views.

[@ktkatte6791]

History: Mao was a big idiot who caused millions to starve to death and die during petty political struggles that set the nation back decades and didn't even manage to completely depose the nationalists lmfao

[@ktkatte6791]

+Alany Walany the famine was not inevitable what the shit are you talking about? it was directly caused by the great leap forward. Mao was an unmitigated disaster for China.

[@ktkatte6791]

Alany Walany why are you apologizing for china

[@ktkatte6791]

You sound like one of those sad little people that gets paid .50c a day to defend china on the internet

[@livinglifeform7974]

Yeah, the country that had a famine every decade wouldn't have had a famine that decade if it wasn't for mao. Smart.

[@vampiregamingyt8754]

I like how the defenses whole argument for the sections on crushing uprisings was essentially the same as the reason as the prosecution's argument for the Democratic and tsarist governmets

[@midgore]

The defender's accent is so satisfying to me

[@tompegorinno5141]

*looks at the comments complaining about the accent* Come on guys. He tried, and frankly at least they still talked about Lenin. It was still entertaining.

[@yakigesher-zion7289]

He didn’t have to try, there’s no need to use an offensive fake Russian accent, and in fact I don’t see why Ted Ed couldn’t just hire another voice actor anyway

[@kakalimukherjee3297]

@@yakigesher-zion7289 They should've brought the Slav King

[@theexcaliburone5933]

@@yakigesher-zion7289 why is it offensive? I think badly done stereotypical American accents are hilarious, I don’t take offense at all

[@LOrco_]

@@yakigesher-zion7289 Lenin was taught English by an Irish Scotsman. He probably would've spoken English like this.

[@user-ry9om6es8t]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWq0h4SsfLimgas

[@catoctober8005]

"Who wants to start a revolution!"-Oversimplifed

[@christosmeitanis6896]

Lenin's brother wasn't executed for "revolutionary activity" he tried to assassinate the Czar. Also the whole party heard Lenin's testament. Stalin wasn't the only person that was criticized, that's why the party as a whole scrapped the whole thing.

[@EPICFAILKING1]

The accent is to forced, sounds ridiculous. But other than that, great video xD

[@welshzecorgi7903]

DA, TOVARISH! BET PURR-HAPS EK-CENT NESSESA-RRRY FUR DRUMAT-TICK EF-FEKT! DAVOI!

[@tdfern1]

It is called authenticity.

[@aaditbhatia6551]

THEES EES THE OWNLY WAY THE PEAYPOL COD BE LEEBERATED.

[@computo2000]

But I found it berrry fun.

[@harrybadjas8492]

The accent makes it unwatchable :/

[@TheLuckyRima]

The fake Russian accent makes my ears bleed. Is there a script we can read?

[@curlyfry3049]

It wasn't that bad.

[@illenum]

Your name making my eyes bleed

[@thebenevolentsun6575]

Bold words coming from someone who's name sounds like a bad cough.

[@lucimaralves490]

@@thebenevolentsun6575 you use big papa words on your name to sound smart. shush.

[@thebenevolentsun6575]

@@lucimaralves490 It's a song lyric

[@harrisonlauritsen1242]

I like how the normal narrator of the videos voices the lawyer and manages to sound like a completely different person just by losing his chill.

[@cowsaysboo]

LOL that Big Lebowski reference is amazing

[@avoprim5028]

Where, exactly, though, is The Big Lebowski reference in this video?

[@ruymartinez4526]

People think the Russian guy is blowing it when he says the USSR was attacked by all sides. He really isn't. People in the US and Europe were more worried about the USSR than Germany by helping the Royalists and harsh trade with the USSR (until WW2 truly began)

[@jbone9900]

there ideas almost casued a second cival war

[@lambbone8302]

*Their *caused *civil

[@halflifeger4179]

The USSR was literally invaded by the US, France, UK, Japan and many other countries during the civil war. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_intervention_in_the_Russian_Civil_War

[@camelofsiberia962]

@@halflifeger4179 that still doesnt explain murderies of workers and other entire parties

[@hashly8521]

Even tho I disagree with him on some parts, you are correct. The USSR was being attacked literally and metaphorically by many outside powers.

[@Treblaine]

People are so quick to lay responsibility for famines on the feet of Lenin. But the same people sing a different tune with the famines in Ireland, India and other territories of the British Empire, they won't condemn British Prime Ministers in the same way. Apparently, famines under capitalist systems were all accidents, all famines under communism were orchestrated... to spite it being the capitalist system that gains the most from famine and communist system the least.

[@whoisj]

Funny, I don't remember any British Prime Ministers having hundreds of people shot for having a differing opinion. I also do not recall when Britain's economy collapsed under its own weight due to a complete lack of competitiveness.

[@Treblaine]

***** You never heard of the brutal oppressions in Ireland? Search the "Black and Tans", ever wonder where all that anger of Irish against Britain comes from? It is from that oppression. How about Atrocities committed in British East Africa against the Mau Mau? Thousands hanged, tortured to death, even castrated and burned alive. The British governor there himself equated it to the atrocities in Nazi Germany. The gunning down of peaceful protesters in India and so many other atrocities. Boxer rebellion and Boer war. You don't know because you never wanted to know. You don't recall the 1929 Stock Market Crash? You don't recall the repeated economic crisis in Capitalist systems? In 1970's Britain had to go cap in hand to the IMF for a massive bail-out. The difference is when USSR had economic failure, western nations withheld any possibility of any loans. They would only bail out Capitalist economies. But I do not consider my nation irredeemably evil for this, so how can I condemn Lenin?

[@Treblaine]

Boo Man Yes, England DID do that. It was responsible for the deaths of millions with famines, violently crushes of rebellion and not to mention the Slave trade. Saddam was not the first to launch poison gas attacks on Kurdish Populations... the British were. Britain may have ended the slave trade... but only after 250 years of growing extremely rich on the trade. England LITERALLY DID enslave millions to serve its whim. Through out its empire, millions of indigenous people were deliberately killed in with the intent of extermination or utter submission. And remember, this is the history as written by the victors, and it's THIS BAD. And that's just the British empire, what about Belgian Congo? What about America in its treatment of black slaves, aboriginal peoples, conquering and annexing Mexican territory, invasion and occupation of Philippines, Vietnam?

[@Hottides]

Treblaine Basically Nazi and Marxist atrocities are endlessly denounced; British atrocities are conveniently forgotten. Nobody forgets the Holocaust and Ukrainian Famine; nearly everyone forgets the African Slave Trade, Irish Potato and Indian Famines.

[@gunnarangeles7298]

Exactly, I couldn't agree with you any more. I don't see why these bourgeoisie apologists with their silly straw man arguments even bother debating you like their "civilized" governments have never committed atrocities or war crimes.

[@haslemdacarter2055]

The defendants lawyer is just working along Machiavellian lines

[@dovepiranha6543]

I wonder when will time to put "sir" WINSTON CHURCHILL on stand..🤔

[@f.w.3823]

What i really like about this show is that they never actually pass judgement.

[@Doublemonk0506]

@@meatloaf9716, I mean, what good points can you make for a genocider. I mean, isn't that why we villainize the Nazis Edit: Never mind, it was Stalin who sucks. Lenin's not bad, or at least not as bad as Stalin.

[@chickensandwich8808]

@@Doublemonk0506 not really defending Lenin, but Stalin was the genocider. Lenin expressed regret for how his methods for laying the foundation were too abrupt and violent allowing a populist like Stalin to secure power. Russia as a country and people have had it hard. Stalin's rule was similar in practice to modern day China. The foundations for socialist/communist principles were there, but overshadowed by a kind of... cabal-like group of elite that maintained power nationally while still ensuring localized democratic elections. Stalin even allowed "Democratic Elections" of people in higher office, but those elections were still based on candidates that were more or less chosen by the ruling party that Stalin maintained. To put that in perspective. The reason people here in the states were passed off at the DNC for not platforming Bernie Sanders properly is the same kind of methods used by Stalin to ensure someone that was sympathetic to "the cause" would fall in line regardless of who was voted in. The US and USSR are not that different in regards to how higher office is held. That is a hard truth to swallow.

[@Doublemonk0506]

@@chickensandwich8808, Oh yeah. My bad. I forgot it was Stalin who did the atrocities

[@asadd_the_good7604]

@Doublemonk0506 don't you worry, it wasn't a mistake, as Lenin was a genocider too (you can look up the period known as "Red Terror")

[@realchiknuggets]

LOL wrong

[@mylazymood]

I would be so interested if Ted Ed did History vs Adolf Hitler.

[@mylazymood]

probably won't happen

[@Anatolij86]

+Luke D Sure because taboos are very enlightening and never backfire. They did Gengis Khan, and Lenin, but Hitler is where you draw the line?

[@Anatolij86]

+Luke D Nazism is National Socialism, Communism is International Socialism. Understanding rather than demonizing Hitler's appeal and not minimizing Lenin's methods would much benefit the discussion. For kids and grown ups alike.

[@Anatolij86]

+Luke D Demonizing men, no matter how evil or corrupt, only hinders understanding. Everyone deserves a fair trial before History. If Gengis Khan can have one, surely Hitler should as well. What of it if he himself refused it? He thought himself beyond judgement. Do you agree with him?

[@Anatolij86]

+Luke D Then judge him harshly as a human, and judge the humans he inspired, and understand their corcumstances and motivations rather than being fooled into thinking a Devil appeared on Earth and a Nation was smittened by its charm, blaming and shunning him like a traumatised child who doesn't want to face the truth. The truth behind human desire, and conformity, and resentment, and pride, that old song that shall never fade, so all you can do is study it, unempathically, for one reason only: to understand. Knowledge should not be subject to its use. It is a sad pit of liberal morality to demand humanity be shielded by notions or voices that might pervert it.

[@jayvaghela9888]

We need more history on trial

[@macantor8187]

I like the video, but what about Trotsky? He was the central figure on the 7th of November and before

[@SatchelChannel]

He was an opportunist. I'm surprised Stalin let him live till the 40s

[@ohmy9261]

History vs Stalin!

[@bigwheelfromspidamahn1037]

Not possible

[@ohmy9261]

Sean boyle ??? Why not?

[@bigwheelfromspidamahn1037]

Oh My because he was only bad

[@bigwheelfromspidamahn1037]

He didint do anything but kill innocent lives

[@ohmy9261]

He brought mass industrialization to the country and transformed Russia from a land of peasants into a superpower; not to mention how quickly he executed (pun intended) all of this

[@acrossearth4760]

You know, when I watch History versus (insert famous or infamous person) I truly dumbfounded about how complicated history and politics is.

[@masterm3487]

to be honest, some of these can be pretty hollow compared to how complicated they actually were.

[@livinglifeform7974]

Especially with Stalin in this video.

[@blackearl7891]

That's normal. History isn't a dualistic view of good, and bad but a mix.

[@a.r4hm4n]

At 0:30, I realized how humorous it was gonna be! Genius!!

[@amaliatapia4566]

this guys need to do one about Stanlin

[@orsondy3060]

History vs Churchill

[@arachnid83]

They'll never do this. He is a very sensitive figure and debating about Churchill would mean undermining post war propaganda. Besides, he was a rear-minded colonialist and allowed things like the Bengal famine (genocide) to put Britain at an advantage. Even FDR was critical of him for his colonial mentality.

[@britaesthetics6882]

Drowned Sword ah yes it was Churchill’s fault, not the Indian nationalists blowing up railways taking food to troops in Bengal or the Japanese sinking british shipping, nah it was all Churchill’s fault

[@dhananjayjambhulkar5317]

@@britaesthetics6882 Woah.Such mindless comments from only knowing a fraction.

[@dr.nosborn6330]

@@arachnid83 That is why he deserves a episode here. Like Jackson.

[@shady8045]

Victor Mcdade no one says it was all Churchill’s fault, it was mostly due to a bad harvest, it’s impossible to deny that not only was Churchill negligent but considering food was EXPORTED, didn’t even care

[@remkowangkuijs4787]

Are we really defending Tzar Nicholas?

[@MinecraftLively]

Ry Is Awesome yes. The Tsar was incompetent not a bad man. Lenin was incompetent and a bad man

[@antwerp3302]

Defualt Name you think tsar force people go to work like slaves is good?

[@calogerohuygens4430]

Russian church proclamed him and his family saints. Lenin statues fell everywhere after CCCP dissolution.

[@thesupertsar4473]

Good point.

[@Lewa500]

Of course the Russian church would do that. The communists were their ideological and political enemies.

[@mantisblade9456]

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” - George Santayana

[@ncr3036]

Our OWN Ted talk I'm so grateful

[@MikeJBeebe]

I like how balanced this was, honestly.

[@cnn8420]

LOL! More like biased. Communism also gave us Vladimir Putin.

[@katharina9814]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmPZqWWrqKetpqc

[@Jbgro]

Apparently everybody in the Soviet Union had food?

[@zidorovichburblyatya2862]

@@cnn8420 Murica gave Yeltsin to Russia then gave Russians Putin later.

[@cnn8420]

@@zidorovichburblyatya2862 you should join ted-ed LOL

[@panasit]

do one on robespierre please

[@elsasslotharingen7507]

Yea.

[@tdfern1]

Panasit Ch He was mentioned in the History v. Napoleon.

[@yakovantonovich643]

robespierre was a hero

[@Andrew-jt4sb]

- Vendee and CPS intensifies -

[@caesar0frome950]

I don’t think he is Famous enough

[@revolutionarydefeatism]

Lenin is a different figure than Stalin and his Soviet regime! Stalin represented the new state capitalism of Russia, while Lenin wanted a revolution in other industrial countries that never succeeded. Lenin was an Internationalist while Stalin was a nationalist!

[@sharatchandra1130]

Well great thought and I also strongly agree with you.

[@slapshack3198]

His accent sounds like shrek

[@vladimirlenin7930]

Lil Comment *THEY KNOW OUR SECRET*

[@jaded8578]

shrek has a scottish accent, the defendant has a russian one.. those two are very different

[@DefyDistrict]

no the accents is just terrible

[@GeodesicBruh]

SCOTLAND

[@AmyLeeBasshunter]

donkäe

[@victorgabrielbuena]

for the longest time I never realised all three of these characters are voiced by the same person, good on Addison!