Elena
Stasova,
the daughter of a liberal lawyer, was born in 1873. Her father held
progressive political views and defended several revolutionaries
in court.
Stasova taught at a workers' evening school
in St. Petersburg. She also joined the Social
Democratic Labour Party and in 1900 became a full-time agent
involved in distributing Iskra.
By 1912 Stasova was one of the leaders of the Bolsheviks
in St. Petersburg.
Elena
Stasova
1.
Was highly critical of Nicholas
II
and the autocracy.
2.
Wanted Russia to have universal suffrage.
3. Wanted the
Russian government to allow freedom of expression and an end to
political censorship of newspapers and books.
4.
Believed that democracy could only be achieved in Russia by the
violent overthrow of Nicholas
II
and the autocracy.
5.
Was strongly opposed to Russia going to war with Austria-Hungary
and Germany.
6. Believed
that if Russia did go to war with
