What group were the early Russian communists known as?

The early Russian communists were known as Bolsheviks, and this designation is significant for several reasons. The Bolsheviks were a faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party and emerged in the early 20th century, led by figures such as Vladimir Lenin. They advocated for a revolutionary overthrow of the existing capitalist system, believing in the necessity of a vanguard party to lead the working class (the proletariat) toward socialism and eventually communism.

The term "Bolshevik" itself means "majority" in Russian, which reflected their status within the faction of Social Democrats during a pivotal moment in the party’s history. Unlike their rivals, the Mensheviks, who took a more moderate approach and favored a slower transition to socialism and broader participation from various social classes, the Bolsheviks pushed for immediate change through revolution. Their ideology emphasized the need for a strong, centralized party structure to direct the revolution and ensure its success.

This historical context highlights why the Bolsheviks are specifically recognized as the early group of Russian communists, differentiating them from other parties or movements such as the Mensheviks, who were focused on a more inclusive and gradual approach, as well as the broader term Social Democrats, which included various factions