The key figure behind the establishment of the Soviet Union was Vladimir Lenin. After leading the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, Lenin played a crucial role in shaping the new communist government. He implemented policies aimed at nationalizing industry and redistributing land, which transformed the Russian Empire into a socialist state. Lenin's leadership during the ensuing Russian Civil War solidified Bolshevik power, and in 1922, the Soviet Union was officially founded, comprising multiple republics. Lenin's ideologies and governance left a lasting impact on the course of global communism and the structure of future international relations.