UNIT 2 PROMISE AND COLLAPSE 1919-1933

Factors that contributed to Stalin’s Rise to Power

General Secretary of the Communist Party

  • Stalin used it to appoint his supporters to important positions in the party

Lenin’s last will and testament

  • Lenin advised the Central Committee/Politburo to replace Stalin General Secretary because he abuses his power but the committee did not act on it

Stalin’s personality/ background and image

  • Stalin’s poor background and image as man of the people made him popular with many members of the party
  • Trotsky was an intellectual and arrogant which did not enamor him with many members of the party; he was new to the Party and resented by veteran Bolsheviks

Stalin’s alliances

  • Stalin formed alliances with members of the Central Committee against other members and then abandoned the alliance when it no longer was needed
  • 1924-26 he allied with Zinoviev and Kamenev against Trotsky
  • 1926-1928 he allied with Bukharin, Rykov, Tomsky against Zinoviev and Kamenev
  • 1928-1929 he opposed the NEP and Bukharin, Rykov, Tomsky and severed his alliance with them when they were no longer needed or useful

Trotsky’s “World Revolution” vs. Stalin’s “Socialism in one country”

  • Trotsky’s idea of “world revolution” was not popular as most members of the party were tired of revolution and feared it would ruin Russia
  • Stalin’s idea of “Socialism in one country” was very appealing to members of the party

Stalin’s political ruthlessness (schemer and tactician)

  • Stalin was a master schemer and tactician
  • he played one side of the Central Committee against the other
  • 1924-26 he allied with Zinoviev and Kamenev against Trotsky
  • 1926-1928 he allied with Bukharin, Rykov, Tomsky against Zinoviev and Kamenev
  • 1928-1929 he opposed the NEP and Bukharin, Rykov, Tomsky and severed his alliance with them when they were no longer needed or useful

Which of the factors that contributed to Stalin’s rise to power are represented in the film?

Factors / Represented in Film / Effective/Not Effective
General Secretary / ☐Represented
Not represented / ☐Effective
Not effective
Lenin’s last will
and testament / ☐Represented
☐Not represented / ☐Effective
☐Not effective
Stalin’s personality/
background and image / ☐Represented
☐Not represented / ☐Effective
☐Not effective
Stalin’s alliances / ☐Represented
☐Not represented / ☐Effective
☐Not effective
Trotsky’s “World Revolution”
vs
Stalin’s “Socialism in one country” / ☐Represented
☐Not represented / ☐Effective
☐Not effective
Stalin’s political ruthlessness / ☐Represented
☐Not represented / ☐Effective
☐Not effective