History Chapter 2.1: Rise Of Stalin & 2.2: Stalin’s Dictaorship In Soviet Union Flashcards
What were the reasons that Stalin rose to power ?
Non- disclosure of Lenin's testament Trotsky's unpopularity in the Politburo Stalin's manipulations - pretend to be close with Lenin - control over party organisation - Exploration of ideological division
What was the Non-disclosure of Lenin’s testament ? What was the impact ?
Non-disclosure Lenin’s Testament
- Lenin’s testament stated that Stalin should not succeed him and should be removed from party position
- It was read out during the meeting, but was chosen to be ignored as it also criticised all the potential successor
- Many saw Trotsky as a greater threat than Stalin and felt that there was no need to get rid of Stalin.
Therefore Stalin was lucky as the circumstances favoured him, he managed to keep his role as the secretary- general of red army which he used effectively to (build up) *must * his power base, isolated Trotsky created a Troika alliance. If the testament had been read out, he would not be able to keep his position and manipulate his way to rise to power.
What was Trotsky’s unpopularity in the Politburo? What was the impact of it ?
Trotsky’s unpopularity in the Politburo
- Trotsky was arrogant and complacent which made it easy for Stalin to rise to power. Due to his arrogant personality, he managed to make many enemies in the party. This means that they were ready to discredit him and remove him from power when they can. He also complacent and believed that he was the rightful successor of Lenin and did not bother building up his support within the ranks of the party. He did not have many political alliances. This made him lose support from many Leaders and caused him to have a narrow base.
- He was also politically naive and failed to counter Stalin’s cunning political movement. He choose to remain silent and allowed Stalin to keep his position and rise to power, Which Stalin use to build up power base and isolate Trotsky.
- Trotsky’s ideology of ‘permanent revolution’ was unpopular. It focus more on starting communist revolution all over the world, however people were weary about more fighting. More people supported Stalin’s ideology of ‘socialism in one country’ which focuses more on strengthening Russia first.
Effect
As such Trotsky’s outspoken and arrogant personality, made him lose support from party members. His weakness such as
disinterest in building support base,
unwillingness to get involved in politics
Silence of Lenin’s testament, greatly undermined his power and position in the party. His ideology of ‘permanent revolution’ further discredit him and lose more support in the party. All these made him more disadvantageous spot against Stalin. Stalin was able to exploit Trotsky’s weakness and use it to his advantage to rise to power.
What was Stalin’s Strength and manipulations? What were impacts?
Stalin’s control over party organisation
Stalin was the party’s Secretary-General. This gave his authority and expel or appoint party members, he abused this authority by replacing his allies of his political rivals with his own allies, he also placed his supporters in key position of the party. He gained control of Cheka (?)
EFFECT
By having control over the party and enlarging his support base with his allies who supported him, this helped him get rid of his rivals. As such Stalin was able to pack a 1925 party meeting with his supporters who voted to remove Trotsky from the party. This helped his remove his crucial rival to his rise to power.
Stalin pretended to have been close to Lenin
Stalin cleverly made it seem like he was very close to Lenin after he fell ill in 1922. He visited Lenin often and acted as his connection to the rest of the world. When Lenin died, Stalin helped organise the funeral and presented himself as the chef mourner. He also manipulated Trotsky into missing Lenin’s funeral by giving him the wrong date .
EFFECT
By pretending that he was close to Lenin, Stalin gave party members and public that Lenin trusted and believed Stalin. His role as the chief mourner at Lenin’s funeral helped him gain more support. In the public’s eye, Stalin was the righteous successor of Lenin. On the other hand, the members to were too angry at Trotsky for failing to attend Lenin’s funeral. This further damaged Trotsky’s reputation as the part and public felt that he had been disrespectful to Lenin.
Exploitation of ideological division
Stalin skilfully took advantage of the ideological division between the Moderates and the Radicals within the party, by forming alliance with different side at different times. Their quarrel and argument gave Stalin a chance to set them against one another and prevent them form uniting together and go against Stalin.
First, he joined the moderates and removed Trotsky whom was seen as a radical.
After that, Stalin broke his troika alliance and removed the other two members
Finally, he allied himself with the radicals to remove the moderates, therefore removing all political opponents with the help of his “allies”
EFFECT
By taking advantage of these ideological division, allying himself with different sides at different times, he was able to remove him rivals from the party.
What were economic impact of Stalin’s rule ?
Collectivisation
Collectivisation involved merging smaller farms into larger collective farms known as Kolkhozy. Stalin believed that larger units of land could be farmed more efficiently through mechanisation, such as the use of tractors. Under collectivisation, lands that were own by the state and the crops were distributed by the state and the state fixed the quantities if crops that presents were to produce. At first, collectivisation was promoted through propaganda but was enforced later.
WHY ?
- He wanted to modernise farming and make it more efficient.
Stalin needed to modernise agriculture to improve efficiency on the farms, when smaller farms combine together to form larger farms tractors could be used. Farmers would be taught modern farming methods, which will hopefully be able to increase efficiency and output. Eventually this would increase efficiency and in turn increase the production of crops.
