Stalin Rise Essay Plan

Question 1

What position did Stalin hold from 1922 and how did he use it through 1924-1927?

Answer 1

• General Secretary from 1922

1922-1924: Built control over Politburo appointments
1924-1927: Used position to control party membership and Politburo papers
By 1927: Had decisive control of party apparatus

Question 2

What was the Lenin Enrollment (1923-1925) and its effects?

Answer 2

• 1923: Program initiated

1923-1925: Party membership doubled from 500,000 to 1,000,000
By 1925: New working-class members made up majority
1925-1927: Stalin placed these loyal members in key positions

Question 3

How did Stalin use the Ban on Factions (established 1921)?

Answer 3

• 1921: Lenin established ban

1924: Used against Trotsky’s supporters
1926: Used against United Opposition
1927: Successfully expelled Trotsky, Kamanev and Zinoviev
1928-1929: Used against Bukharin and Right Opposition

Question 4

What were Trotsky’s crucial mistakes in 1924?

Answer 4

• January 21, 1924: Lenin died

January 27, 1924: Missed Lenin’s funeral
May 1924: Criticized party at 13th Party Congress
Throughout 1924: Stalin gave multiple speeches positioning himself as Lenin’s disciple

Question 5

Timeline of Trotsky’s party loyalty issues?

Answer 5

• Pre-1917: Menshevik alignment

1914-1917: Maintained isolationist position
August 1917: Finally joined Bolsheviks
1918-1925: Role as Red Army commander created distrust
1924-1925: Party questioned his commitment to Leninism
1925-1927: Faced increasing isolation

Question 6

How did Stalin use shifting alliances 1924-1929?

Answer 6

• 1924: Allied with Zinoviev and Kamenev against Trotsky

1925: Maintained center position in party debates
1926: Aligned with Bukharin and Right (appealing for NEP)
1927: Defeated Left Opposition (united front accusing them of factionalism)
1928-1929: Turned against Bukharin and Right accusing NEP of capitalism
By 1929: Achieved complete control

Question 7

Timeline of Stalin’s policy shifts on NEP and industrialization?

Answer 7

• 1924-1925: Supported NEP with Bukharin

1925-1927: Maintained moderate position
1927: Began shifting left
1928: Launched First Five-Year Plan
1929: Abandoned NEP completely
1929-1930: Initiated collectivization

Question 8

How did Stalin exploit party conflicts 1924-1927?

Answer 8

• 1924: Let Zinoviev and Kamenev attack Trotsky

1925: Remained neutral in ideological debates
1926: Watched United Opposition self-destruct
1927: Used party machinery to remove opponents
By 1928: Emerged as unopposed leader