The Power Struggle Flashcards
Why was Socialism in One Country Popular?
Why was Permanent Revolution unpopular?
- The USSR was still recovering from WWI and civil war. Socialism in One Country was supposedly more peaceful.
- Socialism in One Country was patriotic and focussed government time and money on the USSR.
- The party members who joined during the Lenin Enrolment were careerists not true Bolsheviks. They wanted security and prosperity, not world revolution.
Why did Trotsky fail to become leader of the USSR?
Trotsky’s mistakes and weaknesses:
- Poor politician. (Arrogant, no support base, Party feared he would become a dictator.)
- Unpopular policies (Permanent Revolution, ending the NEP.)
- Mistakes after Lenin’s death (Missed funeral and didn’t push for Testament to be read.)
Stalin’s actions:
- Popular policies. (Keep the NEP when it’s working, end NEP when it’s failing. Socialism in one country.)
- Control of the administrative system.
How much did Party membership increase by during the Lenin Enrolment?
1922: 340,000.
1925: 600,000.
Why was there no agreed successor to Lenin in 1924?
- There was no official post of “leader” and no way of electing anyone. Many would prefer collective leadership.
- Lenin’s reputation was so great and few preparations had been made for his death.
- The testament criticised all prominent Bolsheviks without suggesting a successor.
- There was fear of a Napoleon-like dictator emerging.
- All possible contenders had strengths and weaknesses.
- No one had enough support on their own but factions were banned.
Stalin’s Roles in the Party?
1917 - Commissar for Nationalities.
1919 - Head of Rabkrin
1919 - Head of Orgburo.
1922 - General Secretary.
1923-25 - Supervised Lenin Enrolment.
When was the Trokia? (Stalin, Zinoviev, and Kaminev.)
1924 - the 13th Party Congress.
When did Stalin align himself with the Right and the NEP?
1925 - the 14th Party Congress.
When was the United Opposition (Zinoviev, Kaminev, and Trotsky) formed?
1926.
When did Stalin turn against the Right and NEP?
1928.
When was the Trokia? (Stalin, Zinoviev, and Kaminev.)
1924 - the 13th Party Congress.
When did Stalin align himself with the Right and the NEP?
1925 - the 14th Party Congress.
When was the United Opposition (Zinoviev, Kaminev, and Trotsky) formed?
1926.
When did Stalin turn against the Right and NEP?
1928.
