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Icebreaker ~ OPVL
11/ 6 & 11/7
Origins & Rise of joseph Stalin
1924 – 1929
Overview

Stalin rose to power in what was already a single – party state

Origin and development of single party state lie in the political &
economic problems of czarist Russia, the impact of WWI, the
Bolshevik Revolution of November 1917, & the civil war 1918 – 1921

By the time Lenin dies in January 1924, Soviet Union had been in
practice a single party state for 3 years

Stalin’s rise was unexpected

Before Lenin died in 1924 rivalries emerged among communist leaders
such as Trotsky, Grigori Zinoviev and Lev Kamenev

1922 Lenin wrote a Testament outlining the strengths and weaknesses
of the main leaders…1923 added a Postscript recommending Stalin’s
dismissal

By 1929 Stalin was the sole new ruler of the party
Political & Economic Problems 1921 -1924
What happened to Russia?

Civil War broke after the October
Revolution (Bolshevik)

This is when the Provisional Gov’t
(DUMA) is overthrown
 Bolsheviks
(the Red Army) vs.
The Whites
 The

Bolsheviks won in 1921
Major policy disruptions that
caused problems
War Communism – takes place during the
Civil War

All industry was nationalized and strict centralized management was
introduced.

State monopoly on foreign trade was introduced.

Discipline for workers was strict, and strikers could be shot

Obligatory labor duty imposed onto "non-working classes."

Prodrazvyorstka – taking agricultural surpluses from peasants to
redistribute.

Food and most commodities were rationed and distributed in urban
centers in a centralized way.

Private enterprise became illegal.

Military-style control of railroads.
How do we summarize “war
communism”?

Ability to for the Bolsheviks to take total control

Historian Richard Pipes argued:
 Bolsheviks
used excuse of war communism to
eliminate private property, commodity
production and market exchange.
 The
leaders expected an immediate and large
scale increase in economic output
Kronstadt Rebellion

Took place in March 1921

Was an insurrection against War Communism

Wanted new elections of Soviets

Freedom of political prisoners

Elimination of political armies

Return of private work

Result:

60,000 soldiers attacked the rebels

Estimated that over 1,000 workers killed
Result of the Kronstadt Rising

Even though Bolsheviks won:
 Vladimir
Lenin stated that Kronstadt "lit up
reality like a lightning flash".
 Lenin
concluded that world revolution was not
imminent
 Replaced
War Communism with his New
Economic Policy = step back towards
capitalism
New Economic Policy
 Adopted
in 1921
 Allowed small, privately owned firms and
traders to operate
 Established an alliance with peasants
 Allowed them to sell surplus to private
markets
 State kept control of major industry and
foreign trade
Effect of the NEP
 Left
feared a restoration of capitalism
 Right argued that it was essential
Though they overlooked fight
between kulaks and nepmen
Kulak—rich peasant
Nepmen—traders who gained
money under NEP
The 1921 Ban

Revival of capitalism & shock of the Kronstadt
Rising led the congress to introduce a ban on
factions (people within the Communist Party
having inner party opposition within itself)
Lenin’s Illness
By 1922 Lenin had his first stroke
 Personal rivalries emerged among the Politburo (communist party
that made decisions):
 Trotsky – seemed most likely to emerge as a major leader
 Zinoviev
 Kamenev
 Bukharin
 Stalin**
1922 appointed as the General Secretary of the Communist
Party
Had power to appoint and dismiss party officials
Dec. 1922 Zinoviev, Kamenev, & Stalin form a triumvirate
(alliance) to prevent Trotsky from obtaining majority
support

Dec. 1922 Lenin’s Political Testament

Became concerned about the personal and political tensions

Outlined the strengths and weaknesses of the Communist
Party

Urged Trotsky to form a ‘Joint Bloc for Democracy’ vs. the
growing sings of a bureaucracy in the party and the state

Lenin urged Trotsky to launch a campaign against
bureaucracy from the restoration of party and soviet
democracy

Jan. 1923, concerned about Stalin’s power, he added a
Postscript recommending Stalin’s removal
What were the key stages of the power
struggle

Stage 1: Early Moves against Trotsky, 1923 – 1924

April 1923 12th Congress meeting mentioned Lenin & Trotsky but
hardly mentioned Stalin = Stalin not important

Lenin absent from meetings due to illness = Stalin replaces Trotsky’s
supporters in a new enlarged Central Committee (Communist Party’s
ruling body between Congress)

As General Secretary Stalin replaces Trotsky’s supporters with those
who were loyal to him

Trotsky was absent at Lenin’s funeral saying that Stalin had told him
the wrong date

Stalin raises suspicions about Trotsky’s absence and loyalty
What were the key stages of the power
struggle

Stage 2: Defeat of the Left Opposition,1924 – 1927

Stalin continued to dismiss oppositionist from responsibility

Position was threatened when in May 1924 Lenin’s widow revealed his Testament to
the Central Committee & Congress delegates

Stalin is saved by Zinoviev and Kamenev = they persuaded them not to publish the
Testament

January 1925 the triumvirs removed Trotsky from his position of commissar of war

Triumvirate would split in 1925 about disagreements over the New Economic Policy

Trotsky, Zinoviev, and Kamenev would form the United Opposition = against Stalin

Stalin was able to ban them from meetings and dismiss their supporters

Accused them of breaking the 1921 ban on factions
Stalin rids the United Opposition

By Nov. 1927 Stalin was successful in removing Trotsky and Zinoviev
expelled from the Communist Party & Kamenev expelled from the
Central Committee
 Stalin rises through the ranks of politics through ruthlessness and
cunning
 He played his opponents against one another and he used his poor
background to appeal to the people
 Zinoviev & Kamenev abandon The United Opposition in fear of the
communist party splitting (Lenin’s biggest fear)
 Trotsky is deported…Others are positioned elsewhere in the Soviet
Union to prevent them from communicating
Political Cartoon Assignment

Create a Political Cartoon
 Lenin,
Stalin, Command Economy,
Feudal Life Under Nicholas II,
Proletariat vs. Bourgeoisie, etc.
 Include
the following
 TITLE
3
2
MESSAGES WITHIN CARTOON
SENTENCE DESCRIPTION OF
CARTOON @ BOTTOM OF PAGE OR
ON BACK OF PAPER
Exit Card
1)
Who were the two armies who fought in the Russian Civil
War called? Who did the US support?
2)
What did Lenin’s Testament state?
3) Who was Stalin’s biggest opponent when trying to assume
leadership of Russia after Lenin’s death?