The Power Struggle Following Lenin's Death

Created by: Little Miss Chatterbox
Created on: 13-01-13 11:43


	The Power Struggle Following Lenin's Death
	Advantages Trotsky: Inspirational military leader; support of the red army, support from some because he was responsible for peace after WW1 Stalin: His position as general secretary meant that he was able to put his supporters into positions of authority, had support in the party because of Lenin enrolment and the cult of Lenin, had a humble background, promoted socialism in one country, stayed out the NEP arguments, he was a skilled politician Bukharin: He was popular within the party, particularly with Lenin, editor of the Pravda after Oct. 1917; his views spread Kamenev: Had a wide support base because of the Moscow Soviet Zinoviev: Had a wide support base because of the Petrograd Soviet, he was a close associate with Lenin	Disadvantages Trotsky: The amount of losses after WW1 meant that he had some opposition, he promoted World Revolution, had been a Menshevik, wasn't a natural politician Stalin: Lenin had said in his testament that Stalin had too much power and had wanted him removed from his position as General Secretary Bukharin: He wasn't a natural politician and had headed the first communist opposition group Kamenev: He had voted against the October uprising and had clashed with Lenin Zinoviev: He had voted against the October uprising and he had many political enemies because of his level of ambition
	Evaluation Stalin became leader of the communist party because he was simply a better politician; he promoted the cult of Lenin and policies which he knew that the people of Russia would become receptive to. He was also able to play his opponents off against each other, in the meantime ensuring that Lenin's testament was never published. He as also able to use his position as an administrator (which his opponents had underestimated) to his advantage, as he was able to place his supporters into some of the best positions in the party.

The Power Struggle Following Lenin's Death

Advantages

Trotsky: Inspirational military leader; support of the red army, support from some because he was responsible for peace after WW1
Stalin: His position as general secretary meant that he was able to put his supporters into positions of authority, had support in the party because of Lenin enrolment and the cult of Lenin, had a humble background, promoted socialism in one country, stayed out the NEP arguments, he was a skilled politician
Bukharin: He was popular within the party, particularly with Lenin, editor of the Pravda after Oct. 1917; his views spread
Kamenev: Had a wide support base because of the Moscow Soviet
Zinoviev: Had a wide support base because of the Petrograd Soviet, he was a close associate with Lenin

Disadvantages

Trotsky: The amount of losses after WW1 meant that he had some opposition, he promoted World Revolution, had been a Menshevik, wasn't a natural politician
Stalin: Lenin had said in his testament that Stalin had too much power and had wanted him removed from his position as General Secretary
Bukharin: He wasn't a natural politician and had headed the first communist opposition group
Kamenev: He had voted against the October uprising and had clashed with Lenin
Zinoviev: He had voted against the October uprising and he had many political enemies because of his level of ambition

Evaluation

Stalin became leader of the communist party because he was simply a better politician; he promoted the cult of Lenin and policies which he knew that the people of Russia would become receptive to. He was also able to play his opponents off against each other, in the meantime ensuring that Lenin's testament was never published. He as also able to use his position as an administrator (which his opponents had underestimated) to his advantage, as he was able to place his supporters into some of the best positions in the party.

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The Power Struggle Following Lenin's Death