1. How Stalin became a personal dictator in Communist Russia
Revising for Paper 2
How Stalin became a personal dictator in Communist Russia

2. Task:
You are going to produce 3 mind maps to show how Stalin became a personal dictator of Russia following the death of Lenin

3. Instructions: You are going to create a mind map.
It is important that you COPY each mind-map into your exercise book; this is active revision.
Highlight important points
Then complete the short test to see what you have learnt.

4. Death & Funeral of Lenin
Lenin suffered number of strokes
Died January 1924
This was a shock to Russia
Lenin seem as hero of establishment of Communism
Petrograd renamed Leningrad
Death & Funeral of Lenin
Stalin’s origins humble – son of shoemaker from Georgia
Became a Bolshevik
Had taken part in various illegal activities – e.g. had robbed bank
Reputation for ruthlessness
1917 became loyal supported of Lenin on Bolshevik Central Committee
Worked way up to become General Secretary of Party.
Good organises
Hated intellectuals – preferred simple, practical ideas.
Background of Stalin
Lenin’s Death
Background of Trotsky
Born to Jewish farmers in Ukraine
Very clever
Developed revolutionary ideas – shown in this writings
Before 1917 living abroad in exile – publishing books & newspapers.
March 1917 returned to Russia & joined Bolshevik Party
September 1917 became Chairman of Petrograd Soviet
Took charge of planning of Bolshevik Revolution
Commissar of War – created Red Army of 3 million men to defeat Whites in Civil War
Lenin’s Testament
Written in 1922 after first stroke
Jan 1923 added info. criticising Stalin
After his death Stalin persuaded leading Bolsheviks not to publish this – said it would not be in best interest of party unity.

5. Who should be the next ruler?
Stalin’s claims to power
Loyal Bolshevik for many years under Lenin.
Made sure seen as Lenin’s right-hand man – included doctoring photographs
Organised Lenin’s funeral
Excellent organiser
Controlled party machine as General Secretary
‘Socialism in One Country’ - wanted to build up Communism in USSR first – before expanding influence beyond
Trotsky’s claims to power
Carried out Bolshevik takeover of Oct/Nov 1917
Created & led Red Army to victory in Civil War
Enthusiastic writer & speaker
‘World Revolution’ - wanted Communism to spread to all developed countries as quickly as possible.
Who should be the next ruler?
Communist rule in later 1920s
After Lenin’s death no automatic leader
Before Lenin’s death USSR been created – incorporated all non-Russian areas to form the Russian Empire
Many in these no-Russian areas did not like this
Censorship been imposed under Lenin
Bolsheviks had many enemies
Communist propaganda was developing
Statues and paintings of Lenin appeared all over the country.

6. The Power Struggle Stalin Trotsky
Used Lenin’s funeral to advance his own position – took role chief mourner; Trotsky not present – had been recuperating from illness in the south – Stalin deliberately told him wrong date so he could not attend.
Ensured Lenin’s testament not made public
Published a book after Lenin’s death ‘The Foundations of Leninism’ – praised Lenin’s ideas
Used position as General secretary to appoint own supports
Became editor of party newspaper – Pravda
His policy appealed to war-weary Russians
Suffered because he was a Jew (a lot of anti-Semitism at the time)
1925 dismissed as Commissar of War
1926 dismissed with Kamenev & Zinoviev from Politburo
1927 expelled from Communist Party
1929 expelled from USSR
STALIN WAS IN CONTROL

7. Test your knowledge…
Click on the following link to BBC bite size and complete the short test

8. Example question b.) ESSAY QUESTION
‘Stalin was bound to become dictator after Lenin’s death. There was no other choice’
Do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer (12 marks)

9. Recipe for Success!
1. Highlight the topic in the question that you are being asked to show knowledge of.
‘Stalin was bound to become dictator after Lenin’s death. There was no other choice’
Do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer (12 marks)

10. Recipe for Success!
2. Identify were you AGREE with the topic in the question E.g. Stalin as bound to become dictator (next ruler) because… 3. Identify were you DISAGREE with the topic in the question E.g. Trotsky could also have become the next ruler because…

11. Writing up your answer
You need to write approx. 3 paragraphs to show where you AGREE with the view in the question
You then need to write approx. 3 paragraphs to show where you DISAGREE with the view in the question
Write a CONCLUSION – make a decision do you AGREE or DISAGREE with the view in the question? EXPLAIN you answer

12. Now it’s your turn…
What points would you include to AGREE with the view?
Stalin was bound to become the next leader because…
What points would you include to AGREE with the view?
Trotsky could also have been the next leader because…
Conclusion: What do you think was Stalin bound to become the next leader? Explain you answer.