3.4 Stalin's Rise to Power

• What led to factionalism within the Communist Party after Lenin's death in 1924?

  A power vacuum
• Match the political contender with their position and support base:

  Trotsky ↔️ Commissar for War, left-wing Party radicals

  Stalin ↔️ General Secretary, Party apparatus

  Kamenev ↔️ Politburo member, moderate faction

  Zinoviev ↔️ Politburo member, Leningrad Party
• Stalin's position as General Secretary allowed him to control appointments and policy implementation.
• Where was Joseph Stalin born?

  Georgia
• Stalin was never arrested or exiled during his early political career.

  False
• Chronological order of key positions held by Stalin:

  1️⃣ Member of Central Committee

  2️⃣ Commissar for Nationalities

  3️⃣ General Secretary
• What was the primary advantage Stalin gained as General Secretary?

  Control of appointments
• Which key contenders were involved in the power struggles after Lenin's death?

  Trotsky, Stalin, Kamenev, Zinoviev
• Stalin formed alliances with Kamenev and Zinoviev to isolate Trotsky and consolidate his power.
• What strategic tools did Stalin use to consolidate his power after forming alliances?

  Propaganda and appointments
• Stalin's manipulation of alliances and control of the Party apparatus were key factors in his dominance.
• With whom did Stalin form strategic alliances to isolate Trotsky?

  Kamenev and Zinoviev
• Stalin's alliance with Trotsky led to his isolation

  False
• Stalin used propaganda and strategic appointments to sideline his rivals
• Match the contender with their outcome in the power struggle:

  Stalin ↔️ Isolated Trotsky

  Trotsky ↔️ Sidelined

  Kamenev and Zinoviev ↔️ Purged
• What key role did Stalin's position as General Secretary play in his rise to power?

  Controlled appointments
• Order the key contenders after Lenin's death based on their roles and factions:

  1️⃣ Trotsky - Commissar for War, Left-wing faction

  2️⃣ Stalin - General Secretary, Party apparatus

  3️⃣ Kamenev - Politburo member, Moderate faction

  4️⃣ Zinoviev - Politburo member, Leningrad Party
• Trotsky was the Commissar for War
• In what year was Stalin born?

  1878
• Stalin was expelled from a theological seminary for his Marxist activities
• Match the position Stalin held with its primary responsibility:

  Member of Central Committee ↔️ Decision-making and policy setting

  Commissar for Nationalities ↔️ Managing ethnic affairs

  General Secretary ↔️ Administering the Party apparatus
• What was the significance of Stalin's role as General Secretary in consolidating his power?

  Controlled appointments
• After Lenin's death, key contenders in the power struggles included Trotsky, Stalin, Kamenev, and Zinoviev
• Why was Stalin expelled from the theological seminary?

  Marxist activities
• Stalin was a member of the Central Committee from 1912 to 1953.
• Stalin became General Secretary of the Communist Party in 1922
• Which contenders sought leadership after Lenin's death?

  Trotsky, Stalin, Kamenev, Zinoviev
• Stalin's control over the bureaucracy and alliances allowed him to defeat his competitors.
• Stalin formed alliances with Kamenev and Zinoviev to isolate Trotsky
• What was the purpose of the cult of personality in Stalin's regime?

  Enhance Stalin's image
• Censorship was used by Stalin to suppress dissenting views.
• Stalin created a cult of personality by controlling the media and suppressing opposition
• What effect did propaganda have on Stalin's leadership?

  Created a cult of personality
• Stalin's use of propaganda and control of information distinguished him from Trotsky.
• Stalin's purges eliminated opponents within the Communist Party
• What was the human cost of Stalin's policies?

  Suppression and executions
• Stalin's Five-Year Plans led to significant industrial production but also famine.
• Stalin's totalitarian regime suppressed dissent and executed millions in purges
• How did Stalin's authoritarian style contrast with Lenin's approach?

  Less collegial and more ruthless