Vladimir Lenin, was the leader of the Bolsheviks and their goal was to overthrow Czar Nicholas II. When the Czar was forced to abdicate, the Duma established a temporary government. Bolsheviks still wanted basic changes. In November 1917, the Bolsheviks attacked Kerensky’s government. Lenin established a radical communist program, the New Economic Policy. After Lenin’s death on January 21, 1924, Stalin took over and had a set of different agenda plan for Russia called the Five Year Plan. Lenin’s New Economic Policy was more successful because during his lead, trade, manufacturing, and agriculture began to rise during his time. Lenin’s plan was more progressive than Stalin’s plan. During the World War I and throughout the Revolution, all farmers …show more content…
Stalin took control over the farms and factories trying to “reorganize” the economy. However, it led to less production resulting in famine. Unrealistic quotas were set (Adams 5). He used collectivization, a policy of forced consolidation of individual peasant households onto collective farms. The use of collectivization led to many farmers death due to them protesting. Stalin’s overall goal for Soviet Union was to create an industrial power with all production under government control. Agriculture was bought under government control and forced peasants to live on group farms. The standards of living were poor during his rule (“Stalin’s Economic Policies” 1). In conclusion, Lenin’s New Economic Policy was more successful than Stalin’s. Even though Lenin’s New Economic Policy was temporary, it prospered Soviet Union’s economy. Many workers had jobs, production increased, wages increased and the citizens were content. When Stalin came to power, he completely disregarded Lenin’s policy and created his new own. The economy did not prosper with his plan. The standards and conditions of living were poor and production decreased. The citizens were not content with his plan, especially unpopular with the
Some countries were well behind others in industrialization, such as Russia. Rapid industrialization was necessary in Russia, and Joseph Stalin tried to change their circumstances, he introduced two five-year plans, which increased Russia’s industrial production, their heavy industry improved, the output of iron, steel, electricity, oil, and coal rapidly increased, opportunities were given to women and they could start working as doctors and scientists etc. Although Stalin did industrialize Russia, he did it forcefully and through terror. Millions of people died from famine, others were sent to camps, which were horrific, he took away the lands and farms that were given to the peasants by Lenin. Anyone who did not 100% support Stalin was considered an enemy, and anyone who was a potential enemy, such as Trotsky, was exiled. Trotsky was a member of the central committee just like Stalin, he was another candidate for Lenin’s replacement, and he was well suited for that position, but Stalin rose to power quicker and gained power by
In the late 1920’s, living in Lenin’s shadow, Stalin decided that the New Economic Policy would introduce the Five-Year Plan.
Stalin continued even once he was successful in accomplishing those goals, as he did not stop hurting people, but if anything it gave him more power to hurt people even more. But, at the end of the day, although Lenin ruled for only a very short time, he did raise the standard of living, though there maintained a large amount of hardship. Stalin, however, transformed the USSR from a peasantry to an industrialized nation in less than a decade, he did it on the backs of his millions of victims, who died because of his harsh policies and many purges. Lenin made a series of policies throughout the beginning of the Revolution and through his short time in public office that came to be collectively known as ‘Leninism’. There were many things that influenced Leninism, such as Karl Marx.
Lenin noticed that his social economy was "stalling" so he decided to let the people have their old economy again. Lenin proceeded to put in place the "New Economic Policy" whereby he changed the economy of the USSR from a communist to a capitalist increasing the economy of the country drastically (http://www.bbc.co.uk). This policy lasted for many years after his death (http://www.bbc.co.uk).
How significant was Lenin’s leadership in the Bolshevik Consolidation of power in 1924? Lenin's leadership was a crucial factor in consolidating Bolshevik power up until his death in 1924. His pragmatic leadership helped gain some initial support as well as giving him unquestioned authority within the party. Furthermore, his push for the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk to help save the revolution from foreign invasion was crucial and his practicality was further exemplified through War Communism and the introduction of the New Economic Policy (NEP). The use of terror under Lenin's rule was also highly effective in removing political dissidents and exerting Bolshevik authority through coercive measures like the Cheka and the Red Terror.
Stalin’s hunger for power and paranoia impacted the Soviet society severely, having devastating effects on the Communist Party, leaving it weak and shattering the framework of the party, the people of Russia, by stunting the growth of technology and progress through the purges of many educated civilians, as well as affecting The Red Army, a powerful military depleted of it’s force. The impact of the purges, ‘show trials’ and the Terror on Soviet society were rigorously negative. By purging all his challengers and opponents, Stalin created a blanket of fear over the whole society, and therefore, was able to stay in power, creating an empire that he could find more dependable.
Around the early 1920’s, Stalin took power and became leader of Russia. As a result Russians either became fond of Stalin’s policies or absolutely despised them. Stalin’s five-year plans lured many into focusing on the thriving economy rather than the fact that the five year plan hurt the military. The experience of many lives lost, forced labor camps, little supply of food, influenced the Russians negative opinion about Stalin. Having different classes in society, many Russians had different points of views. For the Peasants, times were rough mainly because of the famine, so they were not in favor of Stalin and his policies; where as the upper classes had a more optimistic view of everything that was occurring. Stalin’s policies affected the Russian people and the Soviet Union positively and also had a negative affect causing famine for the Russian people.
Stalin’s leadership of the Soviet Union can be best described as a period of terror and censorship. In other words, he was very strict, considering the fact that he created the totalitarian government. In order to create this type of government, Stalin used fear and propaganda. He took part in The Great Purge, which was a campaign of terror that was supposed to eliminate anyone who threatened Stalin’s power. He also relied on secret police, who would arrest and execute any traitors. The online blog, “The Reasons For the Failure of The Russian Revolution”, brings up information on how Stalin planned to rule as dictator of Russia. It has been noted, “This ‘reshaping’ had three main aspects: the elimination of all dissent; the liquidation of all forms of democracy and of working class organisation; the slashing of the living standards of the working class and the physical annihilation of millions of peasants” (Text 5). This quote explains how Stalin wanted to industrialize Russia, which includes the deaths of several peasants of Russia. The Russians did not just die from The Great Purge, but also from Stalin’s Five-Year Plan. The Five-Year Plan was an attempt to industrialize the Soviet Union. It was also a plan for increasing the output of steel, coal, oil, and electricity. He had control over economic resources, including farms and
boosted the USSR’s economy. Therefore Stalin had created a country which seemed corrupt at the time, but later on it improved by the hard work Stalin had forced upon them.
Lenin lead the first communist government in russia . When communist took over the city of petrograd , they decided to take out the provisional government . “Peace, bread and land” and “All power to the soviets” was said by Lenin to the cities workers with sayings such as these 2. In lenin's eyes he claimed that workers will and can not , be governed by themselves. Lenin promised to the Soviets that he would get his soldiers out of war plus he granted land ownership to the peasants and also gave them a opportunity to own shops in Soviet . The actual revolution only lasted two days. Trotsky had planned this and it was perfect execution . Trotsky held a speech in the city of petrograd to distract them while the red guards took over important parts of petrograd. Almost everything possible was captured. Lenin was like a spy during this revolution, he had to find the leaders of the provisional government and arrest them . At this time Alexander Kerensky was the president of the provisional
Over the next few years, Russia went through a traumatic time of civil war and turmoil. The Bolsheviks’ Red Army fought the white army of farmers, etc. against Lenin and his ways. Lenin and the Bolsheviks won and began to wean Russia of non-conforming parties eventually banning all non-communist as well as removing an assembly elected shortly after the Bolshevik’s gain of power. Lenin’s strict government, however, was about to get a lot stricter with his death in 1924.
The Conditions for Workers and Peasants Under the Bolsheviks and Under the Tsar's Rule Conditions for workers and peasants were deplorable under the rule of the Tsars, but not to the extent they were under the Bolsheviks. Despite the Bolsheviks claiming their policies were entirely in favour of the proletariat, peasants were forced to face horrific famine and a vast decline in living standards under rule by Lenin and the Bolsheviks. When Alexander II came to power in 1855 he realised that in order to modernise Russia and improve the weakening economy he needed to make dramatic reforms. In 1861 Alexander issued his Emancipation Manifesto, proposing 17 legislative acts that would free the serfs in Russia. Even though this new-found freedom in some ways seemed to place a greater burden on the peasants due to heavy redemption payments on their land and little improvement regarding agricultural methods in Russia, the act made the now-freed serfs feel that progress was being made towards a fairer social system in Russia and gave them some hope for more affirmative reforms in the future.
Joseph Stalin ruled the USSR from 1929 until his death in 1953. His rule was one of tyranny, and great change from the society that his predecessor, Lenin, had envisioned (Seton, 34). Stalin put into effect two self proclaimed "five-year plans" over the course of his rule. Both were very similar in that they were intended to improve production in the nation. The first of these plans began collectivization, in which harvests and industrial products were seized by the government and distributed as needed. The government eliminated most private businesses and the state became the leader in commerce. Stalin also initiated a process called "Russification". (Great Events, 119)"
Lenin's Economic Policies in 1924 When the Bolsheviks seized power in October 1917 they inherited many of the problems faced by the old Tsarist regime as well as those of the Provisional Government after the Tsars abdication. Lenin, as leader of the Bolsheviks took many measures to try and solve these problems, each with varying degrees of success. This essay will, therefore, go on to look at and discuss the various measures that Lenin and the Bolshevik party took, and, whether these measures created more problems for Russia in the end or in fact made significant progress towards the communist society that Lenin had prophesised for Russia. In the early days of Bolshevik rule, there were many problems facing Lenin.
Lenin was the leader of the Bolshevik or the “majority” faction of the ‘Russian Social Democratic Party’. Lenin had played a major role in the establishment of the USSR. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) came into being after the Socialist Revolution in Russia in 1917, which was led by Lenin. The revolution was inspired by the ideals of Socialism, as opposed to Capitalism, and the need for an egalitarian society. This revolution was one of the biggest attempts in human history to remove the institution of Private Property, led by the Provisional Government, and establish a society based on the principles of equality. In doing so, the makers of the Soviet Union gave importance to the state and the institution of the party. The Soviet political system centered on the Communist party, and no other political party or opposition was allowed. The economy was planned and controlled by the state. This group of countries, including the East European countries that the Soviet armies had liberated from the fascist forces and came under the USSR, was called the ‘Socialist Block’. After the Second World War, the Soviet Union became a great power; it had complex communication networks, vast energy resources, and an efficient transportation system. The Soviet Economy was then more developed than that