Within the period 1894-2005, Lenin has been the most significant leader of Russia and the USSR. How valid is this statement?

Lenin was able to consolidate Bolshevik rule in Russia by combining popular policies and repression: To what extent do you agree with this statement.

therefore he had the control of most things . This is to say he was

Stalin was more effective than any other ruler of Russia in the period 1855 – 1964 in dealing with opposition. How far do you agree?

Money was required for Russia to build their own industrial base to support themselves. To build this infrastructure they had to borrow money from other countries. In exchange Russia would give them grains. Hence, Russia’s economy depended on the peasant who had to feed themselves & the bourgeoisie.The peasants weren’t productive enough. As a result, Stalin started to collect agriculture to finance industrialization (New World Encyclopedia contributors, 2014). Economics historians believe it to be the fastest economic growth rate ever achieved. In 1932-1933 the 4th greatest famine occured in the USSR due to collectivication (Fitzgerald, 2013). The workers building and working in these industries were unpaid laborers and prisoners (New World Encyclopedia contributors, 2014). Because there was about ~7 million - 15 million prisoners in labor camps and they were working in industries, those camps were now necessary for the prosperity of Russia’s economy (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, n.d.). With all those measures in place the productions of coal, pig iron & steel increased (New World Encyclopedia contributors,

These effects however were more severe under Lenin and Stalin as they sought to increase grain production by coercion. While Lenin under War communism used grain requisitioning to forcefully collect peasant surpluses from them Stalin used collectivisation to force peasants to collaborate to produce as much food as possible. Similarly in both cases the peasants refused to conform; knowing that any surplus would be confiscated the peasant produced the barest minimum to feed themselves and their family and even less food was available for Russia. One of the greatest impacts were the famines that occurred in 1921 under Lenin where the grain harvest produced less than half the amount gathered in 1931 and Russia had international help from countries such as the USA. However these impacts were the greatest under Stalin. The amount of bread produced fell from 250.4 (kilograms per head) in 1928 to 214.6 in 1932. The impacts of collectivisation were at its worst in 1932-32 when occurred what many people describe as a self-made national famine. Stalin’s ‘’official silence’’ of the situation meant it wasn’t addressed and thus collectivisation killed between 10-15 million peasants and failed to increase agricultural output. Though a similar devastating famine occurred under

Historians argue that the 1917 Russian Revolution represents a major turning point in world history. Two specific pieces of evidence that support this argument is that the Revolution led to the spread of communism with the formation of the USSR and the emergence of Russia as a world power. Both of the pieces support the argument. The Revolution led to the formation of the USSR, otherwise known as the world’s first nation to base its government on the teachings and writings of Karl Marx. This event would not only be groundbreaking for Russia, but the entire globe. The formation of a communist nation meant a new battle was about to start -- the battle between communism and capitalism. The formation of the USSR would directly lead to the Cold

Stalin’s unquestionable dominance over the Bolshevik party and their actions highlights the impact of Stalinism

Vladimir Lenin Vladimir Lenin was the Bolshevik leader. He was a clever thinker and a practical man; he knew how to take advantage of events. When Lenin arrived in Russia, he issued a document called the April theses, promising ‘peace, bread, land and freedom’. He called for an end to the ‘Capitalist’ war, and demanded that power should be given to the soviets.

The Russian Revolution of 1917 set the country on a course that few other countries took in the 20th century. The shift from the direction of a democratic, parliamentary-style government to a one party communist rule was a drastic change that many did not and could not predict. Looking back on this key moment in Russian history, many historians ask the question ‘why did the political power in Russia shift to the Bolsheviks’? Since the revolution in 1905 Russia was becoming progressively more democratic, distributing power throughout the political sphere. This came to an abrupt halt when Vladimir Lenin was put into power by the Bolshevik takeover of the Provisional Government. Many authors have had different takes on this event. Two particularly interesting ones were Arthur Mendel and John D. Basil. Their pieces On Interpreting the Fate of Imperial Russia and Russia and the Bolshevik Revolution give various perspectives on the Russian Revolution and attempt to answer the question of the power shift. This key point in Russia’s history sets the tone for the next 100 years. Russia became a superpower, an enemy of the United States, started multiple wars directly and indirectly, and started using an economic system used by various countries around the world. Today we still see the effects of the 1917 Revolution. Looking at both Mendel’s and Basil’s attempt to answer why the power shifted to the Bolsheviks. Since both historian 's account of the events is different they cannot

Ruling over Russia with an iron thumb, Statesman's Joseph Stalin “was the supreme ruler of the Soviet Union and the leader of world communism for almost 30 years” (Joseph). In the early 1930’s, Stalin eliminated all opposition after Lenin's death, allowing him to gain complete tyrannical power. He moved quickly, and mercilessly to do so. Part of the reason why Stalin is so controversial is because it’s arguable that he didn’t ruin Russia. In fact, some might say he saved it .During

As such any comparison then, will be somewhat uneven as we will compare not only actions to actions, but in Stalin's case, his actions to Lenin's theory as well as to speculation, as to what Lenin may have done in practice, if he had lived longer.

Past events in Lenin’s life steered him towards the path of a revolutionary. After the execution of his brother because of his involvement in anti-tsarist activities, Lenin took an interest in political studies and joined many discussion groups, quickly rising to the position of leader. Lenin was also very strong-willed and brilliant, making him a formidable leader. Unlike the Provisional Government which lacked support and authority, he made sure there were internal conflicts between the Bolsheviks, in turn creating a ruthless political party. Even though he had the leadership qualities that lead the Bolsheviks to victory, it should be remembered Lenin only returned to Russia after the February Revolution, therefore making the fall of the tsarist regime and the Provisional Government taking control prerequisites for the Bolsheviks’ rise to power in 1917. Further proving evidence that Lenin’s leadership qualities were more or less a trigger factor that lead to the collapse of the old order, as he wouldn't have been able to express his leadership abilities had the Tsar still been in

which they allowed the peasants to opt out of the Mir, thus, in a way,

to take over from Lenin, he did not think he was as good as Lenin,

To the Russian people Vladimir Lenin was an important historical figure and the creator of the Soviet System. Lenin was not always a radical revolutionary, but he transformed into one after reading the books that his older brother had in his library. Lenin’s older brother was executed as a radical by the regime which created an early hatred for the Tsar. Lenin was the leader of the Bolshevik party and helped to rally support to the party even while in exile through the multiple pieces of writing that he produced. Lenin helped to promote the revolution in 1905 and was only stopped by the outbreak of World War One. While the tsarist Government survived the revolution in 1905 they would fail to do so in the February Revolution which occurred in 1917. After the Tsar fell a provisional government was set up which floundered and failed while Lenin and his Bolsheviks gained power. After being sent back to Russia by Germany, Lenin created his April Thesis which said that the power should be transferred to his soviet socialist party. At first, the Bolsheviks were a minority but by September 1917 they gained the majority and took the power from the provisional government in the October Revolution. After the Revolution, a civil war broke out between the Bolshevik Red army and the anti-Bolshevik White army. Which the Reds eventually won with the leadership of Leon Trotsky and Vladimir Lenin.