Option 1E: Russia, 1917–91: from Lenin to Yeltsin
In depth essay plans for this 2017 paper, mapping out the introduction (with relevant criteria and argument) and 3 paragraphs for each question.
I achieved an A* in A-Level History in 2022, and my overall mark was 170/200.
June 2017 – Option 1E : Russia 1917-91 from Lenin to Yeltsin
1) How accurate is it to say that the nature of government under Lenin and Stalin was markedly
different? (20 marks)
INTRO:
From 1917 to 1924, Lenin’s government has had broad-based support, allowing him to gain control
as an authoritarian leader and used terror to sustain control. Following Lenin’s death, Stalin came
into power. Stalin’s government can be seen to be a continuation of Lenin’s, however to a much
more extreme degree.
CRITERIA:
Markedly different can be defined as the extent of change from the previous regime.
The extent to which current leader uses previous leader’s methods
PARA 1:
One way that the nature of government under Lenin and Stalin differed was in the composition of
their governments, which affected many working citizens of Russia
Lenin’s government elected the Council of People’s Commissars (Sovnarkom) to govern Russia on a
day-to-day basis
New Russian cabinets – 13 People’s Commissars (all revolutionaries)
Lenin & the Bolsheviks claimed that their new government was truly democratic
Argued new state was based on communities of working people who participated in
government on a day-to-day basis
First decrees 1917 e.g. on land, peace & April theses were genuinely popular & reflected
what the majority of workers, peasants and soldiers wanted
Lenin’s government centralised during the Civil War – ensure survival of new government
Government had to act quickly to achieve victory – Lenin relied on Politburo (5-7 members)
– tended to be members loyal to Lenin
Sovnarkom was not abolished – only ceased to be main centre of government
Under Stalin – party membership and democracy changed – became undemocratic CHANGE
Lenin Enrolment 1924 – allowed 128,000 to join the Communist Party – argued that Party
needed new working-class members
New recruits were less interested in the ideas/goals of revolution and more interested in
well-paid jobs and careers
Patronage system
Party Democracy further weakens 1921-1928
1923 Stalin issued an ‘approved list’ – local parties were encouraged to send delegates to
Party congress from approved list rather than having free choice
1923 – approx 1/3 of delegates at Party Congress were selected from Stalin’s list – increased
Stalin’s power
OVERALL, it can be argued that the nature of government under Lenin and Stalin were markedly
different as there were significant changes from a claimed ‘truly democratic’ government to one that
became highly undemocratic
Methods used by each leader also differed- Lenin relying on most loyal and Stalin increasing
participation of many uninterested workers
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