Lesson 2: Early Soviet Leaders

Crane Brinton’s work established common patterns in the English Revolution of the 1640s, the Russian Revolution of 1917, the French Revolution, and the American Revolution (although, the American Revolution does not fit together as neatly as the other three do). Brinton wrote the first edition of the book when Stalin was in power; he discusses “the recent—or present—revolution in Russia.” Brinton had no idea that communism in Europe would collapse or that democracy would ever become commonplace in the Soviet Union.

The initial phase of the revolution finishes with the Tsar Nicholas abdicating his throne and the overthrow of the provisional government in October by the Bolsheviks. The next phase is characterized by civil war and the Red Army using brutal tactics to establish power. Lenin's plan was to ease the strong handed approach to maintaining order through the New Economic Policy (NEP). The NEP was supposed to allow some trade and private ownership. When Lenin dies, Trotsky "disappeared" and Stalin stepped up to rule for three decades as a totalitarian dictator.

Joseph Stalin

Joseph Stalin eliminated his political competition and ran propaganda campaigns to convince the people that he was the rightful leader. He used secret police to monitor and control the public, who would be sent to the Gulags for any number of offenses. This is a pattern of totalitarianism that you will see throughout history. The economic policy was based on five-year plans to increase agricultural and industrial production.

Background Quiz

"Lenin and Stalin (Mostly Stalin)"