''There was more continuity than change in the regimes between Lenin and Stalin''

Created by: krystynataaffe
Created on: 11-05-18 11:08


	''There was more continuity than change in the regimes between Lenin and Stalin''
	Similarities Both condemned religion. Lenin nationalised church lands etc. By 1940 - only 500 churches were open for worship - 1% of the value in 1917. Education was highly valued - both taught ''socially useful labour''. Encouraged students to snitch on anti-Soviet teachers and parents. Communal living was encouraged. Both purged members of the party - for Lenin - civil service, for Stalin, everyone. Both leaders encouraged class warfare - condemnation of the burzhui/class enemy. Use of show trials. Workers were often held at gunpoint to speed up levels of production. One-Party state. Ban on factions. Cheka and the NKVD. Emphasis on Communist youth - Komsomol 1918 and Pioneers 1922. Both resorted to terror to enforce laws. Both liked the use of propaganda.	Differences Economic policies - War Communism/NEP in comparison with the Five Year Plans. Lenin's Decree on Land made the land the property of the people but Lenin did not make much of an effort to reform agriculture in comparison with Stalin's collectivisation. Stalin was stricter in terms of culture/society. Lenin had legalised abortion, homosexuality and lifted laws on divorce whereas Stalin reversed these and condemned minorities. Stalin preferred traditional values - Russian was made the official language of the USSR. Stalin's purges were more direct to disloyal party members. Stalin focused on heavy industry and large ''Gigantomania'' projects e.g Dnieprostroi Dam, Moscow Metro etc. Cult of personality more prominent under Stalin. Lenin allowed the peaceful co-existence of Russians and national minorities, e.g use of the language Yiddish. Stalin reversed this. Lenin was a firm believer that art and literature should serve the people whereas Stalin banned any anti-Soviet art or literature, e.g Dr. Zhivago, Boris Pasternak. Emergence of the nomenklatura/party elite. Socialist Realism, Union of Soviet Writers 1934.
	Overall comparison The regimes were similar and it's clear that Lenin laid the foundations for the brutality of Stalin's regime. However, Lenin was more liberal in terms of society and social policy and allowed for the freedom of women and ethnic minorities. Lenin's purge and Stalin's purges were completely different. While Lenin condemned a few political opponents, Stalin condemned even potential political opponents such as Trotsky who was killed in 1940 in Mexico. Both focused on the elimination of the class enemy/burzhui to protect Communism.

''There was more continuity than change in the regimes between Lenin and Stalin''

Similarities

Both condemned religion. Lenin nationalised church lands etc. By 1940 - only 500 churches were open for worship - 1% of the value in 1917.
Education was highly valued - both taught ''socially useful labour''.
Encouraged students to snitch on anti-Soviet teachers and parents.
Communal living was encouraged.
Both purged members of the party - for Lenin - civil service, for Stalin, everyone.
Both leaders encouraged class warfare - condemnation of the burzhui/class enemy.
Use of show trials.
Workers were often held at gunpoint to speed up levels of production.
One-Party state.
Ban on factions.
Cheka and the NKVD.
Emphasis on Communist youth - Komsomol 1918 and Pioneers 1922.
Both resorted to terror to enforce laws.
Both liked the use of propaganda.

Differences

Economic policies - War Communism/NEP in comparison with the Five Year Plans.
Lenin's Decree on Land made the land the property of the people but Lenin did not make much of an effort to reform agriculture in comparison with Stalin's collectivisation.
Stalin was stricter in terms of culture/society. Lenin had legalised abortion, homosexuality and lifted laws on divorce whereas Stalin reversed these and condemned minorities.
Stalin preferred traditional values - Russian was made the official language of the USSR.
Stalin's purges were more direct to disloyal party members.
Stalin focused on heavy industry and large ''Gigantomania'' projects e.g Dnieprostroi Dam, Moscow Metro etc.
Cult of personality more prominent under Stalin.
Lenin allowed the peaceful co-existence of Russians and national minorities, e.g use of the language Yiddish. Stalin reversed this.
Lenin was a firm believer that art and literature should serve the people whereas Stalin banned any anti-Soviet art or literature, e.g Dr. Zhivago, Boris Pasternak.
Emergence of the nomenklatura/party elite.
Socialist Realism, Union of Soviet Writers 1934.

Overall comparison

The regimes were similar and it's clear that Lenin laid the foundations for the brutality of Stalin's regime. However, Lenin was more liberal in terms of society and social policy and allowed for the freedom of women and ethnic minorities. Lenin's purge and Stalin's purges were completely different. While Lenin condemned a few political opponents, Stalin condemned even potential political opponents such as Trotsky who was killed in 1940 in Mexico. Both focused on the elimination of the class enemy/burzhui to protect Communism.

Get Revising

''There was more continuity than change in the regimes between Lenin and Stalin''