Lenin's Death & Aftermath

Task One:
1. Lenin was such an important part of the Communist Rise in Russia because he was the leader of the Bolsheviks. The February Revolution opened the door for the Bolsheviks and after the October Revolution they were officially in power. Lenin led the way to the Communist Rise and he studied the Revolutionary change in Russia, which led to the importance of the elite group leading the uneducated.

2. After Lenin's death on January 21, 1924, the Revolution would face the Russian Civil War. This was the attempt to remove the Bolsheviks from power. There were two groups, The Red Army and the White Army. The Reds, also known as the Bolsheviks, won the Russian Civil War.

3. Lenin's death and the continuance of the Russian Revolution relates to the death of Robespierre and the outcome of the French Revolution because they both progressed into something more. After Lenin's death the Russian's had their Civil War, while the French Revolution had the White Terror after the death of Robespierre.

4. If Lenin was not there to lead the revolution, I do not believe it would have been such a success. If Trotsky or Stalin lead it then I think it would not have been a success at all. I believe things would have gone the total opposite way with them leading it.

Task Two:
1. Lenin is most afraid of the downfall of the two parties if they do not come to an agreement because of its instability when relying on two classes.

2. Lenin thought Trotsky was one of the most capable men in the C.C. Lenin says this about Trotsky: "He has displayed excessive self-assurance and shown excessive preoccupation with the purely administrative side of the work." I believe Trotsky would have been a very organized leader and with much pride if he was the leader of the Bolshevik Party.

3. Lenin knows that Stalin has unlimited authority in his hands because he became the Secretary-General. However, Lenin does not think he will use his authority wisely, but instead abuse the authority he has. I believe that Stalin would have been the opposite of Trotsky and would have been a bad leader that made bad decisions and abused the authority he had if he was the leader of the Bolshevik Party.

4. I believe Lenin was leaning toward Trotsky to take the reigns of the Bolshevik Party and Communist Russia because he talks very highly of him. I would have picked Trotsky because I believe Stalin would be too bossy and I believe he would not be as organized as Trotsky. Lenin states, "Stalin is too rude and this defect, although quite tolerable in our midst and in dealing among us Communists, becomes intolerable in a Secretary-General."