Lenin’s Legacy Flashcards

On what date did Lenin die?

21 January 1924.

What is a power vacuum and why did it happen after Lenin died?

It is when no clear leader is in charge. It happened because Lenin left no named successor.

What was Lenin’s Testament?

A letter to the Party written in 1922–23 that judged the main leaders.

What did Lenin say about Stalin in his Testament?

He warned that Stalin was rude and too powerful and said he should be removed as General Secretary.

Why was Lenin’s Testament not published or acted on in 1924?

Party leaders kept it secret to protect unity, as it criticised them all. Stalin stayed in post.

What was the General Secretary post (created in 1922) and why did it matter?

It ran party records and appointments. It let the holder build support across the party.

What did the Ban on Factions (1921) do?

It banned organised groups inside the party. Leaders could punish ‘factionalists’.

What was the New Economic Policy (NEP) and why did it matter after Lenin died?

NEP was a 1921 policy that allowed some private trade and small business. After Lenin, it sparked rows over whether to keep it.

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How did Lenin’s funeral help Stalin’s image?

Stalin organised the funeral and acted as chief mourner. Trotsky did not attend, so Stalin looked like Lenin’s heir.

What was the ‘Cult of Lenin’?

Using Lenin’s image as a hero, such as embalming his body and building a mausoleum. Petrograd was renamed Leningrad. Stalin claimed to follow Lenin.

What was the Lenin Enrolment (Lenin Levy)?

A mass recruitment in 1924–25 when hundreds of thousands joined the party in Lenin’s name. Many then backed Stalin.

What was the Cheka and why is it part of Lenin’s legacy?

Lenin set up the Cheka, a secret police that used terror against enemies. It set a model for later secret police under Stalin.

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