Unit: The Russian RevolutionTopic: Lenin In Full Effect!

1. A Constitution?

A. In 1922, the Communists produced a constitution that SEEMED both democratic and Communist.

B. It set up an elected legislature and gave all political power, resources, and means of production to workers and peasants.

C. BUT…the Communist Party, not the people, reigned supreme and used the military and secret police (the Cheka) to enforce its will!

2. Lenin’s N.E.P.

A. War communism had resulted in an almost complete collapse of the economy; industry output had fallen and peasants stopped producing food.

B. In 1921, Lenin created the N.E.P. (New Economic Policy), which allowed SOME capitalism.

C. The state kept control of banks, businesses were allowed to run under private ownership; peasants also owned some land and sold their extra crops for profit.

D. The N.E.P. helped the Soviet economy recover; by 1928 food and industrial production were back at prewar levels, but there was no further improvement.

3. Goodbye, Lenin!

A. Lenin’s sudden death from a stroke in 1924 set off a power struggle among Communist leaders.

B. The two front runners were Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky; Stalin gave his supporters top jobs and isolated Trotsky within the Communist party to win power.

4. Lenin: A Success or

Failure?

1. SUCCESS! Overthrowing the monarchy and creating a new gov’t.

2. SUCCESS! Russia gets out of WWI.

3. SUCCESS! Russia is now known as the U.S.S.R.

4. SUCCESS! The Russian economy recovered after WWI thanks to N.E.P.

5. FAILURE! Lenin doesn’t create a “pure” Communist society.

6. FAILURE! Lenin introduces SOME capitalism into the economy in N.E.P.

7. FAILURE! Lenin’s use of secret police and fear will continue in the U.S.S.R.

8. FAILURE! N.E.P. does not continue to improve the economy.