What was the impact of Lenin's death on the Soviet Union?

Lenin's death in 1924 led to a power struggle and significant changes in Soviet leadership and policies.

When Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the Bolshevik Revolution and the first head of the Soviet state, died in January 1924, it created a vacuum at the top of the Soviet Union's political hierarchy. Lenin had been a central figure in the establishment of the Soviet state, and his death left the Communist Party without a clear successor. This uncertainty led to a fierce power struggle among the party's top leaders, most notably between Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky.

Stalin, who was the General Secretary of the Communist Party, used his position to consolidate power. He was able to outmanoeuvre his rivals by building a strong base of support within the party. Trotsky, who was a prominent leader of the Red Army and a key figure in the revolution, found himself increasingly isolated. By 1927, Stalin had effectively sidelined Trotsky, who was eventually exiled from the Soviet Union.

The power struggle had significant implications for the direction of Soviet policies. Under Lenin, the New Economic Policy (NEP) had been introduced, which allowed for some degree of private enterprise and was seen as a temporary retreat from full socialism to rebuild the economy after the civil war. However, once Stalin secured his position, he moved away from the NEP and towards a policy of rapid industrialisation and collectivisation of agriculture. This shift aimed to transform the Soviet Union into a major industrial power but came at a great human cost, including widespread famine and repression.

Lenin's death also marked the beginning of a more authoritarian regime. Stalin's rule became increasingly dictatorial, characterised by purges, show trials, and widespread surveillance. The political culture of the Soviet Union changed dramatically, with Stalin's cult of personality becoming a central feature of Soviet life. This period saw the suppression of dissent and the establishment of a totalitarian state, which would have lasting effects on Soviet society and its citizens.