Why did Stalin win the power struggle against Trotsky?

Stalin won because he held the key position of General Secretary, allowing him to appoint loyal supporters to important roles. He also adopted a more popular 'Socialism in One Country' policy compared to Trotsky’s 'Permanent Revolution,' and he cleverly used the 'Cult of Lenin' to portray himself as the rightful heir while portraying Trotsky as an outsider.

What was the main goal of the Five-Year Plans?

The primary goal was to rapidly industrialise the USSR to catch up with the West and prepare for a potential capitalist invasion. Stalin famously claimed the USSR was 50-100 years behind the advanced countries and had to close that gap in ten years or be 'crushed.' The plans focused on heavy industry like coal, iron, and steel.

How did Khrushchev's 'Secret Speech' change the USSR?

The 1956 speech denounced Stalin’s crimes and the 'Cult of Personality,' leading to a period known as 'The Thaw.' It resulted in the release of many political prisoners from the Gulags, a slight loosening of censorship, and a shift in focus toward consumer goods. However, it also caused instability in Eastern Europe, leading to the Hungarian Uprising.

Why is the Brezhnev era called the 'Era of Stagnation'?

It is called this because the Soviet economy stopped growing and became inefficient due to a lack of innovation, high military spending, and a bloated bureaucracy. While life was stable, there were chronic shortages of basic goods, and the political leadership became a 'gerontocracy' (rule by the elderly) that was resistant to any meaningful change.

What caused the final collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991?

The collapse was caused by a combination of economic failure, the failure of Gorbachev's reforms to deliver immediate improvements, and the rise of nationalism in republics like Estonia, Latvia, and Ukraine. The 1991 August Coup attempt by hardliners further weakened central authority, allowing Boris Yeltsin to emerge as a leader and lead Russia toward independence.

Was Collectivisation successful?

Economically and socially, it was a disaster for the peasantry, leading to the liquidation of the Kulaks and a man-made famine (the Holodomor) that killed millions. However, from Stalin's perspective, it was a 'success' because it gave the state total control over the grain supply, which was exported to fund industrialisation, and it forced peasants into the cities to work in factories.

The Development of the USSR, 1924-1991

WJEC

GCSE

This period study focuses on the key trends and turning points in the development of the USSR between 1924 and 1991, examining the political, social, economic, and cultural perspectives that shaped the lives of the Soviet people.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

Topic Overview

The Development of the USSR, 1924-1991, tracks the transformation of Russia from a war-torn revolutionary state into a global superpower, and its eventual disintegration. This WJEC GCSE unit begins with the power struggle following Lenin's death, focusing on how Joseph Stalin outmanoeuvred rivals like Trotsky to establish a totalitarian regime. Students explore the radical economic changes of the 1930s—namely Collectivisation and the Five-Year Plans—which industrialised the nation at a staggering human cost, alongside the 'Great Terror' which cemented Stalin's absolute control.

The course then moves through the post-war era, examining the 'Thaw' under Nikita Khrushchev and the subsequent 'Stagnation' of the Brezhnev years. It concludes with the 1980s, where Mikhail Gorbachev’s attempts to reform the system through Glasnost and Perestroika inadvertently triggered the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Understanding this period is vital for grasping modern geopolitics, as it explains the origins of the Cold War and the complex relationship between Russia and its neighbours today.

By studying this topic, you will develop skills in evaluating historical significance and analysing how different leaders used propaganda, terror, and economic policy to maintain power. You will also learn to interpret primary sources from a state where information was strictly controlled, helping you distinguish between official ideology and the lived reality of Soviet citizens.

Key Concepts

Core ideas you must understand for this topic

→Totalitarianism: The system where the state holds total authority over society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life, particularly under Stalin.
→Command Economy: The shift from the New Economic Policy (NEP) to state-directed industrialisation and the forced merging of individual farms into collective units (Collectivisation).
→Cult of Personality: The use of propaganda to create an idealised, heroic, and worshipful image of leaders like Stalin to ensure national loyalty.
→Reform vs. Hardline Communism: The internal tension between leaders who wanted to modernise the system (Khrushchev, Gorbachev) and those who wanted to maintain strict ideological control (Brezhnev).
→The Collapse of Authority: How the loosening of political control and economic failure led to the rise of nationalism in Soviet republics and the end of the USSR.

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Stalin's achievement and maintenance of power (1924-1953)
The leadership contest, 'Cult of Stalin', propaganda, censorship, and terror
Impact of Stalin's rule: Collectivisation, de-kulakisation, Five Year Plans, industrial modernisation, and the role of women
Impact of the Second World War (1939-1945): preparations, Operation Barbarossa, Leningrad, Stalingrad, and post-war reconstruction
Cold War relations (1945-1991): post-war tensions, Warsaw Pact vs NATO, arms race, 'hot-spots' (Berlin, Cuba, Afghanistan), and the 'Second Cold War' in the 1980s
Political developments (1953-1985): Khrushchev and de-Stalinisation, industrial/agricultural reform, the Brezhnev years, and leadership changes (1982-1985)
Gorbachev's reforms: economic reconstruction, perestroika, glasnost, democratisation, and improved relations with the West
Collapse of communism and the break-up of the USSR: unrest in Eastern Europe, rise of nationalism, role of Yeltsin, and the end of communism

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

Stalin's achievement and maintenance of power (1924-1953)
The leadership contest, 'Cult of Stalin', propaganda, censorship, and terror
Impact of Stalin's rule: Collectivisation, de-kulakisation, Five Year Plans, industrial modernisation, and the role of women
Impact of the Second World War (1939-1945): preparations, Operation Barbarossa, Leningrad, Stalingrad, and post-war reconstruction
Cold War relations (1945-1991): post-war tensions, Warsaw Pact vs NATO, arms race, 'hot-spots' (Berlin, Cuba, Afghanistan), and the 'Second Cold War' in the 1980s
Political developments (1953-1985): Khrushchev and de-Stalinisation, industrial/agricultural reform, the Brezhnev years, and leadership changes (1982-1985)
Gorbachev's reforms: economic reconstruction, perestroika, glasnost, democratisation, and improved relations with the West
Collapse of communism and the break-up of the USSR: unrest in Eastern Europe, rise of nationalism, role of Yeltsin, and the end of communism

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡Focus on second order historical concepts such as continuity, change, cause, consequence, significance, similarity, and difference.
💡Ensure understanding of the complexity of the society and historical situation over the long timescale.
💡Construct balanced, reasoned, and well-substantiated extended responses.
💡Demonstrate chronological grasp and the ability to make connections between different aspects of the period.
💡Use specific statistics to support your points on the Five-Year Plans, such as the growth of 'hero cities' like Magnitogorsk, rather than just saying 'industry grew'.
💡When discussing the Purges, distinguish between the different groups targeted (Old Bolsheviks, the Army, and the 'Ordinary' people) to show a nuanced understanding of state terror.
💡For WJEC 'significance' questions, always explain the short-term impact versus the long-term legacy of an event, such as the 1956 Secret Speech.

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Misconception: The USSR was always economically failing. Correction: In the 1930s and 1950s, the USSR saw massive industrial growth and technological leaps, such as the launch of Sputnik; the 'Stagnation' only became terminal in the late 1970s.
Misconception: Glasnost and Perestroika are the same thing. Correction: Glasnost refers to 'openness' (political and social freedom), while Perestroika refers to 'restructuring' (economic reforms).
Misconception: Stalin was Lenin's hand-picked successor. Correction: Lenin’s 'Testament' actually warned against Stalin, but Stalin suppressed the document and used his position as General Secretary to build a power base.

Revision Plan

How to revise this topic in 1–2 weeks

1Week 1, Day 1-2: Map out the 1924-1929 power struggle. Create a table comparing the views of Trotsky, Stalin, Bukharin, and Zinoviev.
2Week 1, Day 3-5: Focus on Stalin's 'Revolution from Above'. Detail the successes and failures of the Five-Year Plans and the impact of the Holodomor.
3Week 2, Day 1-2: Create a timeline of leadership from Khrushchev to Brezhnev, noting key policy shifts like De-Stalinization and the 'Era of Stagnation'.
4Week 2, Day 3-4: Analyse Gorbachev’s reforms. List the reasons why Glasnost and Perestroika failed to save the USSR.
5Week 2, Day 5: Practice WJEC-style source questions, focusing on identifying the 'purpose' and 'reliability' of Soviet propaganda posters.

Exam Question Types

How this topic typically appears in the exam

📋Describe Question: Usually worth 4 marks. Focus on providing two or three developed points of factual information about a specific event, like the 'Great Terror'.
📋Explain Question: Focuses on causation (Why did...?). Structure your answer with clear PEEL paragraphs (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link).
📋Source Utility: Evaluate how useful a source is for an inquiry. You must mention the content, the provenance (who, when, why), and your own contextual knowledge.
📋Significance Question: A longer essay format. You must argue why an event or person was important at the time and how it changed the course of Soviet history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions students ask about this topic

Before You Start

Prior knowledge that will help with this topic

•The causes and events of the 1917 Russian Revolutions.
•Lenin's leadership and the consolidation of Bolshevik power (1917-1924).
•Basic understanding of Marxist-Leninist ideology (Communism).

Likely Command Words

How questions on this topic are typically asked

Explain

Analyse

Evaluate

To what extent

Ready to test yourself?

Practice questions tailored to this topic

The Development of the USSR, 1924-1991

Topic Overview

Key Concepts

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Revision Plan

Exam Question Types

Frequently Asked Questions

Before You Start

Likely Command Words

Ready to test yourself?

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How to Revise The Development of the USSR, 1924-1991 — WJEC GCSE History

Examiner Tips for The Development of the USSR, 1924-1991

Key Marking Points

The Development of the USSR, 1924-1991

Topic Overview

Key Concepts

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Revision Plan

Exam Question Types

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Stalin win the power struggle against Trotsky?

What was the main goal of the Five-Year Plans?

How did Khrushchev's 'Secret Speech' change the USSR?

Why is the Brezhnev era called the 'Era of Stagnation'?

What caused the final collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991?

Was Collectivisation successful?

Before You Start

Likely Command Words

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in WJEC GCSE History

Austerity, Affluence and Discontent: Britain, 1951-1979

Changes in Crime and Punishment in Britain, c.500 to the present day

Changes in Entertainment and Leisure in Britain, c.500 to the present day

Changes in Health and Medicine in Britain, c.500 to the present day