Immediately after Lenin's death in 1924, what described the political situation in the Soviet Union?

Immediately after Lenin's death in 1924, what described the political situation in the Soviet Union?

• A. A period of rapid democratization
• B. External intervention by foreign powers
• C. Immediate stability and unity under a clear successor
• D. A power struggle developed among Communist Party leaders

Answer: (D)

Immediately after Lenin’s death, there was no clear successor or plan for leadership, so key Communist Party figures jockeyed for influence. Trotsky pushed for continuing international revolution and held strong ideological authority, while Stalin used his control of the party apparatus as General Secretary to build a power base. Other leaders like Zinoviev, Kamenev, and Bukharin shifted alliances as they weighed their positions. This competition over who would lead and shape policy created an internal power struggle rather than immediate stability or external intervention. The result was a prolonged fight within the party that gradually led to Stalin consolidating power by the end of the decade.

Immediately after Lenin’s death, there was no clear successor or plan for leadership, so key Communist Party figures jockeyed for influence. Trotsky pushed for continuing international revolution and held strong ideological authority, while Stalin used his control of the party apparatus as General Secretary to build a power base. Other leaders like Zinoviev, Kamenev, and Bukharin shifted alliances as they weighed their positions. This competition over who would lead and shape policy created an internal power struggle rather than immediate stability or external intervention. The result was a prolonged fight within the party that gradually led to Stalin consolidating power by the end of the decade.