Introduction
DIRECTIONS:Today you will be completing a web quest focused on Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union from 1924-1953. Your task is to complete all the questions on this worksheet by searching the websites that have been provided for you.
BACKGROUND: In Moscow on the evening of January 21, 1924, shock and near-hysterical grief greets the news that Vladimir Lenin, leader of the radical socialist Bolshevik has passed away. Lenin was a well-respected figure in Russia's history. His preserved body has been on public display there since shortly after this death in 1924, with rare exceptions in wartime. The mausoleum is situated in the Red Square in the center of Moscow which serves as a resting place of Lenin.
Despite Lenin’s warning in his Final Testament, that Stalin needed to be removed due to “character flaws,” Stalin won the power struggle and became the leader of the Soviet Union.
Task
- Look at the two sources below. They outline two reasons that Stalin rose to power in Russia. What do these reasons do they give for Stalin’s success in gaining power?
Source A: Adapted from an article on ‘Joseph Stalin (1879-1953)’ from BBC.
Stalin was not one of the decisive players in the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, but he soon rose through the ranks of the party. In 1922, he was appointed as the General Secretary of the Communist Party, a post not considered particularly significant at the time but which gave him control over appointments and thus allowed him to build up a base of support
Source B: From a biography of Trotsky
Immediately after the Party Conference, Trotsky left for a resort to recover from his prolonged illness. On his way, he learned about Lenin's death on 21 January 1924 and that the funeral would be held on 26th January. He was about to return when a follow up telegram from Stalin arrived, giving an incorrect date of the scheduled funeral, which would have made it impossible for Trotsky to return in time. Trotsky obeyed the telegram and did not return for the funeral. Many commentators speculated that Trotsky's absence from Moscow in the days following Lenin's death contributed to his eventual loss to Stalin, although Trotsky generally discounted the significance of his absence.
Process
Watch the following video from 4:11 until 7:41.
Visit the below website:
https://www.johndclare.net/Russ9.htm
Choose one of the main points and carry out some further research. You may wish to use the following websites:
https://www.biography.com/political-figures/joseph-stalin (Read the section on Russian Revolution, Communist Party Leader and Great Purge.
https://www.historyskills.com/classroom/modern-history/mod-stalin-reading/
https://www.sparknotes.com/biography/stalin/section6/
https://alphahistory.com/russianrevolution/rise-of-stalin/#General_secretary (Read from General Secretary to the end of the page)
TASK:
1. Using the information you have found create a meme that shows an aspect of Stalin and how he came to power.
2. Use the website below. Create a poster about Stalin that could be used by his enemies to show the public how harsh he was as a leader.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/joseph-stalin-national-hero-or-cold-blooded-murderer/zhv747h
Evaluation
You will have today and Friday's lesson to complete the two tasks. The best 2 memes and the best 2 posters will receive a prize. You are able to complete by hand or using your laptop.