Explain the impact of the death of Vladimir Lenin on the USSR.(1 point)

Question

A. The death of Lenin was a period of transition for the new USSR. Economic and power struggles meant that the country was wrestling with its existence. In this struggle, Lenin’s Cult of Personality emerged as a point on contention.

B. The death of Lenin was a period of transition for the new USSR. Economic and power struggles meant that the country was wrestling with its existence. In this struggle, Lenin’s Cult of Personality emerged as a way for people to forget about it.

C. The death of Lenin was a period of stability for the new USSR. After some years of economic troubles, the country was now in a good place. Lenin’s Cult of Personality emerged as an anchoring point.

D. The death of Lenin was a period of transition for the new USSR. Economic and power struggles meant that the country was wrestling with its existence. In this struggle, Lenin’s Cult of Personality emerged as an anchoring point.

Answer 1

The most accurate option regarding the impact of Lenin's death on the USSR is:

D. The death of Lenin was a period of transition for the new USSR. Economic and power struggles meant that the country was wrestling with its existence. In this struggle, Lenin’s Cult of Personality emerged as an anchoring point.

This choice effectively captures the turmoil and uncertainty faced by the Soviet Union after Lenin's death in 1924. Lenin's passing led to significant power struggles within the Communist Party, most prominently between figures like Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky. The economic challenges, including the aftermath of the Civil War and the challenges of implementing War Communism and the New Economic Policy (NEP), further complicated the situation.

The "Cult of Personality" surrounding Lenin became a critical element in the political landscape as it provided a unifying narrative for the party and the people, serving to legitimize the leadership that followed and to foster loyalty to the ideals that Lenin had embodied, even as the nation faced profound internal conflict and uncertainty during this transitional period.