Stalin- Purges (Causes and Consequences)

The purges was an historical event which took place in Russia from 1936 to 1938, with Stalin as the mastermind behind it. Firstly I will be talking about the three causes that led to the event; stopping the reading of Lenin’s will, Stalin’s need to get rid of individual threats to his power and also his need to weaken key groups in the USSR through the use of his terror tactics. Secondly I will be talking about Stalin’s paranoia and what happened during the purges. Lastly I will be talking about the three consequences; Stalin’s success in weakening key groups in the USSR, his ability of getting rid of the individual threats to his power and the effect that the Purges had on the general population of the USSR and their way of life.
Stopping the reading of Lenin’s will, was one of the major causes which led to the Purges. Lenin was the leader of the Bolsheviks who became the first leader of Russia after the 1917 Revolution when they overthrew the Tsar (like a king) and his family. Later in 1922 Stalin was appointed General Secretary and obtained all of the party files and heaps of information on party members. During this time Lenin suffered several strokes, leaving unable to talk and practically paralyzed. Before he died he left a will for all party members to hear. This will stated Stalin’s immoral characteristics and that he wanted to get rid of him before he gets too much power in his hands. Lenin’s will also stated who he though should be leader; Trotsky who was a successful leader of the Red Army (Russia’s Army formed by the Bolsheviks). As General Secretary Stalin took advantage of the fact that it was his responsibility of looking after party files which somehow included Lenin’s political will. Stalin made sure that no other party member gets to read it, let alone have a glimpse of it. By stopping the reading of the will he obtained the position as leader of the Bolsheviks and Russia. If people had known about the will, Stalin would have never became a