Answer:
Joseph Stalin's rise to power in the Soviet Union began in the early 1920s when he emerged as a key player in the Communist Party. He was appointed as the General Secretary of the Communist Party in 1922, which gave him significant influence over party appointments and policy decisions.
Using his position as General Secretary, Stalin worked to consolidate his power and eliminate his political rivals. He purged the party of those who opposed him, including Trotsky, Kamenev, and Zinoviev, who were key figures in the early Soviet government. Stalin also used the secret police, known as the NKVD, to root out and eliminate any perceived threats to his power.
Stalin also implemented a series of policies that gave him greater control over the Soviet Union. He introduced a system of five-year plans that allowed him to direct the country's economic development and industrialization. He also implemented collectivization policies, which forced peasants to give up their land and join large collective farms, thereby allowing the state to control agricultural production.
In addition to these policies, Stalin used propaganda and censorship to control the flow of information and shape public opinion. He established a cult of personality around himself, presenting himself as a strong and wise leader who was the only person capable of guiding the Soviet Union to greatness.
By the late 1930s, Stalin had consolidated his power and eliminated any potential rivals. He remained the undisputed leader of the Soviet Union until his death in 1953.
Step-by-step explanation: