| Leader | Focus | Problems | Accomplishments |
| Lenin
1870-1924 Leader in November 1917 |
Struggle for leadership Establishing unity Establishing a government Striving for modernization and industrialization Belief in spreading communism by revolution | new government lack of industry Defensive against Western troops supporting counter-revolution in Russia | Formed "dictatorship of the proletariat"
Formed USSR Designed economic improvement programs Moved government to Kremlin in Moscow Established Politburo |
| Stalin
1879-1953 becomes Secretary General in 1922 Leader in 1929 |
Struggle for leadership
Demand for total unity Speeding industrialization Forcing collective farming Temporary alliances based on mutual need Emphasis on possibility of peaceful coexistence |
World War II
internal uprisings lack of food |
Ousted Trotsky
Conducted Five-Year Plans Campaign of Terror and Repression Established himself as absolute dictator Cult of Personality Defeat of Germany |
| Khrushchev
1894-1971 Rule of 4
|
Struggle for leadership
Strengthening economy Agricultural development Moderating treatment of dissidents and opponents Scientific development Emphasis on possibility of peaceful coexistence |
De-Stalinization
Hungarian uprising Cuban missile crisis Building of Berlin Wall Dismissed by Politburo |
Replacing Malenkov
Space race First Soviet leader to visit U.S. Active in international meetings |
| Brezhnev
1906-1982 Leader in 1964 |
Agricultural development
Re-emphasis on unity Industrial, nuclear and military development Emphasis on detente and strategic superiority Increased aggression in Eastern Europe Participation in summit meetings |
Vietnam War
Invasion of Afghanistan Suppression of Poland's Solidarity Movement |
Prevailed over Kosygin
Great military built-up USSR a nuclear superpower Increased industry Raised standard of living Arrested and deported dissidents Brezhnev Doctrine: USSR has right to move against counter-revolution in satellite countries |
| Andropov
1914-1984 Leader in 1982 |
Economic recovery
Need to improve relationships with United States with China |
Inactive for months because of illness | |
| Chernenko
1911-1985 Leader in 1984 |
Economic Recovery | Inactive because of illness | |
| Gorbachev
1931- Leader from 1985-1991 |
Economic recovery
Protect the office of President Protect the diminished position of the USSR |
declining economy
bread lines few consumer goods attempted coup d'etate in 1991 |
Glasnost and perestroika |
| Yeltsin
Leader in 1992 |
Economic Recovery
Establish a democracy Decease criminal involvement in the economy |
Challenge of the military
Split up of the USSR rebellion in Chechnea |
Change from a command economy to a market economy |