Explain why Lenin’s Testament was not published immediately after his death in 1924. (AQA AS paper)

This is a 12 mark question, and should be answered in 3 paragraphs, approximately 1 page worth of text. Each paragraph should be a different reason for why Lenin’s Testament was not published immediately after his death in 1924.

Paragraph 1: The USSR was not ready for Lenin’s death. Despite his illness, and there was a lack of confidence and willingness to consider the best move forwards. Lenin had not been precise about what he thought should happen after his death. The Testament did not offer a blueprint. 

Paragraph 2: Critical of party members. The Testament was critical of all of the power contenders - Trotsky, Stalin, Zinoviev, Kamenev. These leading Communists would suffer from a fall in reputation if the Testament were published. Stalin in particular stood to lose much, as Lenin said he was in a particularly powerful position, and might not use it cautiously.

Paragraph 3: The Anti-Factionalism Act of 1921. It was feared that publication might lead to the sort of factionalism that had been banned by Lenin in 1921.