Lenin's search for obedient supporters and hard workers eventually led him to Joseph Stalin. Stalin was courageous, turbulent, daring, fierce and determined. Stalin knew that to secure his place within the Bolsheviks and climb the ranks, he had to prove himself worthy of their cause. Stalin used these traits and leveraged them to gain Lenin's admiration. What Stalin really excelled at was organization, something the early Bolshevik party desperately needed. Although Stalin may not have been the smartest or most “typical” candidate for acceleration, he did it. At that time, if it had been a normal government, Stalin would not have risen through the ranks due to his lower class upbringing. The “perfect” candidate would be someone like Leon Trotsky, an incredibly educated man from a wealthy background. However, Lenin had noticed Stalin's dedication and loyalty and came to the conclusion that this type of man was the type of person the Bolsheviks needed in the beginning. This choice would be one of many stones thrown at Trotsky that would hinder his ability to succeed Lenin and would be another reason why Joseph Stalin would eventually take over. Then something began to happen in the late 1920s. Lenin was having difficulty getting his policies across. . In response to this, he decided to give more power to his closest ally, Joseph Stalin. On April 3, 1922, Lenin succeeded in having Stalin appointed general secretary, or leader, of the Communist Party. With this new power, Stalin began to build his loyal base. He appointed loyal supporters to positions of power. This made these followers all the more loyal and would not dare oppose him afterward. This...... middle of paper ......two methods: Political trickery and violence. He was an astute man, but it was more likely his violence and the threat of it that propelled him to become leader of the Soviet Union. His early days in the Bolshevik Party would inspire another man with many of the same attributes, Adolf Hitler. If Leon Trotsky had been more emphatic about his disapproval of Joseph Stalin and more emphatic about his own ability to lead the Soviet Union, things might have been very different. Ultimately, Joseph Stalin and his rise to power affected not only Russia and the Soviet Union. It affected the whole world. Joseph Stalin's story of his rise to power is fascinating, brutal and frightening. If nothing else, it reminds all of us who love our Democratic Republic of what a free and truly great society and nation really is...