Which event marked the consolidation of power for Joseph Stalin after Lenin's death?

The choice of the Great Purge correctly identifies a pivotal event in the consolidation of Joseph Stalin's power following Lenin's death. After Lenin passed away in 1924, there was a power struggle within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Stalin, who had gradually positioned himself as a key figure in the party, initiated a campaign of political repression known as the Great Purge. This involved the widespread elimination of perceived enemies within the Communist Party and the broader society, including former allies and party members who opposed his leadership.

The Great Purge, which lasted from the late 1930s to the early 1940s, led to the arrest, execution, or exile of hundreds of thousands of people, instilling fear and ensuring Stalin's dominance. By removing potential challengers and dissenters, he not only consolidated his power but also reshaped the party apparatus to respond directly to his authority, fundamentally transforming Soviet governance.

The other events mentioned, such as World War II and the Industrial Revolution, while significant in their own rights, do not directly relate to Stalin's consolidation of power after Lenin's death. World War II occurred later and had implications for Stalin's leadership but was not the immediate catalyst for his rise. The Industrial Revolution had already shaped