Aggriculture and Industry

Question 1

What was the Land Decree? (1917)

Answer 1

Abolish private ownership of land

Question 2

What was the Decree on Workers Control? (1917)

Answer 2

Workers given ‘control’ of the factories

Question 3

What happened to banks in 1917?

Answer 3

They were nationalised

Question 4

Effects of the Decree on Workers Control? (1917)

Answer 4

Huge pay rises caused inflation

Managers dismissed by workers (sometimes violently)

Question 5

What did the Supreme Council of the National Economy do? (set up 1917)

Answer 5

Exert state control over the economy

Question 6

Why was War communism introduced? (1918)

Answer 6

To ensure victory in the civil war

Question 7

Features of War communism in industry? (1918)

Answer 7

Money replaced with bartering
Nationalisation of industry 
Reintroduced hierarchy in industry
Military style discipline 
Private trade banned

Question 8

Features of War communism in agriculture? (1918)

Answer 8

Forcible requisitioning of food
Rationing introduced
Some forced collectivisation

Question 9

Was War communism effective? (1918)

Answer 9

Yes, gave the Bolsheviks the resources to win the civil war

Question 10

Why was NEP introduced? (1921)

Answer 10

The civil war left the economy in ruins along with Bolshevik popularity - reform was needed

Question 11

What made it clear Bolshevik power was under threat after the civil war?

Answer 11

The Tambov Uprising (peasants)
Kronstadt Mutiny (sailors)

Question 12

Features of NEP in agriculture? (1921)

Answer 12

End of requisitioning

No forcible collectivisation

Question 13

Features of NEP in industry? (1921)

Answer 13

Currency reintroduced
Reward system for good workers
Legalised private trade

Question 14

Who were Nepmen?

Answer 14

Entrepreneurs that benefited from private trade under the NEP

Question 15

Was the NEP initially a success? Why?

Answer 15

Yes: growth in both industry and agriculture was high. Although corruption, prostitution and gangs flourished and food prices rose (needing regulation in 1923)

Question 16

Was NEP a success after 1924? Why?

Answer 16

No: growth began to stagnate, stunted by the flaws and inefficiencies in the system

Question 17

Why did the Five year plans come about after the NEP?

Answer 17

Stalin’s rise to power meant they took place. It is unclear if he supported them for ideological reasons or for personal gain

Question 18

What happened in the First Five Year Plan? (1928-32)

Answer 18

Heavy industry, neglecting consumer goods
Slave labour (from the Gulags) began to be used and there was a strong reward and ridicule system to motivate

Question 19

What happened in the Second Five Year Plan? (1933-37)

Answer 19

Initially set high targets but redirected due to Hitler’s threat
Consumer industry still neglected
Used more technical experts - success

Question 20

What happened in the Third Five Year Plan? (1938-…)

Answer 20

Focused on arms production to prepare for WW2

Question 21

Were the first three Five Year Plans a success? (1929-41)

Answer 21

A 17% growth rate, although was very unbalanced
Coal production tripled in a decade
Large impressive projects (Dnieper Dam) completed

Question 22

Why was agriculture collectivisation introduced by Stalin?

Answer 22

Needed increased production to support industry growth
Gain control of a politically distant class (Kulaks)
Peasants were hoarding much of their produce

Question 23

What was the process of agriculture collectivisation?

Answer 23

1927 - Voluntary collectivisation
1928 - Forced requisitioning began
Quickly after local party officials forcibly enforced collectivisation

Question 24

What did the communists promise peasants for collectivisation?

Answer 24

Higher production for themselves

Mechanisation though MTS’s ( Machine and Tractor Stations)

Question 25

What happened during 'dekulakisation'? (1928-30's)

Answer 25

Dekulakisation squads, party officials and members of Komsomol violently forced collectivisation and crushed resistance. Some troublesome villages bombed out of existence

Question 26

What were the results of dekulakisation? (1928-30's)

Answer 26

Severe food shortages - kulaks burned crops and slaughtered their animals in protest Increased requisitioning caused starvation - especially in Ukraine (Holodomor) More peasants move to towns and cities 5-10million deaths overall

Question 27

What were the results of collectivisation? (1930's)

Answer 27

Poor planning meant much inefficiency Poor quality and amount of machinery No incentive for peasants so low production

Question 28

What was the economy like in WW2?

Answer 28

War communism, relaxed communes and private trade slightly. All focus on rearmament Women conscripted to work Was very effective - 75,000 and 100,000 aur tanks produced 1943-45

Question 29

What was the state of the economy after WW2?

Answer 29

25million homeless and 70,000 villages destroyed (mainly in Western USSR) Many jobless as released from the Red Army

Question 30

How did the economy recover after WW2? | (The Fourth Five Year Plan) - 1946-50

Answer 30

Rigid state control Exploited Eastern Europe and Gulags Focus still on heavy industry Peasants could now sell their surplus within communes

Question 31

What happened in the Fifth Five Year Plan? (1951-55)

Answer 31

Cold War meant spending on arms increased | Grandiose projects such as the Volga-Dan Canal gave little economic value (covered in Stalin statues)

Question 32

Changes in industry under Khrushchev? (1953-64)

Answer 32

Sovnarkhozy set up to supervise enterprise Work week reduced and labour laws relaxed Change of focus to consumer goods and chemicals Control decentralised to regional councils

Question 33

What happened in the Seven Year Plan? (1959-65)

Answer 33

Increase in chemical industry after new minerals discovered (synthetic fibre increase by 500%) 1st space satellite (Sputnick) challenges West Success but did not meet ambitious targets *(Annual growth rates 7% in 1950's)

Question 34

What was Khrushchev's agricultural reform?

Answer 34

``` Local level decision making increased MTS's abolished Collectives increase in size More freedom of trade and private land Virgin Land Scheme *(Overall a success) - food production increase 51% ```

Question 35

What was the Virgin Land Scheme? (1956)

Answer 35

Volunteers worked on new areas of agricultural land | unsuccessful as land infertile - grain had to be imported from N America (embarrassing)

Question 36

What were Brezhnev's reforms in industry?

Answer 36

Power recentralised to GOSPLAN Sabotaged the Kosygin reforms to prevent innovation More scientific research Focus on efficiency and quality

Question 37

What happened in the Ninth Five Year Plan? (1971-75)

Answer 37

Emphasis on consumer goods | 85% of families had TV's by 1980

Question 38

What were Brezhnev's reforms in agriculture?

Answer 38

``` Khrushchev's polices reversed Large role of private plots 26% investment in agriculture Brigades introduced (groups working together) *Rise in production, fall in efficiency ```

Question 39

What were Andrapov's economic reforms? (1982-84)

Answer 39

Focus on corruption and labour discipline | Encouraged new ideas from public - little response as he was feared

Question 40

Why was there economic decline in the 1970's-80's?

Answer 40

``` 3% growth in 1970's Lack of investment Outdated technology Large area of USSR caused problems Dominance of the military industrial complex (18%) ```