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History Russia And The Soviet Union > Economic And Social Change - 1918 - 1924 > Flashcards

Economic And Social Change - 1918 - 1924 Flashcards

1
Q

What was War Communism?

A

A Bolshevik policy from 1918 that put the Russian economy under complete government control to win the Civil War.

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2
Q

Why did Lenin believe War Communism was necessary?

A

To meet the needs of the military

• To supply towns and the Red Army

• To enforce Communist ideas of state control

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3
Q

What happened to peasants’ grain under War Communism?

A

Grain was requisitioned at a fixed low price

• Peasants were not allowed to sell it

• Suspected hoarders were shot by the Cheka

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4
Q

What happened to industry under War Communism?

A

• Industries were nationalised

• Given military production targets

• Consumer goods were not prioritised

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5
Q

What happened to workers’ rights?

A

Strikes were banned

• Political opposition was crushed by the Cheka

• Workers were conscripted into jobs

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6
Q

What happened to money and payments?

A

• Money was abolished in many areas

• People were paid in goods and services

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7
Q

What transport and supply problems occurred?

A

• Industries couldn’t get raw materials

• There were shortages of weapons and supplies

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8
Q

What did many workers do during this period? - war communism

A

• Left cities

• Joined the Red Army

• Returned to villages to find food

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9
Q

Why did peasants stop growing grain for the cities?

A

There was nothing to buy in return

• Industrial collapse meant no available goods

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10
Q

What were the three key reasons for introducing War Communism?

A

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk caused the loss of 40% of industry and major food regions

• Bolsheviks needed control of food to feed soldiers and workers

• White armies controlled key farming areas

• after Oct revolution - banks stopped lending money to government or industries

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11
Q

What happened to farm production by 1920?

A

It fell to 37% of 1913 levels.

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12
Q

What happened to industrial workforce and production?

A

Factory workforce fell by half

• Production also halved

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13
Q

What happened to food shortages?

A

• Became a famine

• In some areas, people resorted to cannibalism

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14
Q

What happened to consumer goods?

A

Industries produced almost none, worsening hardship in cities.

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15
Q

What was the black market?

A

• An illegal trade network

• Provided food and goods at very high prices

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16
Q

What happened to prices where money still existed?

A

• Hyperinflation occurred

• Prices soared

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17
Q

What unrest occurred in cities in 1921?

A

• Strikes and protests over low living standards and food

• The Kronstadt Mutiny was linked to Petrograd strikes

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18
Q

How were Communist Party members affected? -1921

A

They protested about being excluded from decision-making

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19
Q

What happened in the countryside? -1921

A

A major peasant uprising in Tambov Province

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20
Q

What did the Bolsheviks have to do as a result? Of 1921

A

They were forced to abandon War Communism

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21
Q

What had the Bolsheviks promised in 1917?

A

Peace, Land, and Bread”

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22
Q

What became of those promises under War Communism?

A

• Peace was achieved

• But land and bread became empty promises due to economic disaster and repression

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23
Q

What major issue did the Communist Party face by 1921?

A

Protests and economic disaster caused by War Communism were threatening to overthrow Bolshevik control.

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24
Q

What was Lenin’s solution to the crisis of 1921?

A

He introduced the New Economic Policy (NEP).

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25
What were the two main reasons for introducing the NEP?
Economic collapse caused by War Communism • Political opposition and protests against Bolshevik control
26
What did Lenin admit about their push for socialism?
The drive to socialism had been too fast and too rigorous.
27
What happened to the free market under NEP?
It was reintroduced — peasants could sell their produce and choose their prices.
28
What replaced grain requisitioning?
Peasants paid tax on what they sold but kept the rest.
29
Was money used again under the NEP?
Yes — money was reintroduced and wages were paid again.
30
What kind of ownership was allowed under the NEP?
The state kept control of large factories • Small businesses and farms could be privately owned and run for profit
31
How did the NEP affect foreign relations?
Foreign experts were brought in to help run factories — they were paid more than ordinary workers.
32
How did agricultural production change?
Grain production increased • By 1923, it reached 56 million tonnes (still below the 1913 level of 80 million tonnes)
33
What happened to industrial growth?
It increased, but slowly.
34
What was the ‘scissors crisis’?
Food became cheap • Industrial goods remained expensive • This discouraged peasants from selling food and raised fears of famine
35
How did the government respond to the scissors crisis?
cut the prices of industrial goods.
36
Who were NEP-men and NEP-women?
Traders who profited from shortages of food and manufactured goods.
37
Which social group did well under NEP?
Wealthier peasants, who had more surplus to sell and made profits.
38
What was a downside of the NEP’s success for some?
It created inequality, which contradicted socialist principles.
39
Why did peasants support the NEP?
They preferred being able to sell their produce freely instead of having it seized by the state.
40
Who in the Communist Party opposed the NEP and why?
Some Communist Party members • They believed it was a backward step that brought back capitalism • It seemed to favor peasants over workers
41
What happened to women’s legal status after the revolution?
Women were declared equal to men.
42
What were “postcard divorces”?
1917 - Divorces that cost just 3 roubles and could be easily filed by post.
43
What types of marriage were now allowed? - 1917
Non-religious marriages were introduced.
44
What was Zhenotdel? -1919
A women’s organisation set up to increase freedom, equality, and influence of women.
45
Who led Zhenotdel and what were her views?
Alexandra Kollontai, who wanted more democracy in the Communist Party.
46
What was the limit of Kollontai’s influence?
She was made an ambassador But very few women were promoted to top government positions
47
What reproductive rights did women gain?
Abortion was legalised in 1920.
48
What was the trend in childcare under NEP?
The number of crèches declined.
49
How did women’s employment change?
Factory work for women declined Women were still expected to do domestic work, even if they had jobs
50
What happened to women’s literacy during the Civil War?
Women’s literacy increased due to literacy campaigns.
51
What was introduced to reduce gender discrimination in schools?
Co-education – girls and boys were taught together.
52
What education reforms happened in the Red Army?
A major literacy drive was launched.
53
How were peasants encouraged to improve literacy?
They were encouraged to learn to read and write.
54
What percentage of the population was literate by 1926?
About 58%, a large increase from before the revolution.
55
What limited further progress in education?
Economic problems restricted government investment in education.
56
What was Agitprop?
The Agitation and Propaganda Section of the Communist Party — used art and media to promote communist ideas.
57
What was the role of propaganda in culture?
Used literature, film, music, and posters Promoted a positive image of communism and the USSR
58
59
What artistic movement thrived in the 1920s?
Avant-garde artists experimented with new ways to represent communism.
60
Avant-garde artists experimented with new ways to represent communism.
The state censorship department — it controlled what was published and promoted communist-approved art.
61
What was “socialist realism”?
A style where books, films, and artworks showed the USSR in a glorified and very positive way.

History Russia And The Soviet Union (15 decks)

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