Economic and Social Developments Flashcards
What was state capitalism known as?
a ‘halfway house’ between capitalism and socialism
When and what was the Decree on Land?
November 1917 - abolished private land ownership
When and what was the Decree on workers control?
November 1917 - gave workers greater control over running factories
When were the banks nationalised?
December 1917
When was state capitalism implemented?
1917-18
When and what was the Decree on Land?
February 1917 - Abolished private ownership on land
When and what was the Decree on Workers control?
November 1917 - Gave workers greater control over factories
When was the Nationalisation of the banks?
Dec 1917
When was War communism implemented?
June 1918-21
When did the Red Terror intensify?
September 1918
When did Compulsory grain requisitioning start?
Jan 1919
When was the Tambov Revolt?
August 1920
When did Industrial production decrease to 20%
December 1920
When was the NEP established?
1921 onwards
When was the Kronstadt rising?
March 1921
When was the final defeat of the Tambov revolt?
June 1921
What were some examples of state control?
nationalisation of Russia’s banks,
establishment of Vesenkha,
The establishment of GOELRO
What were the three main problems with state capitalism?
Many Bolsheviks didn’t want a ‘halfway house,’
Sharp drops in production after workers in control,
Peasants had control over grain price - state-controlled industries needed cheaper grain
What were the four main problems with conditions?
Falling industry production,
Fighting in countryside
Food shortages in cities
Disease and starvation
Why were factory supplies disrupted?
Workers left to join Red Army,
By how much did the urban proletariat population decline?
from 3.6 million to 1.4 million
Why did inflation rise?
drop in production, peasants stopped selling grain.
Why were important agricultural regions lost?
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
What was a major reason for food shortages?
Peasant hoarding
What was the bread ration in Petrograd in early 1918?
50 grammes per person
How many people died of starvation and disease?
5 million
When was war communism introduced?
June 1918
What were the 3 key features of war communism?
Nationalisation,
Grain requisitioning,
Labour discipline and rationing
By when had businesses and factories been nationalised?
november 1920
What was banned under nationalisation?
Private trade and manufacture
What was set up in May 1918 to organise Grain requisitioning?
the Food Supplies Dictatorship
What was a key feature of grain requisitioning due to opposition?
violent oppression through the Cheka
Who lost all rights and freedoms by the 1917 Workers Control of Factories?
The Workers - Worker Soviets abolished
how was strict discipline imposed on workers?
through fines for slackness, lateness and absenteeism
What replaced wages?
ration-card books, factory workers got most - bourgeoisie the least
Who were hit the worst in the countryside?
the Kulaks - had stock seized
What was the percentage decrease of harvest yield 1921 compared to 1913?
48%
What had Russia’s population decreased to?
170.9 million - 1913
130.9 million - 1921
What was the % of industrial output compared to pre-war levels?
20%
By how much had the population by decreased in Petrograd and Moscow compared to 1917?
57.5% - Petrograd
44.5% - Moscow
Why did the party lack popular support?
Worsening conditions in cities and concern over policy
What triggered the launch of the Red Terror?
The assassination attempt on Lenin in August 1918
How did the Cheka respond to Lenin’s assassination attempt?
Round up Menshiviks, SRs, and other threats
How many were executed after Lenin’s assassination attempt?
500,000
Who else did the Red Terror target?
possible counter-revolutionaries - Bourgeoisie
What was the Tambov revolt?
a series of peasant revolts, worst of which in the Tambov province.
how many peasants rose up in August 1920 Tambov revolt?
70,000
How many Red Army soldiers were used to crush the Tambov revolt?
100,000
When was the Kronstadt rising?
March 1921
How many Kronstadt sailors rebelled?
30,000
How many rebels were imprisoned as a part of Kronstadt rising?
15,000
Who set up the Workers Opposition group?
Shlyapnikov and Kollontai
What did the Workers Opposition group oppose?
War Communism - thought it was becoming too authoritarian
When was Gosplan established?
February 1921
Where was the NEP introduced?
The Tenth Party Congress in March 1921
Why did many Bolsheviks object to the NEP
it was an ideological step backwards
What were the three main features of the NEP in the countryside?
Grain Requisitioning ended,
Ban on private trade ended,
Peasants could keep surplus produce,
What were the three main features of the NEP in the cities?
State control of key large-scale industries, small-scale industries became private
Rationing ended
Industries had to pay workers out of profits
How did private businesses respond to the NEP?
They reopened and grew quickly
how did Agricultural production respond to the NEP?
Peasants grew more in order to earn more money
Why did food prices drop?
So much food was grown - risked peasants hoarding grain again
How was the ‘scissors crisis’ prevented?
Peasants’ quota became a money tax - peasants had to sell grain to pay tax
Who were hated by the Bolsheviks, but helped the economy?
Nepmen - Private Traders
What was the introduction of the NEP seen as by many bolsheviks?
seen as a retreat back to capitalism
What was banned in 1921?
Ban on factions - could discuss policy but once finally decided disagreeing would mean expulsion
Who were arrested on mass in 1921?
Menshiviks and SRs - been banned
What was the Cheka renamed to in 1922?
GPU
What was put under pressure by the GPU in 1922?
The Church - thousands of priests arrested
What system was introduced in 1923 that made those that proved loyalty be approved for promotion?
nomenklatura
What was nomenklatura?
a system where only those who showed complete loyalty to the Party would be considered for promotion
