Economic and Social developments Under Krushchev

Question 1

What effect had WW2 had on the economy?

Answer 1

• Destroyed 66% of industrial capacity
• added Strain of high military budget
• land lease ended abruptly in 1947

Question 2

Why did Stalin deny financial aid from the USA to the Satellites states?

Answer 2

-Fear of western influence

Question 3

How had WW2 balanced industry across Russia

Answer 3

• Scorched Earth - Moving industry east

- -> Previously western dominated

Question 4

What were the aims of the 4th and 5th five year plan’s ?

Answer 4

• Catch up with the U.S

- Rebuild heavy industry

Question 5

What were the results of the 4th and 5th five year plans?

Answer 5

• became 2nd to the U.S in terms of industrial capacity
• doubled production
• Urban work force increased

Question 6

What was economic growth like by ‘53?

Answer 6

slowing down

Question 7

What were the issues with the Stalinist system?

Answer 7

• Over planning
• Not enough administrators
• Avoided innovation for heightened targets (FYP)
• Output Targets were assessed by weight –> favoured heavy goods at the expense of consumer goods

Question 8

How did Krushchev decentralise the economy?

Answer 8

-USSR divided into 105 economic regions. Economic council in each to manage economic affairs

Question 9

How was Krushchev’s 7th Five year plan different?

Answer 9

Emphasis on improving living standards -40 hour working week and 40% wage rise by ‘65

Emphasis on technology. E.g many railway lines electrified- Moscow train lines

Question 10

How had WW2 ravaged Agriculture?

Answer 10

Policy of scorched Earth destroyed western farming regions

->only 1/3 of farms were operational

Question 11

Regarding Agriculture

Question 12

what were the aims of the 4th and 5th FYP according to Agriculture

Answer 12

• revitalise barren land

- Force collective farms to deliver products to wheat fields

Question 13

What were the results of the 4th and 5th year plan regrading agriculture?

Answer 13

State procured 70% of grain
–> Left the peasants with little

-Almost half of output still came from private plots

Question 14

What did Krushchev pride himself on?

Answer 14

his Agricultural expertise and background

Question 15

What dubious scientist did Krushchev favour on agriculture

Answer 15

Lysenko

Question 16

How did Krushchev incentivize peasants to grow more produce?

Answer 16

• State procurement price were raised (25% form ‘53 to ‘56)
• State Quotas reduced
• Encouraged use of fertiliser and farm machinery -> more efficient (high yield)

Question 17

What was the Virgin Lands scheme?

Answer 17

-Cultivation of untouched land to the east –> increase production.

Question 18

How did the Virgin Lands scheme fail in the long term?

Answer 18

-land was worked too intensively without crop rotation –> soil erosion

=> Consequently the ground became infertile

Question 19

What did the failings of the virgin lands force Krushchev to do?

Answer 19

-Forced to import grain from USA (national humiliation)

Question 20

How else was Agriculture a failure (other than Virgin lands) under Krushchev ?

Answer 20

Despite obvious growth( ie meat production 2x)

• Officials frequently altering prices –> difficult for farmers to plan ahead
• Tractor loan scheme unsuccessful –> shortage of mechanics to repair

Question 21

What was the Campaign for the aggrolites?

Answer 21

-Huge collective farms/towns. Attempt to replicate urban conditions of working and living, thus destroying old, conservative villages

–> never came to fruition

Question 22

How does Krushchev contrast Stalin?

Answer 22

Carried out too many initiatives with little planning or thought

Question 23

What were social problems inherited by Krushchev?

Answer 23

-Peasants sqeezed by qoutas economically
=>consumer goods in short supply

1947: devaluation of the rouble wiped people’s savings

Question 24

What were some social improvements made under Krushchev?

Answer 24

-Consumer goods more widely available -imported goods appeared in shops

–New housing initiatives: prefabricated housing
=> To house the 20 million homeless after WW2

• max 40 hour week
• peasants eligible for a pension

Question 25

What was Krushchev’s Thaw?

Answer 25

mid 50’s : repression and censorship were relaxed, and millions of political prisoners were freed.

Question 26

What innequalities persisted

Answer 26

Party members (special privileges) 
=> undermines  egalitarian socialist society

Question 27

What was Krushchev’s manifesto of change?

Answer 27

• Krushchev’s vision of communism
• Party open to all
• Party was more accountable to members (Bottom up ) Unlike Stalin years

Question 28

How did Krushchev change housing?

Answer 28

• 1957 Programme to end housing
• cheap fabricated housing (108 million people moved into these)

=> quality of housing was poor and power outages were common.

Question 29

How did Krushchev change education?

Answer 29

• raised school leaving age to 15
• Numbers going into higher education tripled
• Krushchev wanted to reduce snobbery of uni

Question 30

What was Krushchev’s stance on religion?

Answer 30

-Wanted to revive militant atheism -similar to lenin

–> attacks on places of worship