Economic developments Flashcards
What was the Great Turn?
a radical change in economic policy - rejected NEP
When did the turn begin>
1925 - 14th Party Congress
What did the Great turn mark the start of?
Stalinism
What were the 4 main reasons for the Great Turn?
slow industrialisation,
Grain procurement crisis 1927-28
Ideological concerns about NEP
Stalins attitude
How was slow industrialisation a reason for GT
NEP failing to produce grown expected
weaknesses in management needed addressing
What was the Grain Procurement crisis 1927-28
1927-28 % of grain down by 25%
Party officials blamed peasants - grain hoarding
What were the Ideological concerns about NEP
Impatient for ‘true communist ideology’
lost control over countryside - had to be regained
What was Stalin’s changing attitude towards the NEP
felt secure enough to undo the NEP and push own policies?
saw it wasn’t working and looked for other options?
When was the 1FYP launched?
1928
How many years behind did Stalin say Russia was compared to the west?
50-100 years
What did Stalin want to prepare for?
War with capitalist countries
What did Stalin want to Achieve through the FYP?
Socialism in One Country - ROle model for rest of world
Assert own dominance over party
Central planning in the 1FYP?
Gosplan - set targets for different sectors
Command economy - centralised approach to economy
Rapid Industrial growth in the 1FYP?
production increase 300%?? 1928-1932
Heavy industry prioritised,
Light industry lower priority - still 100% increase
What was Heavy industry?
Coal, Iron, steel, oil and machinery
New industrial Centres - 1FYP
Thousands of new industrial centres
Magnitogorsk - the Steel city
175,000 by 1932 from nothing
What was the 1FYP’s investment in infrastructure?
plan to increase electric supply and Railway
Propaganda and discipline with 1FYP?
propaganda campaigns drove the FYP,
boards erected outside every factory showing targets
Threats of harsh punishment for motivation
Ideology with the 1FYP?
Socialism could achieve what would seem impossible,
‘There are no fortresses the Bolsheviks cannot capture’ - Stalin 1931
How did the 1FYP use foreign experts?
Industrial experts to work on trains,
What is an example of Foreign experts used in 1FYP?
Magnitogorsk - Arthur McKee & Co.
American company trained Soviet engineers
What were many members pleased to see a commitment to through the FYP?
a radical social change - no more NEP
How did Propaganda have a significant impact with the FYP?
Urban workers hoped for better employment prospects and higher living standards
Who were led to hope they would benefit from the FYP?
Many poor and ‘Middle peasants’ - further land reform and more modern methods
How were some concerned about higher wages under the FYP?
skilled workers had more money - creating a class system?
What caused the Grain procurement Crisis 1927-28?
poor harvests, with the low grain price
What convinced Stalin that kulaks were responsible for hoarding grain?
the Urals and western Siberia - harvest generally good however grain was down
What did Stalin close, replaced by the ‘Urals-Siberian method’
free markets
