Economic Developments 1924-1929 Flashcards

1
Q

What and when was the Great Turn?

A

A drastic shift in economic policy between 1927 and 1929.

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2
Q

Which problems between 1917 and 1924 had inhibited economic growth/industrialisation? General stuff.
And what was the GREATEST problem?

A

The War, The Civil War, Poor Management, Strikes

Feeding! Collectivisation was failing, leading to the industrial workforce not getting fed.

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3
Q

What were Kolkhozves and Sokhovzes? Were they successful in 1928?

A

Voluntary collective and state farms. No, by 1928, only 5% of the peasant population was working on collective farms. They weren’t popular.

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4
Q

Why was industrial management a key factor in The Great Turn?

A

It was poor. Quality and quantity of industrial goods were very low. Unemployment and low living standards rife.

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5
Q

Why was the speed of the NEP’s progress a key factor in The Great Turn?

A

USSR’s economy wasn’t growing as quickly as many leading communists had hoped. They wanted the USSR to become more self-sufficient and not have to depend on foreign imports.

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6
Q

What was the grain procurement crisis of 1927-1928? Why was this a problem? What caused it?

A

The amount of grain purchased by the government was 25% down compared to the previous year. Grain prices were low, so peasants produced other things that they wanted to sell for higher prices.

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7
Q

What was the ideological driver behind the Great Turn?

A

Many Bolsheviks wanted to move towards ‘true socialism’, so the government controlled grain production and didn’t have to buy it off peasants.

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8
Q

Stalin previously supported the NEP, why did he suddenly change to wanting something different in 1928?

A

He was becoming more radical due to a combination of USSR’s dire economic circumstances and his grip on power was now strong enough to take action.

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9
Q

When was the first Five Year Plan announced?

A

Fifteenth Party Congress December 1927

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10
Q

The First Five Year Plan aimed to do what to Heavy Industry?

A

Develop it rapidly; boost production.

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11
Q

What was the First Five Year Plan’s target for overall production increase?

A

300% increase in overall production.

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12
Q

What was the First Five Year Plan’s aim for transport?

A

Improve transport and railway systems, especially railways.

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13
Q

By how much did Stalin want to improve the electricity production compared to 1928?

A

He wanted 6 times as much electricity to be produced by 1933 than it had in 1928.

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14
Q

What priority was Light Industry?

A

Low priority, but still expected to double its output.

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15
Q

What was Magnitogorsk?

A

The ‘steel city’ intended to produce shitloads of steel in the Five Year Plans.

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16
Q

How did Stalin rally up support for the Five Year Plans among USSR’s workforce?

A

Propaganda.

17
Q

What did the Party worry about in the Five Year Plans’ reintroduction of collectivisation?

A

Many saw Kulaks as the backbone of the agricultural economy. They worried that less food would be produced.

18
Q

What did urban workers hope for from the Five Year Plans?

A

Better working prospects and living conditions.

19
Q

What did peasants hope for from the Five Year Plans?

A

Further land reform and modern farming methods.

20
Q

Which 3 defining factors triggered the emphasis on collectivisation?

A

The Grain Procurement Crisis 1927-1928
Need for increased food supply for expanding workforce
Ideologically compliant with Socialism

21
Q

What did Stalin do in Siberia and the Urals to force collectivisation in 1928?

A

Had officers close down free markets, banned speculation and had police seize the grain by force.

22
Q

How had Bukharin’s position weakened by 1928?

A

He’d lost his majority of support in Moscow, Stalin accused him of ‘Right Deviation’ and he was continuously outvoted in the Central Committee and the Politburo.

23
Q

Which Party Member was particularly active in issuing Central Directives for Collectivisation during the first Five Year Plan?

A

Molotov.

24
Q

The Central Committee wanted to speed up collectivisation, how did they try to do this?

A

In 1929 they sent 25,000 industrial workers into the countryside to work on Collective Farms.

25
Q

What did Stalin want to do to the Kulaks?

A

‘Smash the Kulaks as a class’