ECONOMIC + SOCIAL CHANGE Flashcards
why was war communism introduced
1918, put Russian economy under government control, necessary for Bols to win civil war
Features of war communism??
- peasants X allowed to sell crops, Cheka requisitioned crops for fixed low price, leaving peasants with little
- industries were nationalised and given production targets
- peoples rights/freedoms = restricted (strikes banned)
- money abolished , people paid in goods/services X cash)
- labour conscripted - government forced ppl to work
reasons for war communism??
Bolsheviks needed control over industry to supply RED ARMY with rescources
- Bolsheviks needed control over food supply in order to feed soliders
BOLSHEVIKS NEEDED CONTROL OVER FOOD
- Treaty Of Brest-Litovsk meant loss of major food production regions
- Whites controlled some key agricultural regions
- collapse in industrial production meant X for peasants to buy.
———> peasants stopped growing crops
BOLSHEVIKS NEED FOR CONTROL OF INDUSTRY
- After October revolution, banks stopped lending money to government/industries
- Treaty Of Brest Litovsk meant loss of 40% Russia industry
- transport problems = industries X get raw materials needed
- workers left city
CONSEQUENCES OF WAR COMMUNISM
- 1920, farm production fell to 37% of 1913 levels
- factory workers 1/2, same as production
- food shortages = famine, people died of starvation
- industries producing X consumer goods (increasing hardship in city)
- black market developed (illegal way of finding consumer products)
- in areas REDS X control, money still used, prices rose
POLITICAL CRISIS
- factory workers organised protests/strikes over living standards/lack of food.
- communist party members protested at the way they were excluded from decisions
- Peasant uprising in Tambov Province
REASONS FOR NEP
- disastorous economic consequences of War Communism
- politcal opposition caused by War communism
FEATURES OF NEP
- free market reintroduced. Peasants could sell their produce and decide the price
- state stopped requisitioning grain and other crops from peasants (peasants now paid tax on what they sold)
- money reintroduced, workers payed wages
- state kept control of big factories HOWEVER small businesses/farms could be privately owned/run for profit
- foreign experts bought in to improve running of factories
ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF NEP
- agricultural production increased, peasants produce more.
1923, grain produc = 56mill tonnes. - industrial growth increased, more slowly. shortage of industrial products kept expensive, Food became cheaper. = “Scissor Crisis”.
»> peasants stopped producing so much food, leading to fears of famine. Government cut prices for industrial products - NEP-men made profits from shortages of food/ manufactured goods. Wealthier peasants did well - most surplus to sell.
REACTIONS TO NEP
- positive
popular with peasants/traders.
they preferred freedom to sell what they wanted
REACTIONS TO NEP
- negative
communist party members X like it, backwards step that brought capitalism back to USSR. gave peasants what they wanted at expense of workers
SOCIAL CHANGES
- Bolshevisk wanted to liberate men from the oppression of men. “Post card divorces” cost 3 roubles and other partner informed by post.
- Kollontai’s influence limited, opposed Lenin by demanding more democracy in CP. Became the first woman ambassador
- number of crèches declined, as did factory work for women.
EDUCATION POLICIES
- co-education introduced, reducing discrimination of women
- major literacy drive in RED Army
- peasants encouraged to learn to read/write
- 1926, 58% of pool were literate.
CULTURAL POLICIES
- propaganda
- agitprop = agitation and propaganda Section of the central committee Secretariat of CP.
used art,literature, film, music to promote communist ideas.
