Economy and society: Lenin Flashcards
Which three decrees formed the basis of state capitalism?
- November 1917 decree on land. 2. November 1918 decree on worker’s control. 3. December 1917 formation of the supreme economic council.
What was the role of the supreme economic council?
It managed key industries that had been nationalized by the Bolsheviks. By 1920 there were over 30,000 nationalized companies and it was struggling to cope, so was replaced with the council of labor and defense.
What effect did the civil war have on state capitalism?
It undid any positive effect it had, it caused industrial output to plummet and made the rouble worthless.
List the three major factors of war communism
- Nationalization of larger enterprises. 2. Partial militarization of labor. 3. Forced requisitioning of food and grain.
How did Lenin justify the NEP?
He promoted it as a temporary measure, despite this, many saw it as a betrayal of the revolution as it had a distinctively capitalist feel.
List the five main features of the NEP from 1921
- An end to requisitioning and return to peasants being allowed to sell surplus grain. 2. Removal of restrictions on private trade. 3. Encouragement of foreign trade. 4. State control of heavy industries with the help of trusts. 5. Denationalization of small scale industry.
Who were the NEPmen?
A new type of businessmen who emerged from the NEP, by 1923 they were responsible for 60% of retail trade.
How did coal output, grain harvest and steel output change because of the NEP?
In 1921 they were at 8.9 million tons, 37.6 million tons and 183 thousand tons. In 1926 they were at 27.6 million tons, 76.8 million tons and 3,141 thousand tons. Coal increased 3x, grain increased 2x and steel increased 17x.
How were the kulaks treated under war communism?
They were blamed for food shortages and had their crops confiscated, they were denounced and persecuted and treated as scapegoats for any failures.
How were kulaks treated under the NEP?
Their situation improved slightly as there were more of them. They were still treated harshly, they paid higher taxes and were blamed for shortages.
What is collectivization?
Small farms are brought together to create bigger farms which would be more productive as peasants would work together to utilize land better and would stop hoarding grain. Lenin took a create gradual approach to this.
List two educational changes under Lenin
- In 1918 the church schools were handed over to the soviets to administer. 2. Gymnasia were abolished and replaced with polytechnics which focused on skills for certain types of work.
What caused the food crisis of 1918?
Peasants hoarding grain and the loss of land under the treaty of Brest litovsk led to shortages which the Bolsheviks responded to by introducing requisitioning.
What did the Bolsheviks do about food shortages in 1918?
They blamed the kulaks, whom they began to persecute. The peasants reacted violently, burning grain and refusing to join collectives, by 1921 the countryside was in chaos.
What caused the famine of 1921?
Droughts and severe winters combined with Bolshevik requisitioning and issues in transport caused by the civil war closing most of the railways to create famine. Workers in the cities simply could not get to the food supplies.
