Food and Famine

Question 1

In which years were there major threats to Russia’s foof supply?

Answer 1

1891
1921
1932
1947
1963

Question 2

Why was there food shortages and famine throughout this whole time period?

Answer 2

• Tendency towards monoculture (an over reliance on grain)
• The mir was always very controlling over what could and could not be grown
• Severe weather conditions
• Government policies i.e. grain requisitioning, collectivisation

Question 3

What happened when Vyshnegradski raised taxes on consumer goods?

Answer 3

everyone had to pay more for everyday items

Question 4

What did peasants try to do to cope with inflated prices under Alexander III?

Answer 4

They tried to sell off any surpluses of grain

Question 5

What did Vyshegradski try to do when he realised that Russia was heading towards famine due to the over-exportation of grain?

Answer 5

He tried to ban exports of grain and set up a special committee on famine relief, but it was too late.

Question 6

Who said ‘’ we shall ourselves not eat, but we shall export’’?

Answer 6

Vyshenegradski

Question 7

Why did Vyshegradski put up grain exports by 18%, despite there being a rural population explosion?

Answer 7

Because he saw grain exports as a prime source of income for the economy between 1881 and 1891

Question 8

How many people died as a result of the 1891

Answer 8

1 million people

Question 9

Ultimately, what causes the 1891 famine?

Answer 9

• Grain requisitioning for exportation and rising prices.
• Already, grain requisitioning meant that the food avaialable in the countryside was limited, but on top of this, prices were rising and so peasants sold any grain that wasn’t requisitoned in order to cope with the inflated prcies.

Question 10

What led to food shortages during WW!?

Answer 10

• disruptions to trade and transport
• despite the good harvests, grain was used to feed the troops
• this was made worse by the signing of the Treaty of brest Litovsk, which meant that valuable grain-producing areas in Ukraine were lost

Question 11

Why was there a famine in 1921?

Answer 11

• due to the policy of grain requisitioning
• due to droughts

Question 12

How many deaths were there as a result of the 1921 famine?

Answer 12

5 million deaths

Question 13

What worsened the effects of the 1921 famine?

Answer 13

• Lenin’s slowness in reacting to the crisis.
• Lenin’s reluctance to accept aid from the American Releif Agency.

Question 14

What was the Holomodor?

Answer 14

A man-made famine in Ukraine in 1932 that killed 5 million people. Caused by collectivisation and desire to stamp out Ukrainian call for independence

Question 15

Describe the 1932 famine

Answer 15

• one of the worst famines in history.
• due to collectiviation and grain requisitioning
• 10 million people died overall.

Question 16

Why was there a famine in 1962-1963?

Answer 16

• Due to the failed Virgins land campaign.
• Limitied success but: successful 1954 and 1956 harvest, with an extra 35.9 million hectares being cultivated by 1956, equal to the total cultivated area of Canada.
• harvests fell from 144 million tonnes in 1963 to 117 million tonnes in 1964
• Only 1/6th of maize ended up being harvested
• Russia forced to import grain from the west

Question 17

How many people died in the post WW2 famine in 1947?

Answer 17

1.5 million