Lenin And The NEP Flashcards
How did Lenin end war communism?
In March 1921 Lenin announced the ending of war communism and introduction of NEP
There was huge discontent whichich undermined support for communism :
- peasant uprisings against food requisitioning and the abolition of provide trade
- workers discontent increase with the closing of factories due to a shortage of raw materials and fuel
- There were peasant uprisings in petrograd in early 1921 which led to the imposition of martial law
What was the krogstadt rising?
Krogstadt was a naval base on an island near the city of petrograd
In March 1921 the krogstadt sailors rose in revolt against war communism and the communist party
Lenin and Trotsky took immediate action against the rising
When the sailors refused to surrender Trotsky sent the red army over the ice to crush them
As a result the krogstadt rising tell and hundreds of prisoners were killed
Lenin realised the significance of the rising and completely changed his economic policy
Krogstadt he said “illuminated reality like a flash of lightning”
What was the New economic policy?
Peasants had to give 10% of their crops to the state as a tax, but could sell any surplus after that
Banks, railways and large industries remained under state control, but private enterprise allowed in shops and private businesses with fewer than 20 workers
When some communist protested that this was going back to capitalism Lenin replied that it was only a temporary retreat from communism
The NEW was successful. By 1928 the Russian economy had recovered. This gave communist party time to establish itself firmly in power.
In farming production reached pre war levels by 1925
Peasant unrest declined and the richer peasants(kulacks) benefited
New class of merchant or trader developed -Nepmen who controlled trade between country and towns
Heavy industry production increased In many areas but did not reach pre war levels
The death of Lenin
Lenin never recovered from the attempt to assassinate him in 1918. From 1922 he suffered a series of strokes, prevented him from taking part in government
In December 1923 suspecting the end was near, he wrote his testementhis fears for the future of communist revolution. He was especially harsh in criticizing Stalin saying he did not know how to handle power with sufficient caution.
Died shortly after writing his testament in January 1924
A cult of Lenin was spread after his death but it was unlikely he would have wanted this
However the communist party used this cult of personality as a Propaganda weapon to tighten their grip on the Soviet union
Assessing Lenin
Lenin set up the world’s first Marxist state
He showed how a small group of dedicated revolutionary could win a revolution
He ensured the survival of communism in Russia after revolution and created a one party communist dictatorship
He introduced many necessary reforms into Russia but ruthlessly used force to suppress anyone up who criticised him
He opened the way for the even more brutal dictatorship of Stalin
