Lenin post October revolution

Question 1

War Communism Overview

Answer 1

Context: Immediately post-October Revolution, Lenin initiated War Communism during the Russian Civil War.

Objective: Replace Tsarist capitalism with Marxist principles.

Key Measures:
Nationalization of land, factories, banks, and property.
Marxist principles guiding the new economic policy.

Question 2

Impact on Agriculture

Answer 2

Decrees (1919):
Abolition of private land ownership.
State control over all land.

Challenges:
Peasant reluctance to surrender surplus due to economic instability.
Food patrols, machine guns used to enforce requisitioning.

Consequences (1921):
Famine due to reduced food production.
Estimated 5-7 million deaths from starvation and cholera.

Question 3

Impact on Industry

Answer 3

Nationalization (1918-1921):
All businesses, banks, factories nationalized.
Productivity sharply declined.

Results (1921):
Industrial production at 31% of 1913 levels.
Steel production at 5% of 1913 levels.
Sabotage by capitalists and overall economic decline.

Question 4

Impact on Trade and Cities

Answer 4

Trade Measures:
All trade through government, private trade abolished.
Flourishing black market despite
government control.

Urban Life (1921):
Cities facing food rationing and fuel shortage.
Population migration to the countryside for land.

Question 5

Civil Unrest and Opposition

Answer 5

Peasant Revolts (1920):
Peasants rebelled against requisitioning policies.
Halting grain consignments to cities, exacerbating food crises.

Workers’ Opposition (1921):
Strikes and rebellions due to dissatisfaction with Bolshevik policies.
Kronstadt naval base uprising against Communist dictatorship.

Question 6

Transition to New Economic Policy (NEP)

Answer 6

Reasons (1921):
Economic ruin and opposition to Communism.
Lenin’s realization that War Communism had failed.

NEP Principles:
Mixed economy with elements of socialism and capitalism.
Temporary retreat from complete nationalization.

Question 7

NEP Implementation (1921-1928)

Answer 7

Agriculture Changes:
End of grain requisitioning, fixed tax introduced.
Farmers allowed to sell surplus on the open market.

Industry Changes:
Denationalization of smaller industries.
Introduction of incentive bonuses to increase production

Question 8

Assessment of the NEP

Answer 8

Success Indicators (1924):
Slow economic recovery observed.
General standard of living increased.
New trade agreements and reduced opposition.

Criticism:
Viewed as a retreat from Communist principles.
Opposition from hardliners in the Communist Party hierarchy.

Lenin’s Defense:
Temporary measure to save the revolution.
State retains control over critical sectors.

Question 9

Economic Reforms NEP

Answer 9

Financial Policy (1921-1924):
State Bank established for issuing notes and granting loans.
Taxation changes to increase state revenue.
Attitude to Foreign

Trade:
Encouragement of foreign investment and increased trade.
Control retained by the state with some autonomy for trusts