NEP and the reasons why

Question 1

What was the Tambov revolt?

Answer 1

Peasants led by Antonov - rebellion against grain seizure and cheka brutality - they were largely unbeaten. Around 50,000.

Question 2

What was the Kronstadt rising?

Answer 2

A rebellion by the naval officers in the Petrograd naval base

Previously loyal sailors they were complaining about the repression and rule of the Bolsheviks and wanted democratic socialism

A wake up call for Lenin but it was still put down brutally

Question 3

What was NEP?

Answer 3

• The end to grain requisitioning - a tax in kind instead
• Private trade permitted
• Small factories opened under private control
• Heavy industry, railway etc still under Government control
• Money re-introduced

Question 4

What was the Comintern?

Answer 4

Established in March 1919 to promote world wide revolution

Lenin wanted to create communist parties abroad that would be loyal to Moscow

The aim was to overthrow foreign governments

Question 5

What was the Russo-Polish War?

Answer 5

A bid to export revolution in 1920 and they invaded Poland

Expected the Polish working class to support

It failed as the Polish resisted what they saw as traditional Russian expansionism

Question 6

What was the Rapello Treaty?

Answer 6

An agreement with Germany

Both nations promised to co-operate in meeting their economic needs

re-establishment of diplomatic relations

Russia provided Germany’s military training ground and resources

Russia allowed special trading rights to Germany

Question 7

What was the Zinoviev letter?

Answer 7

Soviet regime enjoyed an imporved relationship with Britain Anglo-Soviet trade agreement 1921

Communist party in Britain 1920-21

25th October 1924 - Daily mail fake letter - saying the comintern had encouraged a revolution in Britain via the Labour party

The letter reenforced the idea that the labour party was too close to Communism - the conservatives won the election.

They were hostile to soviet relations

Question 8

What was Lenin’s rule like by 1924?

Answer 8

Lenin died in 1924

Promised peace, bread and land - led Russia into a brutal civil war and policies created a famine in 1921

Soviet democracy usurped the party

NEP unpopular

BUT he had succeeded in making Russia Communist, he had seized power and retained it.

He hoped in time the party would lead Russia and the world to Communism.

Question 9

Why did NEP have to go?

Answer 9

• Famine in 1921
• Growing opposition
• Need to get the economy going.