Opposition Part 3 - The Peasants & Workers (1855-1964) Flashcards
True or False: Peasants were all ignorant, uneducated & apathetic to their lives.
False: While a large proportion of peasants fitted this view, older peasants tended to be more educated. Though they rarely showed allegiance to political parties but could be political about changes.
How much of the population did peasants make up in the Tsarist Era?
70-80% of the population.
What was arguably the main reason for peasant unrest in Tsarist Russia?
Food shortages or changes to their local community (like the village Mir)
In what year was the Emancipation of the Serfs and what was it?
The Emancipation of the Serfs was widespread reforms done under Alexander II to release the serfs from their ties to the landlord in 1861.
Peasants revolted in the 1890’s for what reason?
The 1891 Great Famine
The period of reaction under Alexander III
How did Alexander III quell the revolts that sprang up during the 1890’s?
The use of Land Captains. These were tasked with managing the communities of the mir.
They were part of the landed aristocracy and appointed town elders to arrest peasants and fine them without trial.
Why did the unrest increase in the countryside during the first decade of the 1900’s (1901-1907)
This was because of the Redemption Payments that the peasants were unable to pay (Despite the Peasant Land Bank in the 1880s)
These payments were the debt they had to pay back. It was simply impossible and crippling the peasants. Revolt was the answer.
(NB: This Redemption Payment was abandoned in 1907)
How did the peasantry try to resist in the early 1900’s?
They did it in different ways:
- Stole or appropriated private land.
- Refused to pay taxes
- Robbed warehouses or stores for food or supplies
- Physically attacked landowners
- Resorted to arson of warehouses or food supplies.
What is the specific name of the revolts that took place in 1906-1907?
The Black Earth (Region) Revolts
How was the revolts of 1906-1907 dealt with.
A mixture of force (using the Black Hundreds) and reform.
Reform: Stolypin’ Land Reform.
(NB: This would be called the Wager on the Strong. Redistribute the best land to the strongest peasants to act as a role model within the peasant community of the Mir)
What was the main event of the 1910’s that sparked off more revolts within the peasantry?
The First World War (1914-1917)
What within the war sparked off revolt and unrest?
By 1916, the Home Front was struggling with the war. Food was being sent to the front and the demands on the peasantry was high.
Peasants also lacked the materials (fertilisers and machinery) to cultivate the land well. They were blamed for the lack of productivity.
The peasantry revolted during the February Revolution of 1917. Why was this a different style or revolt?
This is argued to be different because:
- Peasantry were more organised than before.
- They were supported/mixed up with the army deserters & political minded Russians.
What was the main reason that the peasantry revolted during the Civil War (1918-1921)?
To better their position, now the Bolsheviks are/will overthrow the shackles of Tsarism.
Some supported the Tsarist armies when they felt the horrid effects of War Communism, especially the rapes, beatings and torture as their grain was requsitioned.
What new policy initiated by Lenin in 1921 was in part done to win over the support of the peasantry
New Economic Policy
(NB: This was allowing the peasantry to have the small doles of capitalism in order to suppress or satisfy the peasants away from revolting)
What policy ignited a new wave of anger from the peasantry in Stalin’s early years in power?
Stalin’s Collectivisation & Dekulakisation policies.
What two features of Stalin’s policies angered the peasantry the most?
Anger came from:
- Scale & Speed of the reforms that were taking place.
- The loss of the Mir (Village Community), when it was disbanded in 1930.
What did the peasantry do to challenge Stalin’s policies?
Lack of co-operation with the Stalinist regime.
This included slaughtering large amounts of animals and burning crops so the authorities could not seize it.
What agricultural policy was organised by Khrushchev in the 1950’s/1960’s?
The Virgin Land Scheme.
Name one problem with the Virgin Land Scheme of the 1950s/1960s
Food shortages that affected the peasantry.
When did factory inspections start for Urban workers & When did a working normal hourly day occur?
Inspections 1882
Normal Hourly Day 1914
Name two strikes during the Tsarist Era
Morozov Dye Works Strike 1885 (8000 workers)
Lena Goldfield Miners Strike 1912
Putilov Works Strike in St Petersburg 1917
What era saw no strikes due to a Totalitarian State embedded?
Stalinist Russia
Where was the uprising against food prices and food shortages in 1962?
Novocherhassk
Khrushchev caved into workers opposition - Name me one result
Average working day was reduced from 11.5 hours to 7 hours
Official Inspection was established
