Socioeconomic conditions under Lenin

Question 1

How was the NEP formally announced?

Answer 1

The gosplan (a state general planning commission headquarters in Moscow with branches in each Soviet republic) was established in the sovnarkom by decree in February 1921 to advise on the NEP formally announced in congress in March 1921

Question 2

Who supported Lenin on the NEP?

Answer 2

Bukharin and Zinoviev

Question 3

Why and how was Lenin aware of other Bolsheviks?

Answer 3

• They would see it as an ideological betrayal
• The policy was not voted upon instead, it relief on the force of personality and his status as a leader

Question 4

What did the NEP lead to?

Answer 4

• A ban on requisitioning of grain but they still had to provide a quote and by 1923, this became a tax but were allowed to sell remaining food on the open market for their own land
• A ban on private trading was removed
• A promise not to carry out forcible collectivisation of land leading to a promotion in capitalism
• The continuation of state controlled coal, steel and oil
• Smaller industries like workshops returned to private hands under cooperatives and trusts
• The bank remained in the bands of the state
• Private trade was allowed through transport
• Rationing ended
• Industries were required to pay their workers out of their profits as managers could pay by piece rather than having a central control on wages

Question 5

What were the economic advantages of the NEP?

Answer 5

• Private businesses quickly re-opened
• Small manufacturing and service industries such as shops and restaurants began to thrive in cities
• Money flowed more freely and industrial production recovered even through the progression for larger state - owned businesses was slower
• Agricultural production only somewhat recovered as peasants were anxious about taking advantages of selling surplus grain

Question 6

What rose due to the NEP?

Answer 6

A kulak class as by 1923, there was a power imbalance with food entering cities that caused food prices to drop. Agricultural prices had been above those of industrial goods and by summer, it was in reverse as factories and workshops were taking longer to rebuild and expand their output

Question 7

What did Trotsky’s called scissor crisis lead to?

Answer 7

The lack of industrial goods for peasants to buy in exchange caused peasants to hold back supplies. This led the government to cap prices and led the replacement of quotas for taxes so they were encouraged to sell. This was short-term as by 1926, the production levels were similar to 1913

Question 8

What were Nepmen?

Answer 8

• By 1925, there were 250,000 in Moscow
• They brought peasants’ produce to towns and consumer articles were later sold in the countryside
• Controlled 75% of trade
• Bolsheviks saw them as capitalist
• They flaunted their wealth openly, not advertise to bribery and corruption and indulged in prostitution and gambling pushing hostility
• Mostly tolerated if taxes were paid
• Bolsheviks were prone to moralise about the evils of speculation such as referring the the NEP as the new exploitation of the proletariat

Question 9

How did Lenin see the NEP?

Answer 9

“One step backwards, two steps forward,”

Question 10

How did Bolsheviks see the NEP?

Answer 10

A retreat back to capitlaism

Question 11

How did Zinoviev see the NEP?

Answer 11

“only a temporary deviation, a tactical retreat,” in order for the party to stay in power similar to the treaty of Brest Litovsk

Question 12

What happened at the 10th party congress?

Answer 12

Factions were banned which allowed senior party members to discuss policy when the central committee made decisions, it had to be obeyed. This made it difficult to discuss policies in public without fears of disloyalty or expulsion

Question 13

What happened to Mensheviks and SRs

Answer 13

• Mensheviks and SR organisations were banned and in 1921, several thousand Mensheviks were arrested
• SRs were given a show trial (propaganda to influence public opinion) accusing them of counter revolution activities like assassination attempts on Lenin
• They were found guilty and 11 of them were executed

Question 14

What happened to the cheka?

Answer 14

The were re-named the GPU in 1922 and gained more power by arresting people at will for any reason often for capitalist tendencies and to carry out the death penalty

Question 15

What happened to intellectuals?

Answer 15

• In 1922, it was clear that criticism of the government was forbidden as many writers and intellectuals fled to other parts of the country
• All writing had to be approved by the GLAVIT before publication

Question 16

What happened to the church?

Answer 16

• The union of militant godless was formed which challenged the existence of god through talks and propaganda focusing on atheism and scientific principles believing the struggle against religion is a struggle for socialism
• By 1922, churches were being stripped of valuable possessions and thousands of priests were imprisoned and sometimes executes

Question 17

What were the changes in government under the NEP?

Answer 17

• In 1923, the nomenklatura system was introduced where influential post in government were filled by party members
• A list of 5000 party and government posts were drawn up where only central party bodies could nominate new post-holders from a list of approved party members placing loyalty above the skills needed for the position
• Loyalty was essential for party progression
• In return for loyalty, the nomenklatura could expect material rewards which meant the majority of the population and lower ranking party members were denied access to goods and services