The economy 1917-1928 Flashcards
what is state capitalism
A compromise economy which embraced some elements of socialism by imposing a degree of state control but retained elements of capitalism such as private markets
what is war communism
The political and economic system adopted by the Bolsheviks during the civil war in order to keep the towns and Red Army provided with food and weapons
what was the vesenhka
The council of the national economy that was in charge to supervise and control economic development
what was the NEP
Economic policy that marked a shift away from war communism. Private trade was allowed, rationing ended and requisitioning halted in the countryside. Aimed at stabilising the economy.
what were nepmen
speculative traders who brought up produce from the peasants to sell in the towns and consumer articles in the towns to sell in the peasant markets.
what happened december 1917
vesenkha was established to supervise and control economic development
what happened to the banks in december 1917
nationalisation of banks
put banks in control of the government
what happened summer 1918
lenin introduced a series of harshly restrictive economic measures, which were collectivly known known as war communism
why was state capitalism failing
failing to deal with the demands of civil war, food prices soared, industrial production sank and value of rouble collapsed
what were features of war communism
grain requisitioning, cheka squads used, rationing with largest portions going to Red Army and workers, abolition of money, free public transport, abolition of private trade, conscription of workers into factories or Red Army
why was there an abolition of money
workers got paid in rations
what happened between january 1917 to january 1919
workers had left cities, looking for work in villages or joined the Red Army. Urban proletariat declined from 3.6 million to 1.4 million
how many people died through the civil war due to starvation and disease
5 million due to food shortages
by 1921 industrial input had fallen to what %
fallen to 20% of its pre-war levels and rations had to be cut
what reduced the grain supplies to dangerous levels
combination of requisitioning and attack on kulaks
what happened in the 1921 severe famine
millions died of malnourishment
reports of cannibalism
tambov revolt 1920-21
mounting disarray in the countryside
70 000 man army led by antonov rose up against gov forces
joined my members of green party
100 000 Red Army troops deployed to deal with situation
kronstadt rising 1921
‘the flash which lit up reality better than anything else’
food crisis 1921
reduction of rations led to terrible conditions
30 000 sailors in the kronstadt naval base rebelled
previously loyal supporters
issued a manifesto claiming the Bolsheviks were traitors to the proletariat
which bolshevik led the workers opposition group
Aleksandra Kollantai
what did the workers opposition group highlight
The division between the bolsheviks
strongly opposed those who wished to continue war communism (Trotsky)
how did the NEP end war communism
created a mixed economy
Features of NEP
farming was left to the free market
grain requisitioning ended
added a tax where peasants could sell their surplus
Large factories and major industries remained in control of the gov
money was reintroduced
rationing was scrapped
political consequences of the NEP
regarded as a retreat back to capitalism by many Bolsheviks
What was lenins argument to creating the NEP
‘One step backwards, two steps forward’
