The effect of Leninist/Stalinist Society 1917-1953 Flashcards
What was the proletariat like under Lenin?
Lenin was more ideological towards the proletariat than Stalin as he gave workers initial power and early freedom
The communists wanted to create a new socialist man who was publicly engaged and committed to the community.
What was the proletariat like under Stalin?
However under Stalin Workers were forced to work a 7-day week and longer hours
lateness or absence could result in dismissal
strikes illegal
1931 - wage differentials + Stakhanovite movement formed a proletariat elite
workers became managers and their children benefited from better education
Party members could obtain goods more cheaply than workers
real wages were lower in 1937 than 1928
this clearly shows that Stalin was going against ideology as workers had no power and he was creating classes through incentives
How were women affected under Lenin?
The position of women experienced the greatest social changed after 1917
before the Revolution women were homemakers without any legal privileges
But under Lenin the government decreed against sex discrimination and women could own property
divorce was made easier and less expensive
in 1920 abortion was legalised to prevent the high mortality rates by illegal abortions
Girls were given the same education rights as boys and a minority were able to gain new careers
however now women were expected to work and had to cope with maintaining the household as well
How was the position of women changed under Stalin?
in the 1930s Stalin reverted to more traditional policies due to the fall in population growth
family became the main focus of a new propaganda and Stalin was presented as the ideal family man
Films presented women as feminine with lots of children
in 1936 there were large fees for divorce and men were expected to give 60% of the income and child support
financial incentives for large families such as tax exceptions for families with more than 6 children and bonus payments for every additional child
Were Stalin’s policies on women effective?
despite emphasising family life women continue to work
women workers increased from 3 million to 13 million between
1928-1940 they made over 40% of the workforce
women in education doubles
divorce and abortion rates remain high
1928-1940 saw a falling population growth rate
How were young people affected under Lenin?
Under Lenin education was seen as crucial for building of socialist Society
he set up the commissariat of Enlightenment which meant free education
freedom creativity and individualism were permitted
Quota system which gave WC kids access to secondary skl education
How did education change under Stalin?
schools became agencies for economic growth
schools taught skills for modern industrial societies + military training was introduced before war + nationalism promoted
in 1935 Stalin abolished the quota system
Stakhanovite movement extended to schools and teachers set high targets for students, if students failed teachers were purged
What percentage of the population was literate by 1941
by 1941, 94% of the population was literate
How did Stalin promote Youth organisations?
associated the Komsomol directly with the party
it was more influential teaching communist values and had widespread membership
young Pioneer palaces were built and camps organised for free
How did Stalin target religion?
1936 Constitution criminalised the publication of religious propaganda
Muslims land, schools and Mosques were confiscated and Sharia courts were abolished
in 1941 40,000 churches and 25,000 Mosques were closed and converted
despite this, ~60% of the population still defined themselves as Believers
How did Stalin’s policies affect national minorities?
In the 1930s Stalins policies turned towards greater centralisation and were less tolerant of ethnic groups as they sought to establish a single Soviet identity
In 1930s Stalin began to deport of Non-Russians
In 1938 learning Russian was compulsory in all schools and it was the only language permitted in the Red Army despite propaganda claiming to be a family of Nations
however politically they were made officially opposed to racial discrimination and intermarriage was welcomed to assimilate different national groups
in this way Stalin ignore ideology with NM as it was supposed to be self-determined
How did Stalin use propaganda?
Stalin relied on propaganda to harness support for industrial policies
pictures of happy productive workers reinforced the Socialist message
Stalin developed his own Cult of Personality which went against ideology as the Communist state was supposed to be leaderless
