Working Conditions Flashcards
1
Q
what happened to urban working conditions under Alexander II?
A
- In 1847 trade unions were made illegal
- Out of 181 indusrty enterprises that were inspected, only 71 were getting the correct wages. So clearly urban workers were not a priotity.
2
Q
what happened to rural working conditions under Alexander II?
A
- The emancipation edict freed serfs to work on their own land.
- However, redemptiom payments and the control of the mire signficantly restricted the actions of the peasants
3
Q
What happened to urban working conditions under Alexander III?
A
- In 1882, the employment of children under 12 in factories was banned.
- In 1882, factory inspectorate was introduced. However, there were too few of them and they had limited powers to enforce safety guidelines
- Conditions in factories were dangerous and unhealthy. Beginnings of growth in heavy industry.
4
Q
What were rural working conditions like under Alexander III?
A
- land captains abused their powers and tightly controlled the lives of the peasants
- In 1883, the peasants land bank was created to help peasants buy land. This was so successful that by 1904, peasants had purchased 1/3 of all landlord estates.
5
Q
What were urban working conditions like under Nicholas II?
A
- 1884: night work for women and children was forbidden in textile factories.
- 1886: penalties for illegal striking introduced.
- 1896: 11 hour work day fixed by law and workers were not obliged to work on sundays.
- 1903: workers insurance scheme introduced
- 1914: Stautory holidays introduced and a 9-10 hour working day became the norm.
- 1912 Lena Goldfields massacre
6
Q
What were rural working conditions like under Nicholas II?
A
- Stolypin’s wager on the strong resulted in a new class of independent surplus-producing peasants.
- These kulaks could build up their own independent and consolidated farms and they had more control over the cops they grew
7
Q
What were working conditions like under the Provisional Government?
A
- An 8 hour work day was introduced, as a result of the decree made by the Provisional Government.
- However, many worker demands weren’t met.
8
Q
What were urban working conditions like under Lenin?
A
- He introduced the Rabkrin (Workers and peasants’ inspectorate) in 1920. However, this proved to be a retrograde step and the Rabkrin simply became a discussion group rather than a law-enforcing body.
- Wages were quite low and in 1919, they were 2% of 1913 levels. This resulted in uran workers spending 3/4 of their income on food.
- Laws brought in to improve working conditions to show that the Bolshevik’s were the workers party.
9
Q
What were rural working conditions like under Lenin?
A
- Under war communism, grain was requisitioned from the peasants, especially the Kulaks.
- Under the NEP, although attitudes towards Kulaks were slightly relaxed, they were still persecuted to an extent. They also had to pay higher taxes than other peasants.
10
Q
What were urban working conditions like under Stalin?
A
- In 1932, a 10-12 hour work day was the norm. This was because Stalin wanted to fulfill the demands of the first 5 year plan
- In 1939, a 7 hour work day was introduced. This was a reward to the workers due to the success of the five year plans.
- In 1940, the work day went back up to 8 hours. Holidays were alspo disallowed. This was due to the war.
- Workers could be punished for their absence from work ie could lose their job. In 1940, absentneeism and lateness could be punishable by imprisonment
- Bonus schemes organised and the Stakhanovite movement became popular.
- Workers were threatened with being purged if they were proved to be anti-revolutionary
- Wages fell by 50%
11
Q
What were rural working conditions like under Stalin?
A
- Trend of dekulakisation continued.
- From the start of 1928 to the end of 1930, 1- 3 million Kulak families were deportede to work in camps in places like Siberia.
12
Q
What were urban working conditions like under Khrushchev?
A
- 1955 a minimum wage was introduced, although most people were earning above this minimum wage anyways.
- Introduced a 7 hour work day in 1958 because he wanted to move away from the oppressive stalinist years.
13
Q
What were rural working conditions like under Khrushchev?
A
- The Virgin Lands Campaign failed and the peasantry were pressured to increase their productivity
14
Q
when was the employment of children under 12 in factories was banned?
A
In 1882
15
Q
When was the factory inspectorate introduced?
A
In 1882
