Lenin’s Economy

Question 1

What was essential to build socialism?

Answer 1

Economic Revolution

Question 2

Lenin’s 4 economic objectives

Answer 2

• Modernisation
• Consolidation
• Military victory
• Destroy Capitalism

Question 3

Modernisation Objective:

Answer 3

Economy must be highly advanced from the Feudal society of the Tsars

Question 4

Consolidation Objective

Answer 4

Economic Stability and advancement was essential to help Lenin retain Bolshevik hold on power.

Gain more supporters.

Question 5

Military Victory Objective

Answer 5

Lenin needed a strong economy to supply his Red Army and win the Civil War - maintain hold on power.

Question 6

Destroy Capitalism Objective

Answer 6

Lenin wanted to create an economy which was highly more effective than capitalism, which ended economic innequality

Question 7

When did nationalisation of industry begin?

Answer 7

March 1918

Question 8

What was the heart of Lenin’s economic policy 1918-24

Answer 8

Large scale nationalisation

Question 9

State Capitalism introduction date?

Answer 9

March 1918

Question 10

Explain STATE CAPITALISM

Answer 10

• an economic phase between Capitalism and Communism
• nationalisation of large-scale industry
• ended capitalism by passing ownership of industry from the capitalists to the State (centralisation)

Question 11

What did Lenin hope state capitalism would do?

Answer 11

More efficient industry

Question 12

Vesenkha job

Answer 12

To centralise control of the now national industries

Question 13

What would make State Capitalism more effective and efficient?

Answer 13

The govt could employ economic experts to run the economy.

Question 14

Centralisation of national industries (by Vesenkha) would: 3 + explain how

Answer 14

• reestablish worker discipline (offer high pay to hard workers)
• factories properly managed (controlled by well-paid experts)
• economy could be coordinated (tailored to meet needs of society)

Question 15

War Communism - forever or temporary?

Answer 15

Lenin wanted it to be temporary - just to secure Bolshevik power in the civil war.

Question 16

Civil war start date

Answer 16

Summer 1918

Question 17

What was War Communism in broad terms?

Answer 17

A series of EMERGENCY ECONOMIC measures to ensure the communists won the civil war

Question 18

WAR Communism measures: (4)

Answer 18

• nationalisation of ALL industry
• food dictatorship
• labour discipline
• abolition of the market

Explained on other card…

Question 19

Food Dictatorship: (war communism)

Answer 19

• food free market abolished
• grain requisitioned from peasants
• distributed according to the SUPPLY COMMISSARIAT

Question 20

Supply Commissariat (WC)

Answer 20

Govt Body which decided which groups given the most food during requisitioning in war communism.

Question 21

Food distribution from the Supply Commissariat (war communism)

Answer 21

• Soldiers and workers got largest rationing
• bourgeoise given least

Question 22

How was Labour Discipline enforced (war communism):

Answer 22

• 11 hr working day introduced
• work compulsory for men 16-50

Question 23

Why was the market abolished? (war communism)

Answer 23

• money worthless due to hyperinflation
• => money abolished
• private trade also made illegal

Question 24

Did war communism lead to victory?

Answer 24

100%

Question 25

Negatives of War Communism?

Answer 25

• destroyed incentive to work - not rewarded for outstanding effort
• 1920 famine consequences exacerbated
• less workers in cities

Question 26

Why did War Comm exacerbate Famine (1920)

Answer 26

1921 harvest only 46% of 1913 harvest
REQUISITIONING = No food for farmers

Question 27

Date of Famine?

Answer 27

1920

Question 28

Famine 1920 Deaths?

Answer 28

6 million dead

Question 29

Why did War Communism lead to industrial workers shortages?

Answer 29

• workers fled cities to find food
• declined from 2.6 million (1917) —> 1.2 million in 1921

Question 30

What policy did the 1921 economic crisis lead to?

Answer 30

NEW ECONOMIC POLICY

Question 31

Key features of state capitalism:

Answer 31

• land decree
• workers control
• peoples bank of Russian republic
• veshenka (supreme council of the national economy)

Question 32

Key features of war communism:

Answer 32

• removal of currency (hyperinflation)
• military style discipline
• private trade banned
• NATIONALISATION
• grain requisitioning
• rationing

Question 33

Key features of the NEP

Answer 33

• end to requisitioning - replaced with tax
• no collectivisation to compromise with the peasantry
• returned small scale industry to private
• bonuses, managers
• growth of small scale businesses
• currency and wages