3.1 Social devs = Leninist + Stalinist society, classless society, proletariat Flashcards
(32 cards)
1
Q
classless society
Abolition of Class Hierarchy (November 1917)
A
- Titles and privileges disappeared; everyone became a plain citizen (“grazhdanin”).
- Party members were addressed as “tovarishch” (comrade).
- Former nobility and bourgeoisie were not allowed to work, forced into menial tasks, and had their houses requisitioned for workers’ communal living (kommunalka).
2
Q
classless society
Class Warfare and Rationing During the Civil War
A
- Rations were based on work value:
- Workers and soldiers received the most.
- Essential civil servants and professionals, like doctors, received less.
- burzhui received barely enough to survive.
- middle-class individuals resorted to selling possessions or prostitution to survive.
- was intensified during the 1930s and beyond.
- aimed to create a socialist state with citizens who were socially responsible and committed to the community.
- Socialist man envisioned as publicly engaged, prioritizing the community over individual interests.
3
Q
The proletariat
Early Bolshevik Rule
A
- Initial worker power curtailed quickly; strict labour discipline enforced.
- Workers faced harsh penalties for failing to meet targets by 1921.
4
Q
The proletariat
Civil War and NEP Period
A
- Internal passports issued to prevent job changes.
- Unions used to control workers.
- Harsh conditions persisted, worsening under Stalin as urban labour force nearly doubled by 1932.
5
Q
The proletariat
Industrialisation Under Stalin
A
- Seven-day workweeks, longer hours, and penalties for absenteeism.
- Strikes illegal; damaging machinery or quitting without permission criminalized.
- Wage differentials and bonuses introduced in 1931 to incentivize productivity.
- Stakhanovite movement promoted extreme productivity goals, pressuring management.
6
Q
The proletariat
Living Conditions and Social Advancement
A
- Industrialisation created social advancement opportunities but living conditions were poor.
- Urban workers faced cramped housing, inadequate sanitation, and overcrowded transport.
- Shops often empty, frequent queues and shortages.
7
Q
The proletariat
Economic Realities
A
- Real wages increased during the Second Five Year Plan but were lower in 1937 than in 1928.
- Rationing ended in 1935, but high market prices persisted.
- Party elites had access to more goods; ordinary workers saw stagnant or declining living standards.
8
Q
Stakhanovite movement
A
- Aleksei Stakhananov - miner
- aug 1935 extracted in 5h 45m 102 tonne sof coal - norammly expected 14x that lenght
- hailed as example of human determination
- comps arranged to recreate his preformnce
- became way of enforcing management to support workers to increase production
9
Q
social change of woman - lenin
Pre-Revolution Status
A
- Peasant women primarily managed household tasks and children, participated in farming.
- Had no legal privileges, including inheritance rights.
10
Q
social change of woman - lenin
Post-Revolution Policies
A
- November 1917: Sex discrimination outlawed; women granted property rights.
- Civil Marriage: Only civil marriages recognized, diminishing church influence.
- Divorce: Made easier and less expensive.
- 1920: Abortion legalized to combat high mortality from illegal abortions.
- Contraception: Free advice provided.
- 1926 Family Code: Granted common law marriages the same rights as civil marriages.
- 1928: Wedding rings banned.
11
Q
social change of woman - lenin
Work and Reality
A
- Women given and expected to take paid employment, in addition to household responsibilities.
- Many women worked on land, in factories, and offices while also managing household chores and family needs, often involving long hours in food queues.
- Equal educational rights for girls, leading some to careers previously inaccessible to women.
12
Q
social change of woman - lenin
Grim Reality
A
The double burden of work and home responsibilities made life challenging, with constant toil for most women.
13
Q
Effect of Stalinist Policies on Women
Traditional Policies in the 1930s
A
- Falling pop growth due to purges and poor living conditions on collectives and in kommunalki.
- War Fears: Contributed to the shift towards traditional family values.
- Propaganda: Emphasized family, portraying Stalin as a father figure and ideal family man.
- Marriage: Importance re-emphasized; wedding rings reintroduced, new wedding certificates issued.
- Media Representation: Shift from the muscular, plainly dressed women of the 1920s to more feminine family women with children.
14
Q
Effect of Stalinist Policies on Women
1936 Policy Reversals
A
- Divorce: Large fees introduced, men required to contribute 60% of income in child support.
- Adultery: Criminalized; names of male offenders published.
- Contraception: Banned except on medical grounds.
- Family Incentives: Tax exemptions for families with six or more children; bonus payments for families with up to ten children.
15
Q
Effect of Stalinist Policies on Women
Women’s Employment
A
- Despite encouragement to leave paid employment upon marriage, many women continued working.
- Female industrial workers increased from 3 million in 1928 to 13 million in 1940.
- By 1940, 43% of the industrial workforce was female.
- Women’s participation in education doubled, and many worked on collective farms.
- State nurseries, crèches, canteens, and child clinics expanded to support working women.
- Women earned on average 40% less than men, with higher administrative posts largely held by men
16
Q
Effect of Stalinist Policies on Women
Marriage and Birth Rates
A
- High divorce rate persisted (37% in Moscow in 1934).
- High rate of abortions (over 150,000 abortions to 57,000 live births).
- Despite propaganda, the years 1928 to 1940 saw a falling rate of population growth.
- By 1937, 91% of men and 82% of women in their thirties were married.
17
Q
young ppl - education
Lenin Era (1917-1924)
A
- Foundations: Commissariat of the Enlightenment established for free education at all levels.
- Reforms: Abolition of old secondary gimnazi; introduction of new coeducational schools combining general education with vocational training.
- Teaching Methods: Emphasis on combining traditional learning with physical work; textbooks and examinations largely abolished; physical punishment banned
18
Q
young ppl - education
Stalin Era (1920s-1953)
A
- Shift in Trends: Reversal of liberal trends; focus on practical work linked to Five Year Plans.
- Expansion: Secondary and higher education geared towards developing skills for modern industrial society.
- Control: Schools and universities seen as agents for economic growth, placed under the control of economic planning agency, Veshenka.
- Abandonment of Quota System: Selection reintroduced for all students; emphasis on academic curriculum, formal teaching, tests, and uniforms.
19
Q
young ppl - education
Curriculum
A
Core Subjects:
- Reading, writing, science, Russian language and literature (30%), Maths (20%), Science (15%), Soviet-style History (10%).
- Nationalism and Military Training: Promotion of nationalism; introduction of military training in middle and higher schools and universities
20
Q
young ppl - education
Stakhanovite Movement in Education
A
- High Targets: Teachers encouraged to set high targets for themselves and students.
- Accountability: Teachers blamed and purged if students failed to perform well.
21
Q
young ppl - youth orgs
Formation and Early Years
A
- 1918: Russian Young Communist League (RKSM) established for ages 14-21.
- Early 1920s: RKSM expanded to become the youth division of the Communist Party.
- 1922: Introduction of the Pioneers, a junior section for children aged ten.
22
Q
young ppl - youth orgs
Stalinist Era Influence
A
- Initially low membership (six percent of eligible youth).
- Increased significance and broader membership during Stalinist rule.
23
Q
young ppl - youth orgs
Role and Activities
A
- Teaching communist values: discouragement of smoking, drinking, and religion.
- Organization of volunteer activities, sports, political clubs, and drama.
- Establishment of Young Pioneer Palaces as community hubs and free holiday camps.
- Direct affiliation with the Communist Party in 1939, involvement in Party campaigns, and assistance to the Red Army and police.
24
Q
religion
Post-Revolutionary Policies
A
- 1917-1918: Seizure of Church lands and separation of Church and State.
- 1921: Teaching of religion in schools forbidden.
- 1922: Arrest of Patriarch Tikhon for opposition to government policy.
- 1923-1927: Establishment of “The Godless” newspaper and the League of the Godless for anti-religious propaganda.
25
# religion
Persecution and Desecration
- War Communism Years: Hundreds of priests lose their lives due to deprivation of rations.
- Civil War Period: Seizure of Church bells and desecration of sacred relics.
- 1929: Restrictions on worship and introduction of a six-day work week.
26
# religion
Stalinist Era
- 1936 Constitution: Criminalization of religious propaganda.
- 1935: Ban on Muslim pilgrimages to Mecca, reduction of religious practices.
- 1937: 57% of the population defined themselves as believers despite persecution.
27
# religion
Impact on Religious Institutions
- Church Properties: Converted into schools, cinemas, clubs, warehouses, museums, and grain stores.
- Number of Closed Places of Worship: Nearly 40,000 Christian churches and 25,000 Muslim mosques.
- Resistance: Despite crackdowns, evidence of strong religious belief remained, possibly strengthened during periods of collectivization and purges.
28
# National minorities
Promise of National Self-Determination
- Bolsheviks promise national self-determination to ethnic minorities in 1917.
- Challenges arise as separatist movements gain momentum, especially in Finland, the Baltic, and the Caucasus.
29
# natioanl minorities
Jewish Settlements and Cultural Heritage
-1926, a special Jewish national homeland settlement is established in the far eastern province.
Early communists promote literacy campaigns encouraging the use of national languages, particularly Yiddish.
30
# national minorities
Stalinist Centralization Policies
-1930s, Stalin implements policies of greater centralization and less tolerance of ethnic diversity.
Russian nationalism promoted, and leaders of different republics face purges for deviating from Moscow's directives.
31
# national minorities
Deportations and Anti-Semitic Attitudes
- Stalin initiates deportations of non-Russians, especially during campaigns against "saboteurs" in the 1930s.
- Revival of anti-Semitic attitudes, particularly in rural areas during campaigns against perceived enemies.
32
# national minorities
Incorporation of Jews and State Policies
- 1939-1940, two million Jews are incorporated into the Soviet Union, leading to arrests of religious leaders.
- Despite state opposition to racial discrimination, instances of discrimination persist, with an emphasis on assimilation through inter-marriage.
