Agriculture and Industry Flashcards
(57 cards)
What was the state of the economy in 1917?
- Damaged by WW1 and the Civil war.
- Industrial and agricultural systems outdated and inefficient
What was State capitalism?
Why was this necessary?
- The transitional stage between the old bourgeoisie economy and the new proletarian one.
- This was necessary because the means of production couldn’t be in the hands of the proletariat yet because they didn’t have the expertise and technical skills the bourgeoisie had.
- This was until the bolshevik experts could take their place.
What were the key measures of Lenin’s initial economic policy?
1917
-The land decree of 1917 abolished private ownership of land - Agricultural production declined, contributed to famine 1921-22, removed incentives for efficient farming and investments in land improvements..
The decree on workers’ control of November 1917 placed control of the factories into the hands of industrial workers - In the short term, it was popular amongst industrial workers and helped consolidate Bolshevik support, industrial production quickly declined as many skilled managers left or were displaced by inexperienced workers’ committees.
On the 27th of December 1917 all private banks were nationalised and amalgamated into the People’s Bank of the Russian Republic - It achieved the Bolshevik goal of eliminating capitalist private banks and centralized financial control under the communist state, Russian banks faced greater difficulties obtaining credit from international banks now that they were state-run rather than private entities.
What were the results of Lenin’s initial economic policy in 1917
1) it gave what?
2) what did the workers council do?
3) those with what were what?
4) what was set up and why?
1) It gave power to workers and peasants but caused further damage to the economy.
2) The Workers Council gave themselves pay raises which did not improve production and resulted in inflation.
3) Those with industrial and technical expertise were dismissed by workers seeking revenge for the way they were treated.
4) The Supreme Council of the National Economy (Vesenka) setup in December 1917 to provide greater control and supervision over the economy.
Why was war communism introduced? and ideologically?
1918
1) To supply the Red Army with enough food and supplies to win the civil war.
in response to economic collapse.
To fix the problems caused by early Bolshevik decrees such as giving workers control.
2) Ideological - the Bolsheviks wanted to abolish private enterprise to implement communist ideology.
What were the key features of War communism? 1918
1) state ownership of?
2) worker’s council replaced how?
3) requisitioning of food to?
4) private…?
1) Nationalism - state ownership of all industry which was controlled through Vesenkha.
2) Workers’ council replaced by management to instil discipline in workers - The death penalty for all workers who went on strike.
3) 150,000 Bolshevik volunteers used for the requisitioning of food from peasants to feed the army and urban population. - committees of the village poor made sure no peasants were hoarding food ~ led to rise in tension in the countryside and outbreaks of violence.
4) Private trading banned, bartering replaced money
What were the results of war communism?
1) ensured that the Red Army got the resources it needed to fight and win the civil war, but it left the economy in a state of collapse.
By 1921, industrial production was 1/5 of the figure for 1913
Disease and starvation were common and a wave of serious unrest swept across the countryside
Why was the NEP introduced? 1921
1) what did War Communism failed to convert?
2) Why was War communism unpopular
3) what was the food production figure, and how many people died of disease
4) what was disliked in the factories
1) War communism failed to convert the communist ideology into policy, although it provided resources to win the civil war, it had a negative impact on the economy and the popularity of the Bolsheviks.
2) War communism was unpopular because of the rationing system - The size rations were dependent on a person’s social class therefore members of the Red Army and industrial proletariat received the most.
3) Food production 48% of 1913 figure, breakdown of transport and distribution systems resulted in famine which also caused diseases such as typhus and smallpox - 20 mill dead in the 1920s.
4) The return of hierarchical systems within the factories were disliked as workers felt that their opportunity for self-regulation was being undermined by the continuous dictates of the State.
What are examples of opposition that applied pressure on Lenin to change his initial economic policy?
The Tambov Rising - a violent reaction from peasants to the requisitioning of grain and plans to get rid of the mir(village commune) 50,000 Red Army troops were sent into the area
The Kronstadt Mutiny - a revolt by sailors against the increase in the party power at the expense of the workers.
What are the key features the NEP in agriculture?
Requisitioning replaced by a taxation system which allowed peasants to sell any remaining food at market for profit.
No forced collectivisation and the mir would remain.
What are the key features of the NEP in industry?
1) what happened to small scale industry and heavy industry?
2) what was used to try and raise production?
3) an introduction of what?
4) what paid wages?
5)some left wing-bolsheviks…
1) Small scale industry was returned to private hands, but the state kept control of heavy industry, such as transport and banks, so the party had commanding heights of the economy.
2) In state-owned factories, piecework and bonuses were used to try and raise production. To some bolsheviks these techniques were seen as capitalist.
3) An introduction of private trading to stop the growth of black market.
4) The introduction of currency for paying wages.
5) Some left-wing bolsheviks was against the retreat back to capitalism but the economy was in desperate need so the NEP was a short term remedy.
What factors show that the New Economic Policy was successful?
1) what happened to industrial output and why?
2) better what?
3) it helped bolsheviks do what?
4) what happened by 1926?
1) Industrial output rose rapidly during the first three years due to the repairing of the roads and bridges damaged during the civil war, and putting factories back into production.
2) Better harvests in 1922 and 1923.
3) It helped Bolsheviks consolidate their power as it reduced the number of revolts which had been increased due to the effects of War Communism.
1924 - industrial production 45% of 1913 figure
4) 1926 - much of pre-war economy restored
~ because food production was increased to support industrial workers and gain foreign exchange for new technology and machinery.
What factors show that the New Economic Policy was a failure?
1) increase in what?
2) policy failed to deliver?
3) widened?
4) imbalance between?
5) low price of what did what?
1) The increase in corruption in the black market.
2) The policy failed to deliver substantial and sustained growth.
3) it widened income inequality
4) There was an imbalance between the provision of agricultural goods and industrial goods: as food prices fell, the price of industrial goods rose.
5) The low price of grain discouraged peasants from growing food for the market.
Why was there a move to a command economy?
1) what happened in 1927
2) soviet production figures were? what would the FYP allow for?
3) launching 5YP would do what?
4) Lenin’s declaration did what?
1) In 1927, events occurred that increased the fear of a foreign invasion - British government raid on the offices of the soviet trade mission in London. = peasants responded by hoarding food which restricted economic growth.
2) Soviet production figures still behind the modern industrial economies of the West. State control over the economy proposed by the 5YPs would ensure adequate production and distribution of essential resources which will bring about rapid industrialisation and advancement.
3) Launching the 5YP would remove the right and consolidate Stalin’s hold over the party.
4) Lenin’s declaration 1917 left the workers in charge of their factories - this was incompatible with industrial productivity
What were the aims of the five year plans?
To breakaway from the new economic policy with its capitalist elements and make the USSR self-sufficient.
To bring about rapid industrialization to modernise the economy.
To remove nepman.
To use the most advanced technology.
To mass mobilise the Soviet people and resources.
Industrialisation was directed by gosplan
What was gosplan?
The state planning authority that set targets for industries and allocated resources accordingly.
What happened to the bourgeois experts who retained their positions to provide expertise to keep the industry running smoothly?
a campaign against the bourgeois experts
in 1928 there had been a series of show trials against them as they were accused of ‘deliberate sabotage’.
the loss of this group hindered the progress made under the five year plans.
What was the first five year plan (1928 to 1932)?
The first five year plan focused on rapid growth in heavy industries such as coal, iron and steel - an approach recommended by super industrialisers.
Who were the super industrialisers?
Those in the Communist Party who thought that heavy industry should be given priority over other sectors of the economy.
What was the second five year plan (1933 to 1937)?
Initially it was to set higher targets to produce consumer goods, but as the 1930s progressed, the rise of Hitler in Germany redirected the focus onto the needs of defence, which meant that heavy industry continued to receive priority.
What was the third five year plan 1938?
It was geared directly towards arms production to meet the threat of Germany.
What were the results of the first five year plan?
1) What were built? but?
2)by 1933 only…
3)what did the government use?
4)what was the white sea canal? what did it show?
5)what were factory managers faced with?
6) what was often sacrificed and why?
1) Large industrial centres such as Magnitogorsk and Gorki were built and became large cities with a population of 250,000. But facilities at these centres were primitive as workers were housed in tents and temporary huts.
2) By 1933, only 17% of the workforce in Moscow was skilled, and in other cities, even less. The government relied on the use of shock brigades made up of the best workers to set an example.
3) The government used slave labour, such as the Gulag to complete large building projects in remote and cold regions like Siberia, which achieved a large human cost.
4) The White Sea Canal project employed 180,000 prisoners but during the winter of 1931-32 10,000 prisoners died on this project. This illustrated how Stalin and his government disregarded human cost and the quality of products as long as the aim was achieved.
5) Factory managers were faced with unrealistic targets, so used a wide range of enterprising methods such as ambushing resources for other factories and bribery.
6) In the rush to fulfil targets, quality was often sacrificed. For example, the Stalingrad tractor factory was supposed to be producing 500 tractors a month in 1930, but in June it only managed eight. Most of these broke down within days.
What were the results of the second and third five year plans?
1) what did and didnt rise during these plans?
2) extensive what happened?
3) introduction of?
4)rapid growth of?
5) strengthening of?
6)what suffered?
7) new what were set up but what did they do?
1) Coal production rose during the second plan. Chemical industry made progress, but oil industry didn’t.
2) Extensive expansion of the railway network, facilitating transportation of goods and resources.
3) introduction of machinery and modern techniques resulted in a small increase in agricultural output.
4) Rapid growth in defence-related industries, such as the production of tanks, aircraft, and ammunition.
5) Strengthening of communication systems to enhance military coordination.
6) Consumer industries suffered as the collectivisation of agriculture had destroyed a lot of cottage industry in rural areas.
7) New bakeries and meat packing factories, were established in many towns, but this did not solve the problems of shortages in important consumer goods.
Name three factors that limited the achievements of Stalin’s economic policy.
1) Poor planning and implementation.
2) The adoption of command economy led to failures because planners in Moscow had little understanding of local conditions in certain parts of the Soviet Union
3) The removal of managers and technical experts through the purges in 1937 slowed down economic progress.
