Chapter 7-Economic and socoial development

Question 1

why was a socialist economy unrealistic for Russia at the time

Answer 1

• Russia wasn’t industrialised
• the existing economic structure and modifications in the workers’ conditions would have to be maintained
• state capitalism would be used as a halfway house based on private wealth, free market competition and socialism

Question 2

How did the Bolsheviks react to state capitalism

Answer 2

• many demanded no compromises
• demanded radical measures such as the nationalisation of all businesses and the abolition of money with a trade need based system
• Lenin feared these ideals would not work in Russia in 1918

Question 3

Early decrees

Answer 3

• peasants had no incentive to produce grain so the Decree on Land (Oct 1918) acknowledged Private ownership of land was abolished but not nationalised and allowed to pass to those who cultivated it
• Decree on Workers’ control of Factories Nov 1918 acknowledged most factories were taken over by workers and that those in control had to maintain order and discipline

Question 4

how did the government develop greater state control over the economy

Answer 4

• nationalisation of the banks in Dec 1917, external trade (June 1918) and railways (June and Sept 1918)
• Veshenka created December 1917 which was the council of economy and regulated it
• GOELRO- a state commission in 1920 which organised production and distribution of electricity in Russia- important achievement.
• these measures provided a compromise but were on their way to a more rigorous state control

Question 5

Lenin quote GOELRO

Answer 5

• Communism equals Soviet Power plus electrification

Question 6

problems of state capitalism

Answer 6

• workers failed to organise factories efficiently and output shrunk
• workers awarded themselves unstainable pay rises and took stock and equipment
• workers made items to sell on the black market
• workers had no skills for successful management
• civil war caused shortage of raw material and industrial output plummeted

Question 7

wartime conditions (effect on economy)

Answer 7

Industrial production fell because of disrupted communications; raw material were in short supply, workers had to serve in the army and non-essential businesses were forced to close
This led to rampant inflation and peasants still refused to sell produce

Question 8

wartime conditions (effect on peasants)

Answer 8

• Peasants who had surplus produce were not prepared to sell it in the city as money was worthless to them since there was no goods to buy (many ended up subsistence farming and catering for just themselves)
  
  • Some peasants did well (in the early years) by selling horses for military use and maintaining a reasonable diet (by killing their livestock) but as the Civil War continued, this was harder for them. However, compared to others they could scavenge for food and find wood to warm their huts.

Question 9

wartime conditions (effect on urban dwellers)

Answer 9

Suffered a severe shortage of food, fuel and basic necessities (some were reduced to stripping their own house of wood to keep warm)
trade blockade maintained by hostile foreign powers and the loss of Ukraine reduced food supplies to the cities and by early 1918, the bread ration was only 50grammes per person per day

Question 10

black market during the war

Answer 10

hose living in towns resorted to this
- 2/3 of what was consumed came from this source.
- Urban inhabitants would travel to the nearby countryside to barter goods
- Peasant ‘sackmen’ found their way into towns to do some undercover trading.
-cordon detachments created by army to prevent these activities but
The authorities failed to stamp out the black market (they often used it themselves) because there wasn’t many alternatives if people were using it to survive

Question 11

effect of war on population

Answer 11

Because a number of people became desperate for food, workers left the city and went to either villages or joined the Red Army where rations were higher: 60% of the Petrograd workforce had left the city by April 1918. between Jan 1917 and 19 Russia’s urban proletariat pop decreased from 3.6 to 1.4 mill

Question 12

impact of the war on health

Answer 12

○ nearly 5 million people died during the Civil war from starvation or diseases vs 350,000 in action
Typhus epidemic in 1920 killed 3 million
There were few doctors left to tend to the ill due to suppression of bourgeoisie and there were scarcity’s of soap and medicines.

Question 13

effect of war on bourgeoisie

Answer 13

○ With no ration cards former members of the nobility and bourgeoisie were left to begging and selling few possessions they had left or helping in labour battalions on the front.
Large palaces and houses were divided up for Bolshevik use with the former inhabitants reduced to occupying one small area as flats were created in proportion to family size.

Question 14

atrocities committed during the war

Answer 14

• marauding
• whole villages in Ukraine wiped out mostly in Cossack attacks
• Kiev changed hands 16 times bringing hardship
• Rape and murder common and Jews suffered horribly from White Pogroms (massacres)

Question 15

what was war communism and why was it introduced

Answer 15

the political and economic system adopted by the Bolsheviks during the Civil War in order to keep the towns and Red Army fed
some think it was intended to lead the country towards a more communist economy
Trotsky initially opposed it but then accepted the measures

Question 16

how was war communism implemented

Answer 16

Bolsheviks decided to treat the Russian economy as one enterprise which neglected the concerns of managers, workers or customers due to their constantly changing opinions (influenced by market forces, such as demand and availability).
reflected Bolshevik ideology “The good of all was more important than the self-interest of individuals”

Question 17

what did the Bolsheviks think War communism would do

Answer 17

• reduce problems of production, supply, demand and distribution
• solve economic problems through treating the whole country as one giant factory unit
• emphasised central planning

Question 18

how was war communism oganised?

Answer 18

• under the direction of Veshenka, areas of Bolshevik control were geared for war effort and the emphasis was placed on the heavy industries which starved the other areas of the country for labour and resources evern more

Question 19

how was requisitioning organised?

Answer 19

• Surplus grain from the peasants were requisitioned and redistributed to feed the urban workers (proletariat).
  
  • Feb 1918: “Socialisation of Land” decree
  • May 1918: Food Supplies Dictatorship was set up
    Encouraged collective/cooperative farming to increase efficiency with concentrated resources, but compliance rates were low.

Question 20

process of requisitioning

Answer 20

Requisitioning detachments (ie. Cheka & workers) seized more from the peasants than they needed, offering vouchers instead of money. As a result, peasants barely had enough food to survive.
livestock, carts and firewood disappeared and the requisitioning detachments sought their own booty as reward for their efforts

Question 21

how were the different types of peasant treated

Answer 21

• The kulaks were people who made personal wealth from farming. They were labelled ‘enemies of the people’ and their stocks were seized.
  
  • Though the poor and moderately poor received better treatment, the harsh requisition measures brought them misery and forced them to hide their supplies.
  • Encouragement was given to those who informed the soldiers of those hiding grain by giving them half of the grain discovered.
    Peasants resisted by growing less and murdering members of requisition squads, leading to extensive use of Cheka to enforce the policy.

Question 22

how was nationalisation carried out

Answer 22

• The nationalisation of foreign trade and all industries was carried out.
  
  • The number of nationalisations increased during the Civil War.
  • In May 1918, sugar became the first industry to be nationalised.
  • June 1918; oil.
  • By November 1918 nearly all factories and businesses were nationalised.
  • Private trade and manufacture was banned, military-style railway control, workers’ soviets running factories abolished.
  • ‘Managers’ were employed by the State to increase output.
  • Discipline became harsher. Factories became more reliable places to work - more likely to stay open- some workers liked this
    Non-essential industries and small workshops suffered.

Question 23

how were workers treated under war communism?

Answer 23

• Stricter discipline -> strikes forbidden, working hours extended (going back on Decree made after October 1917 Revolution), ration-card workbooks replacing wages.
  
  • Fines for absenteeism and lateness.
  • Bonuses and more rations for hard work.
  • Centralised distribution and regulations controlled food, clothing and lodging.
    Internal passports introduced to stop employees leaving for the countryside (had been doing so to find food, firewood etc.).

Question 24

how were the different classes treated under war communism?

Answer 24

• The non-working class had to complete an obligatory labour duty.
  
  • Rationing on a class basis to destroy ‘bourgeois attitudes’ -> Red Army soldiers and factory workers got the highest rations, smaller rations to administrators and doctors, very few rations for nobility, bourgeoisie and clergy.

Question 25

effect of war communism- output and workers

Answer 25

-Production declined as transport systems were disrupted by the war and management struggled to ensure efficiency in factories. -By 1921, Total industrial output had fallen to 20% of its pre war levels and rations had to be cut. -Disease further aggravated the situation and and workers went on strike. -Some demanded better rations, new elections and a recall of the Constituent Assembly. -Others fled & ignored the passport system and armed guards stationed at the border to flee the nation for food. -By the end of 1920, the population of Petrograd had fallen by 57.5% and Moscow 44.5% compared to 1917.

Question 26

causes of the red terror

Answer 26

-The Civil War meant many Russians fighting against many of its own people -But Lenin needed a much broader base of support to enable his economic & social system to work efficiently - needed all ppl to support him Hence used coercion. Bolsheviks unapologetic about using force because they thought they knew best for the country Short term cause: assassination attempt on Lenin (August 1918) gave him an excuse for launching the Cheka (Red Terror)

Question 27

victims of the red terror

Answer 27

-political enemies (SRs, Mensheviks) gathered and shot. Half a million likely executed - class warfare under the excuse the bourgeoisie were planning counter revolution. Arrests, imprisonment, execution - sometimes specific victims were targeted but often it was children, workers and peasants just to frighten people into compliance.

Question 28

labour camps under Lenin

Answer 28

- concentration and labour - no accurate records of prisoners or deaths but existence shows Lenin used terror and it was an integral part of class warfare for his system.

Question 29

when was the Tambov Revolt and what was it?

Answer 29

1920-21 famine of 1921 to Cheka reported 155 risings August 1920- June 1921 70,000 peasants under Alexander Antonov rose against requisitioning forces when there was little grain left - joined by green army - 100,000 Red army troops deployed and there were brutal reprisals especially against Kulaks. - Whole villages were destroyed and poison gas was used.

Question 30

Lenin about the Kronstadt Rising

Answer 30

'flash which lit up reality better than anything else,' in reality, it was probably all the troubles of 1921 that led him to change economic direction

Question 31

who were the Kronstadt sailors?

Answer 31

- supported Bolsheviks in 1918 - had own muti-party radical soviet - 20,000 took place in July days - Some took part in October rev and civil war

Question 32

what caused the Kronstadt rising

Answer 32

- Food crisis 1921 -> reduction of 1/3 in the bread ration in cities (e.g. Moscow and Petrograd). Led to further strikes and riots - Lack of union representation -> expressed support for other parties Martial law declared Jan 1921 but some soldiers refused to take part -> Cheka used to crush demonstrations

Question 33

kronstadt rebellion

Answer 33

- 30,000 Kronstadt sailors rebelled. Used to be the most loyal supporters of the Bolsheviks during the Oct/Nov revolution. March 1921 sailors sent a manifesto to Lenin to end 1 party communist rule. The sailors used the slogan 'Soviets without Bolsheviks'

Question 34

how was the rebellion crushed?

Answer 34

- Marshal Tukhachevsky sent by Trotsky to crush rebels - Ringleaders of revolt were shot & 15,000 rebels taken prisoner to a labour camp on the White Sea Sailors named as 'White Traitors' by Lenin but the incident shook him especially as it coincided with the Tambov revolt

Question 35

effects of the Kronstadt rising within the Bolsheviks

Answer 35

Problems also caused a division within the Bolsheviks. - 'Workers Opposition' argued for greater worker control and removal of managers and military discipline in factories The Opposition also objected the fact that the state appointed trade union leaders -> thought this made unions tool of the regime. They also opposed those who wanted to intensify war communism

Question 36

proposal of NEP

Answer 36

- Gosplan was formally established by a Sovnarkom decree in Feb 1921 to advise a 'new economic policy.' (NEP) which Lenin formally announced at the tenth party congress in March 1921. - Lenin was supported by Bukharin Zinoviev and most of the leadership but since he knew many rank and file Bolsheviks would see this NEP as an ideological betrayal, he didn’t permit a vote, for fear of rejection. He relied upon the force of his personality and status as leader to force them through.

Question 37

series of measures in the NEP

Answer 37

- Requisitioning ended - ban on private trading was removed. - quota to the State and from 1923 this became a tax) - sell any remaining food on the open market for their own profit. - no forced collectivisation of land. - peasants would be allowed to work for their own benefit- increase production, more food - The state would keep control of the commanding heights of the economy.' - small scale industry would return to private hands. - Private trade allowed - transport and the banks would remain under the control of the state - Rationing was ended and industries were required to pay their workers out of their profits. - Managers could also 'pay by the piece' (for the job done), rather than having central control on wages.

Question 38

economic impact of the NEP

Answer 38

- Got the economy moving again. - The civil war also contributed to this though, because it left the regime more in control and provided more security. - Private businesses reopened and small manufacturing establishments and service industries such as shops and restaurants opened in the cities. - Industrial production recovered. State owned larger industries grew more slowly than small businesses The NEP did not solve the backwards problems of the economy but it was on much more secure footing.

Question 39

effect of NEP- agriculture

Answer 39

- Production recovered quickly as peasants were anxious to take advantage of the opportunity to trade their grain. - Kulak class re-emerged, villages working with NEP were rewarded. - 1923 an imbalance occurred in the economy as food prices dropped when peasants brought their large quantities of food into the cities. This was because peasants withheld supplies as there were no industrial goods in exchange. - Spring 1923- food prices fell below industrial goods prices as factories took longer to rebuild.

Question 40

effect of NEP- scissor crisis

Answer 40

- This gap produced what Trotsky called, 'Scissor crisis,' peasants threatened to hold back supplies for lack of The government capped industrial prices and introduced money taxes for the peasants so they had to sell goods. By 1926 production levels of 1913 were reached again

Question 41

effect of NEP- Nepmen

Answer 41

- 1925 25,000 private traders in Moscow. They were called Nepmen and were responsible for 75% of trade - The Bolsheviks hated them as representatives of capitalism. The Nepmen flaunted their wealth and were often corrupt gamblers. - tolerated if taxes were paid - Bolsheviks moralised about the evils of speculation in referring to the NEP as the New Exploitation of the Proletariat.

Question 42

Reaction by Bolsheviks to NEP

Answer 42

-was seen by Bolsheviks as a return to capitalism, pushing the socialist agenda away -Lenin said 'one step backwards two steps forward' -Zinoviev said it was only a temporary measure -like the treaty of Brest-Litovsk it was done to maintain power and survival of the Bolshevik party

Question 43

how did Lenin control political opposition to the NEP

Answer 43

Lenin banned factions (opposition groups) in 1921 in the 10th party congress -this meant party members could discuss but once the congress committee had agreed they had to obey -to disagree and form a 'faction' would cause expulsion from the party -this made it almost impossible to express views without appearing disloyal -to ensure they didn’t lose control with a return to capitalism the party increase oppressive measures -Mensheviks and social revolutionaries were banned in 1921 -show trials were held against, 'counter revolutionary actions,' and many were found guilty -11 SRs were executed

Question 44

how was suppression and control established under the NEP in the country at large- CHEKA

Answer 44

-cheka (secret police) were renamed GPU in 1922 to keep an eye on the population -GPU given the power to arrest at will and carry out the death penalty without evidence -would arrest for speculation so the party looked like it was against capitalist policies

Question 45

how was suppression and control established under the NEP in the country at large- CENCORSHIP

Answer 45

-1922 criticism of the government was banned -censorship increased dramatically -writers and intellectuals were deported to other parts of the country -all writings had to be approved by GLAVIT (the main administration for affairs of literature and publishing house)

Question 46

how was suppression and control established under the NEP in the country at large- RELIGION

Answer 46

-1922 attacks on religion increased -1921 Union of the militant Godless was set up -1922 Union attacked churches stripping them of all valuables and arresting imprisoning and executing many priests

Question 47

Nomenklatura system

Answer 47

5000 party and government posts were drawn up in 1923 - when a post was filled, it was chosen by the Central Party from a list of approved members, placing loyalty above skill - this meat no challenging policy - in return, members expected material rewards denied to majority of population and lower ranks of party