Lenin's Economy - NEP and Russian economy after the Civil War. Flashcards
(31 cards)
There were two MAIN revolts during the Civil War and following it. What were they?
The Tambov Revolt and the Kronstadt Uprising.
The Civil War ended in 1921 with a victory for the Reds, but the War ruined the Russian economy, leading to revolts. Why do you think the economy was so badly ruined?
The Russians barely had time to recover from WW1 (which they left the 3rd March 1918) before they were launched into another conflict.
When did the Tambov revolt start?
It began in Autumn 1920 (before the Civil War ended).
Why was there a Tambov revolt?
The revolters were rebelling against the policy of grain requisitioning. It was a hugely unpopular policy, as people’s food was being taken.
In January 1921, a force of how many had risen up in the Tambov revolt?
50, 000 people. As the revolt spread, it grew in size.
By March 1921, what was significant about the Tambov uprising?
It was large enough to actually attack government grain stores along the river volga.
What was ‘Kronstadt’?
Kronstadt was a naval base.
When did the Kronstadt rebellion start?
1st March, 1921.
Why was there a Kronstadt uprising?
1) the sailors were unhappy that the peasants were suffering from awful food shortages.
2) the naval base was very close to Petrograd, so they were hearing all about the workers’ troubles. The workers were being treated unfairly due to War Communism.
3) On the 22nd of January 1921, bread rations were cut down by a third in several cities.
A cause of the Kronstat uprising was due to how awfully the workers were being treated. How were they being treated? Give examples!
1) factories were militirised with harsh punishments for absenteeism and lateness.
2) workers were being imprisoned or shot if their targets weren’t met (sound familiar????)
3) any workers who striked could be arrested or shot.
4) the workers felt that they didn’t have a voice anymore through their unions, which were no longer there to help them, but to control them.
Tell me a bit more about the bread rationing tht led to the Kronstadt uprising!
On the 22nd January, 1921, bread rations were cut down by ONE THIRD in several cities, including Moscow and Petrograd. This was especially significant as it had lots of factories and WORKERS!
Tell me a bit about March 1921. What was it like?
- the severe winter of 1920 and 1921 brought strikes. The strikers found themselves supported by the Kronstadt sailors.
- food demonstrations had to be broken up by the Chekka and the special troops, because, like Feb 1917, soldiers refused to fire on civilians - they sympathised with the strikers.
- there was a call for ‘soviets without communists’ (shocking!) and revival in support for other socialist parties.
- on top of that, martial law (curfews) were imposed in Petrograd.
How were the Kronstadt sailors in contact with workers?
Sailors were likely to come from peasant/working families, therefore meaning they had contact with workers and peasants.
Tell me three key points about the development of the Kronstadt uprising?
- sailors refused to take orders and their aim was to start a widespread uprising against the Bolsheviks.
- they made a manifesto of deamnds, showing their organisation.
- the manifesto included: a wish for the end of terror, no more dictatorship, no more grain requisitioning, no more one-party state.
What kind of Bolshevik division was there at the time of the Kronstadt uprising?
Some Bolsheviks, such as Alexandra Kollontoi, had sympathy for the workers. She wanted unions to have more of a voice.
What was so shockingly significant about the Kronstadt uprising? How did Trrotsky and Lenin respond?
In 1917, Trotsky called the sailors ‘the pride and glory’ of the Russian revolution. But now, the sailors have turned on the Bolsheviks and no longer support them!!!!!!!!
- Trotsky and Lenin condemned the uprising, with propaganda labelling them as ‘white enemies’.
- but this wasn’t true! Some sailors were anarchists, some were SRs, some were ex-peasants. Some were even Bolsheviks!!!
What did the Kronstadt rebellion show about the economics?
It was a powerful argument for a change in economic policy.
What did Lenin think of the Kronstadt uprising?
Lenin realised that it was dangerous for the Bolsheviks. They were losing a LOT of support, and were at risk of losing their power. He realised that they needed to drop War Communism ASAP because it was so unpopular.
- He called it ‘the flash that lit up reality’.
What was it about the Kronstadt rebellion that was just SOOOOO significant?
It was so important because many Kronstadt sailors had once been pro-Bolshevik. They had helped the Bolsheviks win the Civil War and had supported them in their October revolution. But now, they were calling for Soviets (councils) without Communists.
NEP was another example of Lenin subverting ideology for what?
Pragmatism.
Who suggested the NEP?
Gosplan - the State General Planning Commission.
What did NEP allow?
Private ownership (to a certain degree - small businesses were allowed to be privatized), a return to private trade and companies had to pay workers out of their profits.
What did NEP end that was so vastly unpopular (link it to agriculture)?
It ending rationing and requisitioning. Farmers gave a portion of their harvest to the state as a tax, and were free to sell the rest.
What was the Scissor Crisis, as named by Trostky?
The crisis was when industrial production hadn’t increased with food production.
