Unit 3 AOS 2

Question 1

What were the causes of the 1921 famine?

Answer 1

Caused by War Communism policies, Civil War destruction, and drought.

Question 2

What were the consequences of the 1921 famine?

Answer 2

9.5 million dead, some resort to cannibalism, widespread starvation particularly in countryside (peasants)

Question 3

What was the significance of the 1921 famine?

Answer 3

Forced Lenin to abandon War Communism and adopt the NEP.

Question 4

What is Richard Pipes’ perspective on the 1921 famine?

Answer 4

Called it a “human catastrophe” exposing the Bolshevik regime’s failure.

Question 5

What caused peasant resistance under War Communism?

Answer 5

Harsh grain requisitioning, conscription, and state control over agriculture.

Question 6

What were the effects of peasant resistance under War Communism?

Answer 6

Armed uprisings like the Tambov Rebellion; desertion and sabotage.

Question 7

What was the significance of peasant resistance under War Communism?

Answer 7

Key reason War Communism was abandoned for the NEP.

Question 8

What is Orlando Figes’ perspective on peasant resistance?

Answer 8

Said peasants’ resistance drove Bolshevik economic retreat.

Question 9

What was the Kronstadt Revolt?

Answer 9

Sailors opposed Bolshevik repression and economic hardship.

Question 10

What were the consequences of the Kronstadt Revolt?

Answer 10

Brutally suppressed by Red Army; thousands killed or exiled.

Question 11

What was the significance of the Kronstadt Revolt?

Answer 11

Showed that even early supporters of Bolsheviks had turned against them; led to NEP.

Question 12

What is Alan Wood’s perspective on the Kronstadt Revolt?

Answer 12

Called it a major turning point and the “first major challenge” to Bolshevik authority.

Question 13

What was the Ban on Factions passed at the Tenth Party Congress?

Answer 13

Prohibited factions within the Communist Party; centralized Lenin’s control.

Question 14

What was the significance of the Ban on Factions?

Answer 14

Paved the way for later authoritarianism under Stalin.

Question 15

What is Stephen Kotkin’s perspective on the Ban on Factions?

Answer 15

Said it helped consolidate Lenin’s power but foreshadowed repression.

Question 16

Why was the NEP introduced?

Answer 16

Failure of War Communism, unrest from Kronstadt and famine.

Question 17

What did the NEP involve?

Answer 17

Reintroduced market mechanisms, allowed small-scale private trade, and replaced requisitioning with a tax-in-kind.

Question 18

What was the significance of the NEP?

Answer 18

Temporarily restored the economy and eased peasant tensions.

Question 19

What is Sheila Fitzpatrick’s perspective on the NEP?

Answer 19

Called it a “pragmatic retreat” to save Bolshevik rule.

Question 20

What were the effects of the NEP from 1921 to 1927?

Answer 20

Economic revival, rise of NEPmen, rural stability—but growing inequality.

Question 21

What was the significance of the NEP from 1921 to 1927?

Answer 21

Stabilized Soviet economy but clashed with socialist ideals.

Question 22

What is Robert Service’s perspective on the NEP?

Answer 22

Said it “saved Soviet Russia from economic ruin” but introduced contradictions.

Question 23

To what extent did Russian society change from 1896 to 1927?

Answer 23

Abolition of monarchy, redistribution of land, political repression.

Question 24

What was the significance of changes in Russian society from 1896 to 1927?

Answer 24

While government changed radically, repression and inequality remained.

Question 25

What is Richard Pipes' perspective on Russian society changes?

Answer 25

Argued that structural repression continued despite revolutionary ideals.

Question 26

How did political conditions in Russia change from 1896 to 1927?

Answer 26

From autocracy to one-party communist rule with no political freedom.

Question 27

What was the significance of political changes in Russia from 1896 to 1927?

Answer 27

Set the foundation for future totalitarianism under Stalin.

Question 28

What is Orlando Figes' perspective on political changes in Russia?

Answer 28

Argued Lenin replaced one form of autocracy with another.

Question 29

What happened to nobles and bourgeoisie after the revolution?

Answer 29

Loss of land, exile, and execution of former elites.

Question 30

What was the significance of the fate of nobles and bourgeoisie?

Answer 30

Eradicated old aristocratic order, replaced with proletarian rule.

Question 31

What is Richard Pipes' perspective on the fate of nobles and bourgeoisie?

Answer 31

Called it “the destruction of the old aristocracy.”

Question 32

How did the lives of peasants change under the Bolsheviks?

Answer 32

Initial gains, then repression and famine, then partial recovery.

Question 33

What was the significance of changes in peasants' lives under the Bolsheviks?

Answer 33

Central to Bolshevik support and resistance; shaped policy.

Question 34

What is Sheila Fitzpatrick's perspective on peasants' lives under the Bolsheviks?

Answer 34

Noted peasants “were caught in the middle” of Bolshevik experiments.

Question 35

What was the experience of workers before the revolution?

Answer 35

Poor conditions under Tsarism; Bolshevik promises of empowerment.

Question 36

What were the consequences for workers after the revolution?

Answer 36

Some early gains, but later repression, militarized labor, and loss of autonomy.

Question 37

What was the significance of workers' experiences during this period?

Answer 37

Workers were a key base for Bolsheviks, but later disillusioned.

Question 38

What is Stephen Smith's perspective on workers' experiences under Lenin?

Answer 38

Argues workers gained little long-term improvement under Lenin.

Question 39

How did women’s lives change from 1896 to 1927?

Answer 39

Legal reforms (divorce, abortion rights), but social roles remained restrictive.

Question 40

What was the significance of changes in women's lives during this period?

Answer 40

Some progress made, but equality was limited and often reversed under Stalin.

Question 41

What is Wendy Goldman's perspective on early Soviet gender reforms?

Answer 41

Highlights both achievements and limitations in early Soviet gender reforms.

Question 42

What was the impact of the revolution on education?

Answer 42

Expanded access to education, focus on Marxist curriculum.

Question 43

What was the significance of education changes during this period?

Answer 43

Education became a tool for indoctrination but also widened literacy.

Question 44

What is Sheila Fitzpatrick's perspective on Soviet education?

Answer 44

Notes Soviet education was a “vehicle of both learning and propaganda.”