What was the impact of Stalin’s economic policies? Flashcards
(17 cards)
(a) (i) Who were the kulaks?
(ii) What was a kolkhoz? [4]
Kulaks were rich peasants.’
* ‘They owned their own land and animals.’
* ‘The kulaks emerged from the reforms of Stolypin.’
* ‘Stolypin encouraged them to buy the land they lived on and worked so that yields would improve.’
* ‘Many kulaks increased their land-holding by buying out their neighbours.’
* ‘The kulaks were resistant to change and this meant Stalin detested them.’
* Stalin decided policy to consolidate all individual households into kolkhozes, by propaganda or by force. All lands, cattle and equipment were to become collective property.
- A kolkhoz was a collective farm in the Soviet Union, representing a key part of the socialized agriculture system.
- It was one of the two main types of farms (along with sovkhoz, or state farm) established after the 1917 revolution, aiming to replace individual and family farming with a collective model.
- Kolkhozes were essentially cooperative enterprises where peasants worked collectively on state-owned land and were paid based on their labour contribution
(a) What was collectivisation? [4]
- Stalin decided policy to consolidate all individual households into kolkhozes, by propaganda or by force. All lands, cattle and equipment were to become collective property.
- Stalin intended to overcome the food crisis affecting the country and to increase peasant labour productivity.
- Prodrazvyorstka was introduced: people were forced to surrender limited amounts of bread to the state.
(a) What was the impact of collectivisation? [4]
- ‘Initially, it led to an increase in the grain harvest.’
- ‘Peasants were being asked to abandon a way of life that they and their ancestors had led for centuries.’
- ‘The peasants disliked being under the control of the local Communist leader.’
- ‘They disliked having to grow crops such as flax rather than grain.’
- ‘Most kulaks refused to hand over land and produce.’
- ‘Kulaks were arrested and sent to labour camps.’
- ‘Many kulaks burnt their crops and slaughtered their animals so that the Communists could not have them.’
- ‘There was a famine between 1932 and 1933.’
- ‘Millions died in Kazakhstan and the Ukraine.’
- ‘More machinery and chemicals were used on the farms.’
- ‘Grain exports earned foreign currency to finance the modernisation of industry.’
- ‘The farms were large enough to use machinery and modern methods.’ ‘It increased production of cheap grain to feed the industrial workers and to be able to sell for export.’ ‘It kept the price of grain low, which meant wages could be kept low.’ ‘By 1940, agricultural production was beginning to exceed 1928 levels.’ ‘It meant famine was avoided in the Soviet Union from 1933 onwards.’ ‘It enabled Stalin to control the peasants.’
(a) Describe how agriculture was organised before collectivisation. [4]
- The system used was the NEP.’
- ‘Peasants were agricultural labourers with no land or they were kulaks.’
- ‘Kulaks were prosperous peasants who owned small farms.’
- ‘Farms were too small to make efficient use of modern methods such as tractors and
- fertilisers.’
- ‘Peasants could sell their surplus produce on the open market.’
(a) What part did GOSPLAN play in Soviet modernisation? [4]
- ‘GOSPLAN was the state economic planning organisation.’
- ‘Initially, it had an advisory role.’
- ‘It set overall targets for an industry.’
- ‘It concentrated its efforts on heavy industries such as coal and iron.’
- ‘It planned and invested in vital industries.’
- ‘Each region of the USSR was told its targets.’
- ‘The region set targets for each mine or factory.’
- ‘Individuals were set targets.’
- ‘GOSPLAN was responsible for the administration of the Five Year Plans.’
(a) Describe Russification [4]
Stalin discouraged differing national identities within Russia.’
* ‘Stalin wanted people to see themselves as ‘Soviets’ not Latvian or Ukrainian.’
* ‘Teaching the Russian language in all schools became compulsory.’
* ‘In 1932, citizens had to carry identity booklets which included their nationality.’
* ‘Russian was the language of command in the Red Army.’
* ‘There was mass deportation of ethnic minorities back to Asia.’
* ‘Many Russians were sent to minority areas to live and work.’
* ‘Non-Russian members of the Communist elite in positions of power were removed.’
* ‘Stalin used the purges of the 1930s to target Latvians, Estonians, Finns, Poles and Hungarians within the Soviet elite.’ ‘Anti-Semitic measures were introduced.’
(a) How did Stalin use his power within the Communist Party to defeat Trotsky? [4]
Stalin was General Secretary of the Communist Party and was able to appoint supporters into influential positions.’
* ‘Stalin tricked Trotsky so that he did not attend Lenin’s funeral.’
* ‘Stalin appeared as the chief mourner at the funeral.’
* ‘Stalin formed an alliance with Zinoviev and Kamenev against Trotsky accusing him of trying to split the Communist Party by taking power himself.’
* ‘Stalin worked to strip Trotsky of his positions. He ceased to be Commissar for War. He lost his place on the Politburo and was removed from the Central Committee of the Communist Party.’
* ‘In 1928, Stalin had Trotsky exiled to Siberia.’
* ‘In 1929 Trotsky was expelled from the USSR.’
* ‘In 1940, Stalin’s agents caught up with Trotsky and an NKVD agent murdered him in Mexico.’
* Level 2 Describes issues [2–5] (One mark for each relevant point; additional mark for supporting detail.) e.g. ‘Stalin was General Secretary of the Communist Party and in a strong position.’ ‘For support he had placed his supporters in top Party posts.’ ‘Stalin was a clever tactician playing one group off against the other in the Politburo.’ ‘Stalin successfully presented himself as Lenin’s close follower such as chief mourner at his funeral. Stalin tricked Trotsky into not attending.’ ‘Stalin persuaded those in the Party that his ‘socialism in one country’ was more favourable than Trotsky’s ‘permanent, or world revolution.’
(a) What were the benefits of Stalin’s economic changes? [4]
- ‘There were huge increases in coal and steel production.’
- ‘By 1940, Russia produced 20% of the world’s manufactured goods.’
- ‘Women became a large part of the workforce.’
- ‘Over a long period, agriculture output increased.’
- ‘It helped Russia be stronger militarily.’ ‘It could produce the weapons of war, needed in the Second World War.’
- ‘There was an increase in the standard of living by the late 1930s.’
- ‘It helped create wealth to produce good health and educational schemes.’
- ‘It transformed the way Russia worked.’
- ‘Russia began to resemble the industrialised nations of Europe.’
- ‘There were machines and chemicals in farming and new machinery in the factories.’
(a) Describe the experiences of ethnic minorities under Stalin. [4]
- They experienced Stalin’s policy of Russification where everybody had to become Russian.’
- ‘Russian was taught in all schools.’
- ‘Many people from ethnic minorities, such as the Chechens and the Ingush, were deported to Siberia where they became second-class citizens. Millions died.’
- ‘The Holodomor famine was a terror-famine campaign organised by the Soviet authorities against the Ukrainian population.’
- ‘Many minorities who were in the Soviet elite suffered during the purges when they were targeted.’
- ‘There was a policy of decossackisation to try and finish off the Cossacks
(a) What actions did Stalin take to create a ‘cult of personality’? [4]
The propaganda machine pushed Stalin into every aspect of the Soviet people’s daily lives.’
* ‘This created an image of Stalin.’
* ‘Portraits, photographs and statues were everywhere celebrating Stalin’s image.’
* ‘Regular processions were held in towns praising Stalin.’
* ‘Places were named after him.’
* ‘There were 16 cities named after him in Soviet-controlled countries.’
* ‘Stalin was made out to be a super-being, almost god-like.’
* ‘Children were taught that Stalin was the ‘wisest man of the age’.’
* ‘His birthday was celebrated by the nation every year.’
* ‘History books were rewritten making Stalin and Lenin the only heroes of the Revolution.’
* ‘The cult of Stalin was made greater by success in the Second World War.’
(a) Describe the types of propaganda used by Stalin. [4]
- Propaganda
- Fear (NKVD)
- Labour camps – gulags
- Media censorship
- Cult of personality
- Education
- Public facilities
- Rising living standards
(a) What were the main features of the new constitution of the USSR introduced by Stalin in 1936? [4]
- ‘There was a national assembly known as the Supreme Soviet.’
- ‘Elections were held by secret ballot to vote in members.’
- ‘The Supreme Soviet elected a smaller body, the Praesidium, to act on its behalf.’
- ‘The Supreme Soviet chose the Council of People’s Commissars, which was a small group of
- ministers.’
- ‘Elections for the Supreme Soviet were held every four years but there was only one
- candidate to vote for in each constituency.’
- ‘The constitution stated there were universal human rights, including freedom of speech,
- thought, press, religion and public assembly.’
- ‘Although not mentioned in the constitution, real power lay with the Politbureau.’
- ‘Stalin held the posts of General Secretary of the Party, Chairman of the Politbureau and
- Prime Minister.’
(a) What was life like for Russians sent to labour camps? [4]
- ‘Those imprisoned had to carry out hard manual work (slave labour).’
- ‘They worked on construction projects.’
- ‘Many camps were in Siberia, thus it was extremely cold.’
- ‘Food was often limited to gruel once a day.’
- ‘Accommodation was overcrowded.’
- ‘There was a shortage of toilets in the accommodation.’
- ‘Camp guards used violence on the prisoners.’
(a) What was the new Economic Policy? [4]
- ‘It was a policy announced by Lenin.’
- ‘It began in 1921.’
- ‘It brought an end to War Communism.’
- ‘It attempted to regain the support of the peasants and gain support of the workers.’
- ‘Its aim was to produce more food for the workers in the cities.’
- ‘It allowed peasants to sell surplus grain on the open market.’
- ‘Private enterprise was allowed in trade and small-scale industry.’
- ‘Compulsory labour ceased.’
- ‘Bonuses were introduced for overtime and extra work.’
- ‘The currency was put on a sound footing.’
- ‘A regular system of taxation was introduced.’
- ‘Foreign trade was allowed, encouraging links with other countries.’
- ‘It gave the economy a boost.’
(a) What was the ‘cult of Stalin’? [4]
- The propaganda machine pushed Stalin into every aspect of the Soviet people’s daily lives.’
- ‘This created an image of Stalin.’
- ‘Portraits, photographs and statues were everywhere celebrating Stalin’s image.’
- ‘Regular processions were held in towns praising Stalin.’
- ‘Places were named after him.’
- ‘There were 16 cities named after him in Soviet-controlled countries.’
- ‘Stalin was made out to be a super-being, almost god-like.’
- ‘Children were taught that Stalin was the ‘wisest man of the age’.’
- ‘His birthday was celebrated by the nation every year.’
- ‘History books were rewritten making Stalin and Lenin the only heroes of the Revolution.’
- ‘The cult of Stalin was made greater by success in the Second World War.’
(a) What weaknesses of Trotsky helped Stalin become leader of the USSR? [4]
- ‘Trotsky’s idea of permanent revolution was unpopular with many ordinary
- Russians.’
- ‘People thought that Trotsky’s ideas could involve the USSR in new conflicts.’
- ‘Trotsky was seen as arrogant by many in the Communist Party.’
- ‘Trotsky was too confident.’
- ‘Trotsky underestimated Stalin.’
(a) Describe how villages were collectivised. [4]
- A propaganda campaign was used to explain the advantages of
- collectivisation.
- The government sent officials to force peasants to agree.
- Many peasants were driven from the land and even sent to Siberia.
- Large farms were created by putting the land of many peasants together.
- Peasants lost their individual plots of land that they had owned.
- The peasants had to work to government targets.
- The peasants shared equipment and resources.
- It allowed more modern machinery to be used.
- Any profits left after the state had been given what it demanded were
- shared among the farmers.
- The kulaks were eliminated as a class.
