Industrial and agricultural change 1917-85

• What did Lenin admit about transitioning from capitalism to socialism?

  No blueprint existed for the transition
• What was the ideological goal of the Bolsheviks regarding production?

  Means of production in the hands of the proletariat
• Why did Lenin consider working with the bourgeoisie initially?

  They had expertise in management and technical skills
• What was the transitional phase termed by Lenin?

  State capitalism
• What challenge did the Bolshevik Party face regarding control?

  Workers and peasants acted independently
• What did the Land Decree of October 1917 abolish?

  Private ownership of land
• How did the peasantry view the Land Decree?

  As giving them control over the land
• What did the Decree on Workers’ Control do?

  Placed control of factories in workers' hands
• What happened to private banks on December 27, 1917?

  All private banks were nationalised
• What was the effect of workers' councils giving themselves pay rises?

  It resulted in inflation and reduced production
• What did the Bolsheviks recognize about government control over the economy?

  Greater control was needed to stabilize the economy
• What was established in December 1917 for economic supervision?

  The Supreme Council of the National Economy (Vesenkha)
• What were the key measures of Lenin's initial economic policy?

  • Land Decree abolished private ownership of land
  • Decree on Workers’ Control placed factories under workers
  • Nationalisation of all private banks
• Why was War Communism introduced?

  To address economic collapse and ideological aims
• What was a key feature of War Communism regarding nationalisation?

  The state took control of all industry
• What was the purpose of military-style discipline in factories during War Communism?

  To instill discipline into the workers
• What penalty was introduced for strikes during War Communism?

  The death penalty
• What happened to private trading under War Communism?

  All private trading was banned
• What replaced money due to inflation during War Communism?

  Bartering
• Why was the NEP introduced in 1921?

  To replace War Communism due to economic collapse
• What was the state of industry by the end of the civil war?

  Industry had ground to a virtual standstill
• What was the impact of War Communism on food production?

  Food production fell to 48% of 1913 levels
• What was a consequence of the breakdown in transport and distribution systems?

  Widespread famine occurred
• How many Russians died from famine and disease in the 1920s?

  Over 20 million
• What was the public sentiment towards War Communism?

  It was largely unpopular among the population
• What was the slogan of the Kronstadt Mutiny?

  Soviets without Bolsheviks
• What did the Kronstadt Mutiny signify for the Bolsheviks?

  It highlighted discontent with Party power
• What was the NEP a response to?

  The unsustainable situation under War Communism
• What were the key features of the NEP introduced in 1921?

  • End of requisitioning, replaced by taxation
  • No forced collectivisation; mir remained
  • Small-scale industry returned to private hands
  • State control of heavy industry, transport, banks
  • Piecework and bonuses in state factories
  • Reintroduction of currency for wages
  • Legalisation of private trading
• What was the scissors crisis during the NEP?

  The gap between agricultural and industrial prices
• What was the industrial production level by 1926?

  45% of its 1913 figure
• What did Stalin argue about the NEP and industrialisation?

  NEP was holding back industrialisation
• What did the Five-Year Plans aim to achieve?

  Rapid industrialisation and state control
• What was the political dimension of state control over the economy?

  Stalin sought complete control through the Party
• What did the Bolshevik Party realize about workers' control?

  It was a naïve and idealistic notion
• What was the significance of the transitional phase termed 'state capitalism'?

  It allowed collaboration with bourgeois expertise
• What was the role of the Supreme Council of the National Economy (Vesenkha)?

  To provide greater supervision of the economy
• How did the Kronstadt Mutiny affect Bolshevik policy?

  It prompted a change in economic policy
• What was the relationship between War Communism and the NEP?

  NEP replaced War Communism due to failures
• How did the social classification system during rationing affect public sentiment?

  It caused resentment among the population