Living and working conditions of rural people changed more in the period from 1917-1964 than in the period from 1855-1917. How far do you agree?

What are my 3 themes?

1) Living conditions

2) Working conditions

3) Access to food/famine

Introduction

> 15% of Russia lived in towns compared to 40% in the USA and 80% in Britain

> 80 - 90% of Russia were peasants

living conditions (mostly continuity under commies, which one big change going from pre - post rev)

Under Alex II, Alex III and Nicholas II (the tsars)

> The Izba was a wooden hut single room

> Heated by an oven which served as a sleeping platform

> Overcrowded

> Cold, damp, grubby

> Cheap to maintain

CHANGE

Under Stalin

> There were 'special' housing blocks located on the periphery of collective farms.

> However, one could argue that Kulaks were similar to the tsars as they were given tents in a field.

SIMILAR

Under Nicholas II

> A sewage system had been put in place in 1911 after 800,000 died from cholera between 1899-1911

SIMILAR

Under Khrushchev

> Self contained agro-towns were built

> Rural housing was built quickly and cheaply

> These were poor standard, over crowded with health problems

Mini conclusion - living conditions

Overall

> Mostly continuity with poor living conditions - over crowding and poor health seem to be a recurring factor

> The change was more seen under the communists (1917-64) with proper housing being built.

Working conditions

Under Lenin

> A 'Rabkrin' (The Workers' and Peasants' Inspectorate) was introduced in Feb 1920 to make sure that working conditions were up to standard (which was not very high).

> However, they enforced a penalty of 10% wage reduction if peasants were not working

SAME

Under Nicholas II

> The Workers' insurance scheme was introduced in 1903 which led to low pay being partly offset

SAME

Under Stalin

> Bonus schemes were introduced which were popular through the Stakhanovite movement (who mined 227 tonnes of coal in a single shift), earning peasants free holidays and better housing.

> However, wages also fell by 50% at the start of the first 5-year plan

CHANGE

Under Alexander II

> The Emancipation Edict of 1861 influenced the serfs to lose 4.1% of their land holdings.

> Overall, 2.3 million serfs lost all their land

Mini conclusion

Considerable continuity over the two periods

> With workers schemes

> most change between 1855-1917 with the emancipation edict.

Access to food/famine

Under Alexander III

> The famine of 1891 caused by extreme weather

> 350,000 deaths

> This led to more deaths from cholera and typhus

> Inflated prices

SAME

Under Lenin

> The Famine of 1921 caused by severe winters and droughts

> resulted in over 5 million deaths

> Rumours of cannabalism

> Stability had only been restored in rural areas by the mid 20s

SAME

Under Nicholas II

> Food shortages came about because of the increased grain requisitioning to feed troops, and inadequate transport.

> This led to the food crisis of 1918 where bread cues became 8 hours long

CHANGE

Under Khrushchev

> The Virgin Land Campaign (1953) made improvements to the state policy mechanism (the government policy of providing official prices for goods and services).

> This led to lots of food being important.

Mini conclusion - food/ famine

> Considerable amount of continuity

> Espescially with famine

> Changed more in 1917-64 because of Khrushchev

Conclusion,

Living and working conditions changed more in the period 1917-64.

> While some reforms were made, the major changes were seen post-revolution.

> I agree