Economic and social developments - booklet 2 Russia

War Communism

June 1918- March 1921

As the Civil War intensified, the Bolsheviks adopted War Communism as a set of policies to sustain the war effort.

: All major industries are nationalized. The state controls production and distribution.

Grain Requisitioning: The state takes grain and food from peasants to feed the army and urban populations, often through force. This policy causes widespread resentment among the peasantry.

The Red Terror

• The Red Terror: Following the Bolshevik victory in the Civil War, Lenin orders the Red Terror to crush opposition. This is a campaign of mass arrests, executions, and intimidation aimed at political enemies

  The Bolshevik secret police, the Cheka, play a central role in carrying out the Red Terror. Thousands of opponents, including members of the White Army, Socialist Revolutionaries, and anarchists, are executed.

  Fear and repression dominate Russian society, as many live in constant fear of arrest or execution. Public executions are common.

Tambov revolt

19 August 1920 – mid 1922

: A major peasant revolt in the Tambov region, led by Antonov against Bolshevik grain requisitioning and other policies. Bolshevik forces brutally suppressed the revolt using mass arrests, executions, and even poison gas against rebel-held forests..one of the largest and best-organized peasant rebellions

Kronstadt rising

(1921): The sailors at the Kronstadt naval base near Petrograd rise up against the Bolshevik government, demanding reforms such as greater freedom, better working conditions, and a return to the original revolutionary goals. The Bolsheviks crush the revolt, killing or imprisoning many sailors.

This event marks a turning point in Bolshevik rule, revealing the discontent among even their own

The NEP (New Economic Policy)

1921

: After the disastrous effects of War Communism and the civil war, Lenin announces the New Economic Policy in March 1921.

allowing a greater degree of private enterprise.

Peasants are allowed to sell surplus grain for profit (replacing grain requisitioning).

State Control of Key Sectors: The state retains control of major industries, banks, and transport, but much of the economy is decentralized compared to War Communism.

Impact of NEP

• In cities, small businesses and markets revive. Peasants benefit from the ability to sell their produce. However, the urban working class remains under state control, with wages not rising to pre-revolutionary levels.

• Mixed Reactions: While the NEP helps stabilize the economy and ends the famines, it creates dissatisfaction among some Bolshevik hardliners who view it as a betrayal of socialist ideals.

The USSR

: In December 1922, the (USSR) is officially established, consolidating the various territories under Bolshevik control into a single state. This move solidifies the Bolshevik grip on power and sets the stage for the development of the Soviet state.

Key dates

• 1918-1921: War Communism period.

• June 1918: Grain requisitioning begins, forcing peasants to give up surplus grain to the state.

• 1919: The state begins nationalizing large industries, factories, and banks.

Nationalization

Nationalization: By 1919, nearly all private businesses were nationalized.

NEP allowances

• The NEP allowed peasants to sell their surplus grain for profit, reducing the tension between the state and the peasantry.

• Private businesses were allowed to reopen, and small-scale private trade was permitted. However, the major industries (e.g., oil, steel, and coal) remained under state control.

• The rural economy improved, but the urban working class saw little benefit. Factory workers were still under state control, and wages remained low.

Biggest reason for october revolution

Lenin’s ability to seize the moment and provide clear, effective leadership was the key to the Bolshevik success. His strong vision, strategic use of the Soviets, and promises of “Peace, Land, and Bread” resonated deeply with the soldiers, workers, and peasants who were dissatisfied with the Provisional Government