100% satisfaction guarantee Immediately available after payment Both online and in PDF No strings attached
logo-home
Summary A Level Russia Notes £6.49
Add to cart

Summary

Summary A Level Russia Notes

 4 purchases
  • Institution
  • AQA

detailed notes for the whole AQA History A level Course on the study of Russia: the making of a dictatorship

Preview 2 out of 15  pages

  • April 12, 2022
  • 15
  • 2021/2022
  • Summary
All documents for this subject (409)
avatar-seller
rebeccaeasterbrook
Stalin’s Reforms



- The Great Turn

In December 1927 the 15th Party Congress issued a policy change that has become known as the
‘Great Turn’

This ended the NEP and introduced rapid industrialisation, highly centralised planning and
collectivisation – quotas were set by Moscow. Stalin saw this as a ‘revolution from above’

Stalin saw this shift as essential because the USSR were 100 years behind the advanced capitalist
countries in the West: ‘we must make good this distance in 10 years or we shall be crushed (100
years in 10)

Was the NEP broken in 1927

Yes No
 - Although the grain supply had increased enormously under the NEP, the peasants were not  Workers had an 8
producing the quantities of grain the government needed for its industrialisation plans - in hour day and some
1913, Russia exported 12 million tons of grain whereas with the NEP it never exceeded 3 social benefits
million - so the government tried a new tactic of making the peasants pay a money tax  Local trade
 The government clamped down on private traders so the peasants had to sell at lower prices union reps in
to the state, but they realised this and began to hold back their grain from the market hoping state-run
for the price to rise. As a result, the grain procured by the end at the end of 1927 was 3/4 of factories had
what it had been in 1926 some power
 - farming still backwards (eg: 1927 5m wooden ploughs still used); and
 due to the land share following the revolution average holding size had decreased – this was represented
much less efficient as people generally only produced what they needed! their workers.
 - Peasants held back surplus grain as there were few consumer goods to buy with it – they
hoped to see prices rise
- Some fed it to their animals as meat prices were going up
 - Stalin sent officials to seize grain (Jan 1928 he went to the Urals and Western Siberia on a
requisitioning campaign). The relationship between the peasants and the government was
breaking down
 - Real wages had, by 1928, only just passed their pre-war level and thousands of workers did
not have jobs at all. Many women had been forced out of their jobs when the Red Army was
demobilised so large numbers of unsupported women ended up on the streets
 Housing was a major problem as most workers lived in overcrowded, poor-quality houses and
flats and there was a crime problem. As a result of the war and civil war, thousands of young
people were parentless and rootless, forming gangs which roamed the streets


Why did Stalin take such a dramatic change in policy Ideological, economic, political

1. Increase military strength - Stalin knew that his country had to have a well-developed industrial base to
manufacture the huge quantities of weapons and munitions that would be required
2. Achieve self-sufficiency (autarky) - Stalin wanted to make the USSR much less dependent on Western
manufactured goods, especially the heavy industrial plant that was needed for industrial production.
They had to have a strong industrial base to produce the goods its people needed
3. Increase grain supplies - Stalin wanted to end the dependence of the economy on a backward agricultural
system (major problems were created whenever there was a bad harvest or the peasants did not produce
enough food). He did not want the new socialist state to be at the mercy of the peasantry

, 4. Move towards a socialist society - according to Marxism, socialism could only be created in a highly
industrialised state where the majority of the population were workers. In 1928, only 20% of the
population of the USSR were workers
5. To prove himself - Stalin had to prove that he was the successor and equal of Lenin. The economic
transformation of the USSR, taking the revolution forward in a giant leap towards socialism would
establish him as a leader of historic importance
6. Improve Standard of Living - Stalin was desperate to catch up with the West militarily and in terms of
living standards. Industrialisation created wealth for a society. He wanted the world to realise how good
the communist life was and what it had to offer to the working people

Position in 1928/1929 Detail and comment
Attitude of different  During 1928 and 1929, the clash of opinions between Stalin and Bukharin intensified and
groups and individuals relations between the two former allies broke down completely
to the launch of rapid  Stalin's rush to transform Russia aroused much enthusiasm and high expectations in many
industrialisation sections of society. Urban workers hoped for better employment prospects and living standards.
Many peasants were led to hope they would benefit from further land reform and the
introduction of more modern methods.
 The 'Stalin Revolution' also provoked opposition and pessimism. Many (Bukharinists) saw the
Kulaks as the backbone of the agricultural economy and were fearful that the harsh imposition of
collectivisation would result in less food being produced
 Many of those managing industrial production were critical of the adverse impact of central
planning and saw the new policy as a high-risk gamble
The vision and scale When Stalin launched the First five year plan in 1928, it was only supposed to be the beginning of a
of the first Five Year sustained industrial transformation through a series of further five year plans. Centralised planning
Plan was to be maximised, and there were targets for ambitious increases in output. The launch of the
plan was accompanied with a wave of propaganda to whip up support, hoping that the targets of
the five year plan would be fulfilled by the workers' mass enthusiasm. Vast new industrial
complexes were planed like the Magnitogorsk.
The problems that The 'Stalin Revolution provoked opposition and pessimism from the start. People saw the kulaks as
were likely to hold the backbone of the agricultural economy, they were afraid that harsh collectivisation would result
back the success of in less food being produced. Many of those working in industrial factories were already aware of
the first Five Year Plan the adverse impact of central planning and were not persuaded by the claim that more central
planning would benefit the economy. The new policy was seen as a high-stakes gamble.


Bukharinists

- They believed prices should be allowed to rise to encourage farmers to sell more and act as
an incentive
- They believe in working with the peasants to create peace
- Bukharin does not have the political support from the ‘rank and file’ members

Stalinists

- They wanted to eliminate all kulaks and believed tough action was needed
- Faster progress towards modernisation and the growth of the industry and saw peasants as
an obstacle to this
- They believe prices should be set by the central government and in the seizure of grain
- Force collective farms into existence by forcibly keeping quotas

Grain Procurement Crisis

The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:

Guaranteed quality through customer reviews

Guaranteed quality through customer reviews

Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.

Quick and easy check-out

Quick and easy check-out

You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.

Focus on what matters

Focus on what matters

Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!

Frequently asked questions

What do I get when I buy this document?

You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.

Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?

Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.

Who am I buying these notes from?

Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller rebeccaeasterbrook. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.

Will I be stuck with a subscription?

No, you only buy these notes for £6.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.

Can Stuvia be trusted?

4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)

64796 documents were sold in the last 30 days

Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 15 years now

Start selling
£6.49  4x  sold
  • (0)
Add to cart
Added