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Summary OCR A-Level History, Russia and Its Rulers - Breadth Study, The Impact of Dictatorial Regimes on the Economy and Society of the Russian Empire and the USSRR246,48
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Summary OCR A-Level History, Russia and Its Rulers - Breadth Study, The Impact of Dictatorial Regimes on the Economy and Society of the Russian Empire and the USSR
OCR A-Level History, Russia and Its Rulers - Breadth Study, The Impact of Dictatorial Regimes on the Economy and Society of the Russian Empire and the USSR, includes urban working and living conditions, rural working and living conditions, agricultural reform, production levels, food, technology, e...
The Impact of Dictatorial Regime on the Economy and Society of
the Russian Empire and the USSR
Urban Housing Policies
Ruler Information
• After emancipation, peasants began to move to urban centres such as Kiev, Riga, St
Alex II Petersburg, and Moscow
(1855 – • Neither Alex III nor Nicholas II could see the implications of urban growth, and therefore
1881) could not provide adequate infrastructure for growing cities
• Housing was created quickly and cheaply, leading to public health problems – demand
outstripped supply, leading to overcrowding, and the spread of diseases such as cholera
Alex III • St Petersburg (1910) – 100,000 deaths – a new system in 1911 improved conditions
(1881 – • Law was inadequate in preventing crime – led to a rise in crime which threatened the
1894) security of all urban dwellers
• By 1914, slum districts became a noticeable feature of major cities and were unpoliceable
• By 1914, there were over 1000 towns containing 2 million buildings – over half were
Nicholas II
constructed from wood (fire damage), mostly lit by paraffin lamps
(1894 –
• Only 74 had access to electricity, 35 to gas, 200 to piped water and 38 to a sewage system
1917)
• Factories were built on the edge of cities – worker barracks were overcrowded – families
• 1917 – Decree on Peace by the Bolsheviks – dwelling in cities and towns were to be
Lenin wrested from private owners and handed over to the proletariat – organisation of the was
(1917 – given to the soviets – however, improvements were short lived
1924) • Under conditions of the NEP, 89% of housing was taken over by private companies,
church property was nationalised, large town houses were socialised -
• Housing conditions generally deteriorated – Moscow (mid-1930’s) 25% of people were
living in one room shared between 2 or more households, with a further 25% living in
communal dormitories, and 5% living in bathrooms, kitchens, and corridors
• The government did not invest in sewage or communal facilities
Stalin
• Living space fell from 8.5m2 in 1905 to 5.8m2 by 1935
(1928 –
• Policy was to allocate space instead of rooms to people/families
1953)
• Social projects regarding housing paused to accommodate 5-year plans (e.g. materials
diverted to factories)
• WWII – 1/3 housing damaged or destroyed, 25 million made homeless – little attempt to
address this problem
• Housing conditions somewhat improved – launched a housing programme
(Khrushchyovka) between 1955 – 1964 – housing stock doubled and principles behind
Khrushchev communal living abandoned
(1953 – • Housing cooperatives – some people benefitted more than others – those who could pay
1964) deposits (15 – 30% of purchasing price)
• Khrushchev Slums – towns and cities were given large apartments complexes; however
these were poorly, quickly, and cheaply built
19
, Rural Housing Policies
Ruler Information
Alex II • Rural housing remains the same under all rulers, with very little change or improvement
(1855 – • Consisted of a single room, wooden hut, heated by an over
1881) - • Usually overcrowded, animals were housed in the same hut
Lenin • The houses were cheap to construct, and peasants had total control over its use
(1917 – • However, conditions were horrendous – no access to electricity, clean water, sewage
1924) systems, gas
• Stalin created special housing blocks which were located on the periphery of collective
Stalin
farms
(1928 –
• However, displaced kulaks were dumped in barracks or given tents for accommodation –
1953)
poor security and facilities – not consistent across all rural people
• Khrushchev planned to build self-contained agro towns for the rural population in order to
Khrushchev
improve conditions
(1953 –
• However, houses were built cheaply, quickly, and poorly and became very overcrowded –
1964)
this led to an increase in public health problems
20
, Urban Working Conditions
Ruler Information
• Industrial working conditions (in factories) were dangerous and unhealthy throughout Alex
Alex II
II’s reign
(1855 –
• There was no factory inspectorate, leading to injury and health problems remaining
1881)
unaddressed, child labour, and exploitation of labour was common
• A factory inspectorate was introduced in 1882 – in theory this was good, but in practice
rules were rarely followed due to a lack of factory inspectors
Alex III • One important laws introduced was prohibiting night-time employment of women and
(1881 – children (1885)
1894) • Similarly, child labour/employment was banned in 1882, but children were still used in
many places and were not found out
• 1890 – 245 deaths, 3508 injuries
• Nicholas II’s rule saw an increase in death and injury – 1910 – 556 deaths, 66608 injuries
• Another important law introduced – restricting the working day to 11 hours (1897) – this
was forced from the government
• Small workshops were excluded from these laws even though they made up a significant
proportion of the workforce
Nicholas II
• Shopfloors were crammed with dangerous machinery – frequent accidents – most workers
(1894 –
denied legal right to insurance, and could not expect much compensation
1917)
• Worker’s strikes were illegal, and trade unions were illegal until 1905
• Poor conditions evidence through 1905 Bloody Sunday protest when workers wanted
better working conditions
• Lena Gold Fields – crowd of 5000 fried upon, 270 died, 200 wounded
• Strikes peak in 1899 – 97,000 workers, 1905 – 2,863,000 workers, and 1,337,000 in 1914
• New work discipline was introduced – 1920 – Workers and Peasants Inspectorate was
introduced which was backward step
Lenin
• Did little to enforce industrial law – long hours, low pay, discipline was harsh
(1917 –
• Fines used – 10% of wages, punishments for wrongdoings, workers purged if considered
1924)
anti-revolutionary (purposefully wrecking machinery or working slow)
• 1917 – 8 hours day
• Working hours strictly controlled by the state
• Wages strictly controlled by the state – low during the period, women received less
• 1932 – 10 – 12 hour working day
Stalin
• Some workers earned more because they made more – a piece rate system was used to
(1928 –
provide an incentive for workers to be more productive
1953)
• However, wages fell by 50% during the first Five Year Plan
• 1924 and 1936, communist constitutions – against ill health, old age, and unemployment
insurance cover
Khrushchev
• Working hours were at their lowest – 1958 – 7 hours
(1953 –
• 1962 Novocherkassk Riots against shortages and conditions – 20 killed
1964)
21
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