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Date Posted: 00:56:12 05/22/03 Thu
Author: Mr John D Clare
Subject: Did the communist revolution change russia in the 1920s?
In reply to: 's message, "communist" on 22:42:25 05/21/03 Wed

Yes, you are right – it is a very difficult question because it is not very clear.
Does it mean ‘How different were the 1920s to life before the Russian revolution?’ or does it mean ‘How did life change for Russians during the 1920s?’ – ie as the 1920s went on.
You will probably not get so woolly a question in the exam.

To do this question, please read first my advice on ‘how did life change’ questions above at <a rel=nofollow target=_blank href="http://www.voy.com/121869/318.html">http://www.voy.com/121869/318.html</a>
I do not think there is any need for you to change this approach for this essay – use the three categories: Standard of Living/ Government/ Beliefs and attitudes.

The pages on Russia you need are from <a rel=nofollow target=_blank href="http://www.johndclare.net/Russ6.htm">http://www.johndclare.net/Russ6.htm</a> onwards on the website. They will give you all the factual information you need to do a good essay.


THUS: DID LIFE FOR RUSSIANS CHANGE DURING THE 1920S?

1. Standard of Living
1921 - Civil War/ famine/ production less than 1913 etc.
1924–28 – NEP/ production rises to 1913 levels/ more food in cities/ farmers and traders can make extra money/ kulaks grow rich
1928-onwards – beginning to collectivisation/ famine/ beginning of 5-year plans and great sufferings of workers in new towns such as Magnitogorsk/ Russians do without consumer goods to increase industrial production.
Evaluation – disastrous at start of decade, things were prosperous during the NEP, but them Stalin

2. Government
1921 - Dictatorship of Proletariat (Lenin has dismissed the Assembly)/ Cheka/ Politbureau - Bolsheviks ruthlessly efficient etc.
1924 – death of Stalin and duel between Trotsky and Stalin – though purges did not begin until 1930.
Evaluation – tyrannical, fierce Communism throughout the 1920s, but things were about to get much worse in the 1930s.

3. Beliefs and principles
1921 - Bolshevik society/ War Communism (see <a rel=nofollow target=_blank href="http://www.johndclare.net/Russ6.htm)/">http://www.johndclare.net/Russ6.htm)/</a> Christianity proscribed/ strikers shot/ hope for a Communist future, but misery of Civil War atrocities
1924–28 – relaxation during the NEP – many Bolsheviks resigned.
1928-onwards – Stalin in power/ cult of Stalin-worship/ genocide of Kulaks/ no longer want world revolution, but ‘communism in one country’ (making Russia stronger)/ repression of Muslims/ greater role and opportunities for women.
Evaluation - much harsher, less comfortable - hope for a brighter Communist future destroyed by Stalin’s government – except for women.

Conclusion
All-in-all, pretty grim throughout, but Stalin plumbed the depths.

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