Lenin and War Communism

Vladimir Lenin First leader of the USSR. Studied law but was expelled for taking part in student demonstrations. Returned to overthrow the provisional government of Russia in 1917.

Russian Civil War Mensheviks (White Army) vs. Bolsheviks (Red Army). Mensheviks – Power must remain with the bourgeoisie. Bolsheviks (Lenin) – Real revolution must be led by the proletariat.

Red Army The Bolshevik party was led by Lenin. Leon Trotsky- In 1918 he became war commissioner and set about building up the Red Army. Many thought Trotsky would be Lenin’s successor.

Leon Trotsky

Anti-Bolshevik Poster, 1919

War Communism Economic policies of the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War. – Nationalized banks, land, and foreign trade. – Ended all private forms of capitalism. – The state took any extra grain and food products from the peasants.

“A staged photo (1921) extolling the virtues of agricultural collectivism”

War Communism Action 1. Nationalization of industry. 2. State took all of the surplus food. Effect 1. Large factories were producing 18% of their 1913 figure. 2. No incentive to produce more than required, left factory workers hungry, people moved to the countryside from the cities.

War Communism Action 3. State monopoly on foreign trade. 4. Private trade made illegal. Effect 3. Foreign trade ceased to exist. 4. Money became almost useless.

War Communism Results Opposition to War Communism peaked in early 1921 after the end of the civil war, with strikes and rebellions.

New Economic Policy

The original plan was to have capitalism in place until the economy was strong enough to achieve socialism. Gave them the freedom to sell what they produced for profit, which was not allowed under War Communism.

4Ocs 4Ocs

New Economic Policy Used to ease the burden of War Communism. Used as a way to build a socialist foundation. The peasants would be allowed to sell freely (for profit) that which they had left over after the tax had been collected.

Bell Work What was War Communism? What was the New Economic Policy? How were the two policies different? – Try and think of specific examples