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AQA A-Level History Russia Chapter 7
Flashcards Questions and Correct Answers/ Latest
Update / Already Graded
What economic policies were used during the period of 1917-21+?
Ans: 1917-8= State Capitalism (A 'middle way' between unfettered Capitalism
and Socialism: the state had control to a certain extent)
1918-21= War Communism
1921+= New Economic Policy
Lenin came to power based on a promise that a Socialist economy would be built
in Russia. However, it needed to be developed in an industrialised society first
and Russia was far from achieving this aim. The Government therefore had to
manage the already existing economic structure and modify it to appease the
workers and their interests until conditions were ripe for Socialism.
In what ways did State Capitalism prove to be problematic?
Ans: - The workers were no longer able to organize their factories efficiently
and so output was reduced; this just so occurred at the worst possible time. The
workers now had the ability to manage their own factories but they did not have
the skills required to manage them successfully.
- The workers took advantage of State Capitalism and the situation at hand by
giving themselves frivolous pay rises. Other workers took stock and equipment
with Viktor Serge reporting that workers were creating penknives out of the
machinery or shoe soles out of the leather conveyor belts which they later
bartered on the black market. As a whole, there was a lack of both trust and
loyalty.
- Issues were worsened by the fact that the Civil War was causing even more
problems. A shortage of raw materials meant that industrial output in the
Bolshevik-held areas plummeted.
What was the Red Terror?
© 2025/ 2026 | ® All rights reserved
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Ans: The use of extreme force or terror to enforce policies. It was used after
an assassination attempt on Lenin in August 1918 and so the Cheka were allowed
intensified force and brutality on the Russian people. Some of the focus was on
political enemies such as SRs, Mensheviks, Anarchists and other threats. It is
estimated that half a million were executed between 1918 and 1920 as the Cheka
could now enforce the death penalty, but the recorded number is far lower.
The Cheka could also carry out class warfare but the victims ranged numerous
social and age groups as many were children. The Bolsheviks also set up
concentration and labour camps.
What was the political impact of the New Economic Policy?
© 2025/ 2026 | ® All rights reserved
AQA A-Level History Russia Chapter 7
Flashcards Questions and Correct Answers/ Latest
Update / Already Graded
What economic policies were used during the period of 1917-21+?
Ans: 1917-8= State Capitalism (A 'middle way' between unfettered Capitalism
and Socialism: the state had control to a certain extent)
1918-21= War Communism
1921+= New Economic Policy
Lenin came to power based on a promise that a Socialist economy would be built
in Russia. However, it needed to be developed in an industrialised society first
and Russia was far from achieving this aim. The Government therefore had to
manage the already existing economic structure and modify it to appease the
workers and their interests until conditions were ripe for Socialism.
In what ways did State Capitalism prove to be problematic?
Ans: - The workers were no longer able to organize their factories efficiently
and so output was reduced; this just so occurred at the worst possible time. The
workers now had the ability to manage their own factories but they did not have
the skills required to manage them successfully.
- The workers took advantage of State Capitalism and the situation at hand by
giving themselves frivolous pay rises. Other workers took stock and equipment
with Viktor Serge reporting that workers were creating penknives out of the
machinery or shoe soles out of the leather conveyor belts which they later
bartered on the black market. As a whole, there was a lack of both trust and
loyalty.
- Issues were worsened by the fact that the Civil War was causing even more
problems. A shortage of raw materials meant that industrial output in the
Bolshevik-held areas plummeted.
What was the Red Terror?
© 2025/ 2026 | ® All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Ans: The use of extreme force or terror to enforce policies. It was used after
an assassination attempt on Lenin in August 1918 and so the Cheka were allowed
intensified force and brutality on the Russian people. Some of the focus was on
political enemies such as SRs, Mensheviks, Anarchists and other threats. It is
estimated that half a million were executed between 1918 and 1920 as the Cheka
could now enforce the death penalty, but the recorded number is far lower.
The Cheka could also carry out class warfare but the victims ranged numerous
social and age groups as many were children. The Bolsheviks also set up
concentration and labour camps.
What was the political impact of the New Economic Policy?
© 2025/ 2026 | ® All rights reserved
