Social Development 1917-1953
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Questions and Answers

What was the primary goal of War Communism regarding labor?

  • To enforce mandatory work for able-bodied citizens (correct)
  • To create unemployment for better productivity
  • To prioritize agricultural work over industrial work
  • To provide housing benefits for rural citizens

    • What significant issue arose under the New Economic Policy (NEP)?

  • Elimination of the rationing system
  • Improvement in housing conditions for all
  • Increased agricultural output
  • Rising unemployment due to demobilization (correct)

    • What type of housing became common during the period from 1917-1953?

  • Komunalkas or communal apartments (correct)
  • Single-family homes for factory workers
  • Luxury apartments for elite citizens
  • Workers' dormitories exclusively for males

    • What was a consequence of food shortages in factories during this time?

    <p>Workers had to consume unfit products (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one of the benefits established under Stalin's regime?

    <p>Accessible vaccines for common diseases (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which group generally received fewer benefits during Stalin's welfare policies?

    <p>Rural peasants (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one of the main outcomes of the housing distribution policies in the 1920s?

    <p>Redistribution of housing to the poor (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What consequence did the Five-Year Plans have on the workforce?

    <p>Enforcement of full employment in urban factories (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    War Communism

    A system of mandatory labor for Soviet citizens aged 16-50, involving work cards, social benefits, and rationing of food and fuel. Housing, transport, and amenities like laundries and crèches were provided.

    What were the main features of War Communism?

    A system of mandatory labor for Soviet citizens aged 16-50, under which people received work cards, social benefits, and rationing of food and fuel. Housing, transport, and amenities were provided.

    How did the NEP impact unemployment and women's participation in the workforce?

    The New Economic Policy allowed some private businesses to operate, which resulted in rising unemployment as soldiers were demobilized and workers were laid off to make industries more efficient. This policy also led to the abolishment of crèches, creating challenges for women in the workforce.

    What impact did the Five-Year Plans have on employment and working conditions?

    The Five-Year Plans implemented by Stalin resulted in full employment, mainly for male workers in urban factories. Women also found increasing opportunities in the workforce. However, working conditions were often harsh, with strict discipline.

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    How did Stalin's government contribute to social benefits?

    Stalin's regime gradually introduced social benefits like food rations, better transportation, and vaccines for diseases like typhus and malaria. Factory lunchrooms were also established.

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    What challenges did peasants face in terms of social benefits and health?

    Peasants received fewer benefits than workers under Stalin's regime, often facing hardships like food shortages and poor sanitation. The lack of adequate food led to the use of unfit and contaminated products in work canteens, causing health problems. Poor sanitation in factories and farms led to issues like lice and outbreaks of dysentery and vomiting.

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    How did housing change in the Soviet Union during this period?

    The Soviet government redistributed existing housing to prioritize the poor over the wealthy in the 1920s, while various housing experiments introduced modern architectural designs. However, the most common housing type became the kommunalka, where families shared tiny spaces. Other forms of housing, like dormitories for factory workers were also common.

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    What were kommunalkas, and what were the living conditions like?

    Communal apartments, known as kommunalkas, were a common form of housing where families shared tiny spaces (4–5.5 square meters). This meant whole families often shared rooms with corridors, or lived in under-stairs cupboards.

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    Study Notes

    Social Development (1917-1953)

    • Soviet policy aimed to fairly distribute wealth to all workers and peasants, though often prioritized economic goals.
    • War Communism: Compulsory work for all citizens (16-50) was required in exchange for social benefits. Food and fuel were rationed. Other amenities were provided free to urban workers.
    • The War Communism system failed due to insufficient rations and workers leaving factories for food in rural areas. Urban population decreased significantly during the Civil War.
    • NEP: The economy changed. Soldiers returned and workers were laid off (demobilized/sacked) to streamline industry. Crèches were abolished, hindering women's participation in the workforce.
    • The 1920s saw the development of a robust social benefit system covering medical, maternity, and unemployment benefits with the government investing heavily and trade unions administrating. The system covered 9 million urban workers.
    • Stalin's Era: Compulsory work (reintroduced under Stalin) was part of a full employment policy. The Five-Year Plans led to increased female and male employment.
    • Factories had harsh discipline, and conditions were often dirty and dangerous.
    • Social benefits under Stalin included food rations and access to transportation. Vaccines were made available for diseases such as typhus and malaria. Factory canteens were provided.
    • Problems with Welfare: Peasants received significantly fewer benefits than workers. Food shortages led to the use of rotten food, animal feed, and other unfit products in worker canteens, resulting in illness. Sanitation was poor in factories and farms, often resulting in infestations and disease outbreaks (lice, dysentery, etc.).

    Housing

    • Housing was a persistent problem from 1917-1953.
    • In the 1920s, Soviet authorities redistributed existing housing, transferring it away from rich owners and giving it to poor citizens. This involved experimentation in architecture, such as the Narkomfin Apartment building.
    • These projects, however, were expensive and rare. Existing housing was often divided into kommunalkas (communal apartments) with entire families living in single rooms, as small as 4-5.5 square meters.
    • Whole families often lived in under-stairs cupboards or corridors.
    • Barraks-style dormitories were constructed, often accommodating more workers than the beds available (e.g., 26,000 workers, but 15,000 beds).

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    Description

    Explore the social development policies in the Soviet Union from 1917 to 1953. This quiz covers key concepts such as War Communism, the New Economic Policy, and the impact of Stalin's regime on social benefits and workforce participation. Test your knowledge on how these policies affected workers and peasants during this turbulent period.

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