War Communism

LO: consolidate
understanding of War
communism
to analyse the effects of
WC
To assess the
arguments opposing
WC

Starter activity-

5minutes

Write down one thing about war

communism. Pass it to your
neighbour.
Now extend the point that has
been made with specific detail or
further explanation
Repeat at least one more time

How confident are you?

Can you explain what War
Communism was, why it was
introduced and what effects it had?

Task 1

Option A

Look at the 3 sources on P 82

Answer qu1 p 83. you have only 5
minutes to complete.
This would be a 3 mark question
in the exam.

Have you
- Made at picked out several points
from the source?
- Have you added extra
information that is not in source B?

Task 1

Option B

Look at the sources on p 82

Russia 1920/21. You are an
opponent of War Communism
and feel the need to express
your criticisms.
Using the evidence on page 82
write a letter to Pravda voicing
your concerns and criticisms.

Task 2
Swap your completed
letter with that of your
neighbour.
Now write a reply to this
letter from the point of
view of the Bolsheviks.
You will need to think how Lenin
and the Bolsheviks would have
defended the policy and how
they might react to the effects

Growing Opposition
Countryside
Grain requisitioning continued after Civil War in order to feed the cities
118 peasant uprisings eg in Tambov where the Red Army were unable to deal with a Peasant army
that had formed.
Large parts of the region were no go areas for the communists

Cities
Long hours
Death penalty for striking
Inadequate rations
Black market prices too high and risk being shot
Jan 1921 bread ration cut by 1/3
People left cities to go to countryside for food- exacerbated problem- Petrograd lost 70% population

Opposition from within Party

A group called Workers Opposition argued that
War Communism was wrong and that changes
needed to be made to help the working class of
Russia.
Even wanted Soviets without communists
Losing control?
Cheka and special troops were used because
ordinary soldiers refused to fire on crowds
Commissars sent by Lenin to talk to workers
ignored by the strikers

What does this

source suggest
about this event?
Why would Lenin
be very worried
about this?

Write down the

key events of this
mutiny

NEP
LO: Develop ability to make
inferences form sources and
explain key issues

SOURCE A
Nikolai Izachik, a Bolshevik Party member recalling in the 1980s
the introduction of NEP in 1921

In 1921 we used to discuss the NEP

for hours on end at Communist Party
meetings. Most people supported
Lenin. Others thought he was wrong.
Many even tore up their Communist
Party cards.
What can you learn from Source A about
reactions to the NEP?

So what did Lenin do?

In small groups offer suggestions as to
what you think Lenin could do.
Create a spider diagram to show what
NEP was.

PlenaryWhy did Lenin introduce NEP?

Desperate situation caused by Civil
War
Unpopularity of War Communism
Increasing opposition to Government
Give evidence from your learning
today to support each reason

homework
Did NEP work?