USSR Notes

Leaders Aims Methods Results
Education
Lenin  Transform economy and  Liquidation of illiteracy points  Millions attended Rabfaki
(1917-24) society set up  5m completed basic literacy
 Producing a literate  Rabfaki remedial schools set courses
population which could up for those who’d left  High dropout rates – in 1921,
access modern education early average child had attended
technological skill and  Free, universal and school for only 2.77 years
propaganda compulsory education for 7-
 Adult education to ensure 17s
personal consolidation of  Church schools taken over by
power gvt
 Schools took in children of all
abilities
 Lack of resources (e.g. 1 pencil
per 60 students)
Stalin  Providing universal  Deported many teachers to  Standard of education in rural
(1924-53) education to legitimise isolated areas during great areas improved
party’s position terror  No. children in education
 Education extended to those increased from 14m in 1929 to
whose parents were of the 20m+ in 1931.
aristocracy, bourgeoisie or  Most children failed to
enemies of the people continue education beyond
first two years of secondary
Khrushche  Using education to bridge  Set up colleges with  99% rural & 98% urban
v (1953-64) the gap between requirement of working for population were literate
genders/classes two years on a collective  2m attended adult education
 Expanded opportunities for courses
adults to return to education
Brezhnev  Instilling socialist values  Turned many general  Full literacy achieved
(1964-82) through education to academic schools into  Demand for admission to
increase genuine support specialist specialist schools was high for
for the party  Diplomas and degrees offered both genders but female
by vocational colleges participation declined with age
 Compulsory exams on Marxist-  Children of graduates were
Leninist theory more likely to gain school
places, sometimes due to
bribery
 Third of population involved in
education by 1980s
Women
Lenin  Abolition of laws that made  Creches encouraged  By 1926, 50% marriages ended
(1917-24) married women the  Divorce made easier in divorce – 70% of these
property of their husbands  No longer needed husband’s initiated by men due to
 Reducing the dependency permission to get a job pregnancy
of women on men  First country to enshrine equal  Abortion outnumbered births
pay and maternity leave in law 3 to 1 in cities
 Abortion legalised  Gave women more freedom
but posed the threat of single
and unsupported motherhood
Stalin  Integrating women into  Closed down Zhenotdel (only  Only 8% Komsomol members
(1924-53) workforce way for Soviet women to were female, lowering ability
 Increase discipline and become active in public for female political
conformity with traditional sphere) prominence
values to combat social  Komsomol meetings held at  No. of female workers rose
instability night from 3m in 1928 to over 13m

,  Raising status of marriage  Gvt reserved 20% higher in 1940
and family education places for women in  More women remained in
1929 collective farms than men
 In industrial and service  By 1940, over 40% engineering
sectors, top level of jobs students were female
reserved for men  Significant gap between
 In 1936, divorce made far average male and average
more difficult and abortion female wage
made illegal unless danger to  Creche places for young
mother children doubled between
 Maternity leave increased to 1928 and 1930
16 wks, job security
guaranteed for new mothers &
more money allocated for
creches
Khrushche  Remove burden of childcare  Abortion legalised in 1955  1960, women = 49% workforce
v (1953-64) from mothers to increase  Campaign to increase birth  By 1960’s, average woman had
their efficiency as workers rate six abortions in her lifetime
 Increase birth rate due to lack of availability of
 Encourage women’s place contraception
in workforce  Birth rate slightly improved
 80% women did unskilled and
low paid work
Brezhnev  Prioritisation of stability  Second female Politburo  By late 1960’s, average woman
(1964-82) over advancement of member not appointed until had six abortions in her
women 1988 lifetime due to lack of
 Two months maternity leave availability of contraception
provided  Women made up 50%
workforce and 80% health
sector
 Women almost exclusively
responsible for domestic work
 Infant death rates incredibly
high
Social Security Policies
Lenin  Full urban employment  Introduction of NEP  Many private businesses fired
(1917-24)  Providing workers and  Took houses off rich to rent to workers in order to take more
families with adequate the workers profit
housing  More businesses failed due to
 Promoting communism lack of support from gvt
through elements of  Principle of allocating housing
housing according to wealth was
dropped in favour of
distribution according to rank
 Wasn’t always enough housing
for all
Stalin  Full urban employment  Increased wages, honours and  No. workers increased from
(1924-53)  Providing workers and medals were provided as 11.6 to 27m from 1928-37
families with adequate incentives to stay in jobs  Full employment achieved
housing  Blocks of appts built to spare  Harsh, drab life with limited
 Promoting communism workers from huts/tents access to material benefits of
through elements of  Communal kitchens used to full employment
housing promote communism  Most workers had no running
water, electricity or central
heating
 Only 6% rented housing with