A-Level Edexcel History – USSR QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS

When did Khrushchev give his 'secret speech'? - ANSWERS1956 What did the speech say should happen? - ANSWERS1) Return to the legality of Lenin. 2) Give more power to organisation at regional level. 3) Two million political prisoners released. 4) Regular meetings of the presidium and central committee. How was terror used under Khrushchev? - ANSWERSThrough de-Stalinisation - Secret police brought under party control, Secret police lost control over labour camps, heavy punishments remain for corruption, Secret police still watching the general population. What was the Secret Police called under Khrushchev? - ANSWERSKGB Who were the dissidents? - ANSWERS1) Intellectuals - Professions who complained about restrictions on their freedom of professional practice. 2) Political - Concerns with abuses of human rights that broke Soviet law and internal agreements. 3) Nationalists - Groups of different national dissent called for greater status for their own languages and culture and some even independence from the USSR. 4) Religious - Baptists, Catholics, Jews faced restrictions on worship and religious practice. What actions were taken against the dissidents? - ANSWERSHouses were searched and items were confiscated and arrests could follow. Dissidents were put into psychiatric hospitals until they were 'cured' meaning they had changed their views on the state. Patients were treated with electric shocks. Some dissidents were sent into internal exile. What law was passed in 1960 to do with the treatment of dissidents? - ANSWERSA law that limited the power of the KGB and the limited the use of night-time interrogations. What was Brezhnev's approach to Government? - ANSWERSBrezhnev quickly reversed those aspects of de-Stalinisation. 1) The division of the Party into agricultural and industrial sections was dropped. 2) Limits on tenure were dropped. 3) Leader would have to consult the Party on all decisions. 4) However, there was no return to widespread terror that was seen under Stalin. How did Stalin implement terror on the Party? - ANSWERSHe carried out show trials. For example, The Trial of the Sixteen where Zinoviev and Kamenev were dragged from prison and accused of working with agents of Trotsky to undermine the state. Under pressure from the NKVD, they confessed to crimes they couldn't have possibly committed. Explain Khrushchev's investment in Agriculture. - ANSWERSIn 1955, to increase productivity, industrial collectives were given greater powers to make decisions at local level. The MTS were abolished. However, they were replaced with a system that expected each collective to buy its own machinery. Collectives were increased in size and there was a rapid increase in mechanisation, fertilisers and irrigation. When was the Virgin Land Scheme introduced? - ANSWERS1954 What was the Virgin Land Scheme? - ANSWERSIt encouraged the opening up of new areas to agricultural production. Six million acres of land were brought under cultivation (used for crops) with considerable investment. What was the first sign of the Virgin Land Scheme failing? - ANSWERSIn 1959, the target for grain production in Kazakhstan failed to be met. What was the impact on agriculture under Khrushchev? - ANSWERSThe income of farmers doubled between 1952 and 1958, but still remained far below those of industrial workers. Between 1953 and 1958, food production increased by 51%. What was agriculture like under Brezhnev? - ANSWERSThere was a deliberate move away from Khrushchev's approach of trying to find quick solutions. The Virgin Land Scheme was dropped. Heavy investment in agriculture remained and allowed peasants to have bigger private plots. What was the impact of agriculture under Brezhnev? - ANSWERSThere was a steady rise in overall production accompanied by a steady decline in workers productivity. A brigade system was established which meant that peasants could decide how profit was used. However, it encouraged a return to family farming leading to it being abolished. When did Khrushchev launch his anti-religious campaign? - ANSWERS1958 What was Khrushchev's campaign towards religion? - ANSWERSKhrushchev was anti-religious and pursued a programme of active repression. Khrushchev launched a harsh anti-religious campaign. The role of the priest was limited to a spiritual advice role only. Priests were dismissed on the grounds they were no longer needed. Baptists and Jews also suffered from severe restrictions to their right to worship. How many churches were closed by 1962? - ANSWERS10,000 What were Brezhnev's actions towards the Church? - ANSWERSActive persecution of the Church declined. The Church was allowed to operate within its defined limits. The Orthodox Church was expected to support Soviet Policy, especially social policy where the Church could provide support for the poor. If you refused you could be punished by imprisonment. Jews and Baptists were treated less tolerantly. Prayer meetings were broken up and members were dismissed from their jobs. What was the result of religious policy? - ANSWERSIn the 1980s, 25% of the population were said to have believed in God and far fewer actually engaged in active worship. When did Khrushchev create the education law and what did it do? - ANSWERS1959 and it made education compulsory for 7-15 year olds. How did Khrushchev try and improve the access to education? - ANSWERSDoubled the number of schools. What education did 16-19 year olds have to do under Khrushchev? - ANSWERSVocational training. Why was there opposition to vocational schools? - ANSWERSThe Party saw them as restricting the availability of an academic education for the children of the Party elite. How many schools complied with Government regulation? - ANSWERS65% When did Brezhnev end vocational training? - ANSWERSBetween 1964 and 1966. What did Brezhnev abandon? - ANSWERSCompulsory secondary education. What did Brezhnev replace compulsory education with? - ANSWERSA target that 100% of students would be in school by 1970. Did Brezhnev reach the 1970 target? - ANSWERSBy 1976, 60% students had finished secondary education. How many University students were there in 1980? - ANSWERS6 million. Did Lenin have a cult of personality? - ANSWERSHe didn't approve of it, but it grew. For example, photos of Lenin were associated with, e.g. 'Leader of the Revolutionary Proletariat'. What decree was passed in 1917 and why? - ANSWERSLenin banned all non-socialist newspapers and he saw them as mouthpieces of the bourgeoise. How many newspapers had been shut down by 1921? - ANSWERS2000 What was the Pravda newspaper? - ANSWERSNewspaper of the Communist Party, meaning 'truth'. How were newspapers made widely available? - ANSWERSNewspapers were cheap to buy. Copies were posted on boards along pavements and at workplaces. What was established in January 1918? - ANSWERSThe power to censor press. If journalists and editors committed crimes they could be punished by the Cheka. What was established to distribute news? - ANSWERSThe All Russian Telegraph Agency (ROTSA). Why was a cult of personality used? - ANSWERSTo reinforce the powers of individual leaders and detach them from the collective leadership exercised, in theory, by the politburo. What was Stalin's cult of personality like? - ANSWERSStalin was presented as Lenin's closet colleague, a hero of the civil war and the saviour of the Revolution. The town 'Tsaritsyn' was renamed 'Stalingrad'. The slogan 'Stalin is the Lenin of today' was used by Party members. Portraits of Stalin presented him as the 'big hero'. He was presented in military uniform with workers and peasants to represent him as one of the everyday Soviet. Records of speeches were produced and distributed to the far reaches of the Soviet Union. Statues were erected in most cities and towns. Was Stalin's cult of personality successful? - ANSWERSEvidence of Success - After WW2, Stalin was viewed as the saviour of Russia and socialism, a lot of people hated Khrushchev's process of de-Stalinisation. Evidence of Failure - Many saw his cult as an over-exaggeration. How did Stalin expand the use of censorship? - ANSWERSWorks of Zinoviev, Kamenev, and Trotsky were removed from libraries. Lenin's work was also edited to remove positive information about Stalin's opponents. What was Socialist Realism? - ANSWERSDescribes art that presented idealised images of life under socialism to inspire the population towards its achievement. The Union of Soviet Writers rewarded those who complied and restricted those who didn't. Therefore, it was used to gain support for the regime. Explain Khrushchev's cult of personality. - ANSWERSPurpose of the cult was to move away from Stalinism. By 1958, Khrushchev had created his own cult. For example, Soviet propaganda showed Khrushchev responsible for the successes of the space race and Virgin Lands Scheme. it also showed Khrushchev as a hero of WWII. What was the problem with Khrushchev's cult of personality? - ANSWERSWhen the Virgin Lands Scheme failed, it associated him with its failures. What was shown on TV in 1961? - ANSWERSDocumentary on space flight. This highlighted the successes of the USSR. What did televisions show about Valentina Tereshkova? - ANSWERSIt showed as an ordinary person who was born and raised on a collective farm. Explain Brezhnev's Cult of Personality. - ANSWERSFour Features: 1) A Great Leninist - He claimed to continue the work of Lenin. 2) A Military Hero - He promoted the power he had in WWII. 3) Dedicated to Ensuring World Peace - Stressed his foreign policy success as he helped develop the détente with the USA. 4) A True Man of the People - Biographies of Brezhnev talked about how he used to work in the steel industry as an engineer. How was Brezhnev's cult of personality unsuccessful? - ANSWERSVeterans of WWII complained about the exaggeration of Brezhnev's role in the War. Young people didn't believe his claims of world peace. What did films featured under Brezhnev? - ANSWERSThey focused on ordinary people that showed them living in luxurious apartments and this caused a high interest in fashion. How was TV successfully used under Brezhnev? - ANSWERSBrezhnev's speeches were shown at full and he was the centre of media coverage. How was TV unsuccessfully used under Brezhnev? - ANSWERSIt showed Brezhnev as an old man who was unable to make speeches and had difficulty walking. Viewers could see Brezhnev's physical weakness. When was War Communism introduced? - ANSWERS1918 Why was War Communism introduced? - ANSWERSIn the hope of winning the Civil War. A reaction to the problems that resulted from early Bolshevik decrees. What were the key features of War Communism? - ANSWERSNationalisation of all industry, military-style discipline in factories and private trading was banned. Explain the impact of War Communism on the economy. - ANSWERSIn 1921 industrial output was 1/5 of what it was in 1913. In 1921 agricultural output was 46% of what it was in 1913 which caused famine. When was the New Economic Policy introduced? - ANSWERS1921 Why was the New Economic Policy introduced? - ANSWERS1) Production in industry and food had fallen and there was famine. 2) War Communism was hated by the population. 3) The Tambov Rising - Peasant uprisings regarding things like the seizure of grains. 4) The Kronstadt Mutiny - Involved sailors unhappy about the increase in power of the Party. What were the key features of the New Economic Policy: Agriculture? - ANSWERSRequisitioning was replaced by taxation, which allowed peasants to sell any remaining food. There was no forced programme of collectivisation. What were the key features of the New Economic Policy: Industry? - ANSWERSSmall scale industry was returned to private hands. Piecework and bonuses were introduced to increase productivity. Currency was used to pay wages. Legislation of private trading was introduced. Development of Nepmen. What were the successes of the New Economic Policy? - ANSWERSIndustrial output rose (return to 1913 levels by 1926), put existing factories back into action, Nepmen did a good job and it brought back restaurants and market stalls. What were the failures of the New Economic Policy? - ANSWERSGangs of children roamed the streets, crime increased, food prices fell as the price for industrial goods rose. When was the first five-year plan? - ANSWERS What were the successes and failures of the first five-year plan? - ANSWERSSuccesses - Rewards for model workers like a new flat and bigger rations. Failures - New plants didn't make a significant impact on production until 1934. Work was hard. Quality was poor as industry rushed to hit targets. When was the second five-year plan? - ANSWERS When was the third five-year plan? - ANSWERS What were the successes and failures of the second and third five-year plans? - ANSWERSSuccesses - Coal production rose, chemical industry made some progress and production of machinery overfulfilled plans. Failures - The oil industry remained disappointing, many resources were wasted, removal of managers during the 1930s purges slowed down the economy. When was the Fourth Five Year Plan? - ANSWERS1946-50 What did the fourth five-year plan involve? - ANSWERSMachinery was taken from Germany as reparations. trade agreements were signed with Eastern Europe. The plan aimed to restore the economy to pre-war levels. What were the successes and failures of the fourth five-year plan? - ANSWERSSuccesses - Industrial production recovered quickly due to slave labourers in the Gulag and the metal industry and heavy industry were successful. Failures - Consumer goods, plastics and chemicals were neglected. When was the Fifth Five Year Plan? - ANSWERS1951-55 What did the fifth five-year plan aim to do? - ANSWERSAchieve a more realistic rate of growth. What were the successes and failures of the fifth five-year plan? - ANSWERSSuccesses - Living standards did start to recover, there were price reductions and workers were given a real wage. Failures - Canals were built which weren't very cost effective and this money could have been used to address the shortage of housing. Things were much slower to recover in the countryside. Why was agricultural collectivisation introduced? - ANSWERS1) An increase in agricultural productivity was needed for the Soviet Union to defend itself against an attack by the capitalist powers. 2) Collective farms would create economies of scale. Food production would increase and reduce labour requirements due to the use of machinery. 3) Would extend socialism to the countryside and ensure the survival of the revolution. It provided the opportunity to get rid of the Kulaks who hoarded food for their own consumption rather than providing it for their own consumption. When was voluntary collectivisation introduced? - ANSWERS1927 When was forced requisitioning of grain carried out and why? - ANSWERS1928, due to food shortages. Explain the process of liquidating the Kulak class that Stalin undertook? - ANSWERSThe OGPU were used to round up the Kulaks and deport them to labour camps. How were peasants convinced to sign up for collectivisation? - ANSWERSPromise of increased mechanisation through the MTS was given and they were provided advice on farming techniques. What were the successes of collectivisation? - ANSWERSEnough food was produced to feed the towns and the red army, the country fooled other nations that collective model was working and agriculture began to recover after a good harvest in 1933. What were the failures of collectivisation? - ANSWERSSupply of machinery was slow, many relied on the Kulaks for the hire of tools, resistance damaged agricultural production, shortage of meat and milk, grain production fell, rural production starved, 4 million died in 1933 alone and humans were forced to pull machines themselves due to a lack of tractors/livestock. Explain Lenin's religious policy towards the Orthodox religion. - ANSWERSChurches were closed down, deprived of land they owned, Priests were removed during the collectivisation process, still had a strong following, religious rituals were banned, Churches were converted and used for other purposes to benefit the state., valuable objects were seized from churches (especially in times of hardship) and Priests were deprived of the vote. Explain Lenin's religious policy towards Islam. - ANSWERSMosques were closed down, deprived of land they owned, Mullahs were removed during the collectivisation process, religious rituals were banned, still had a strong following and women were forced to cast off their veils. How did Stalin treat religion? - ANSWERSThrough collectivisation more churches were closed and village priests were labelled 'Kulaks' and deported. As a result of the Great purge, only 12 out of 163 bishops were still at liberty. However, this religious policy changed with the German invasion in 1941. The Church supported the war and so some Churches were re-opened and new seminaries were set up to train Priests. It illustrated that the religion could sustain moral in times of war. What was the impact that the Civil War had on the lives of women? - ANSWERS1) Women were recruited to work in factories, but childcare was inadequate. 2) Women lost their jobs when the soldiers returned. 3) After the war, many women were left homeless. Explain the changing status of Islamic women. - ANSWERSOpportunities for Islamic women increased. However, traditional attitudes were slow to change and resistance was often violent. What impact did collectivisation and industrialisation have on women in the countryside? - ANSWERSCollectivisation relied on the labour of women as men moved to towns in order to find better jobs. Under Khrushchev, the status of rural women improved as social provision like healthcare and maternity benefits extended to the countryside. What impact did collectivisation and industrialisation have on women in the towns? - ANSWERSWomen dominated the workforce in light industry. 800,000 women served in the armed forces during WWII. By the 1950s, the attitude that women could work was widespread, but they were still expected to play a key role in looking after the home, their husband and children. When was the twelfth five-year plan? - ANSWERS1986-90 What does liberalisation mean? - ANSWERSThis means when the government lifts restrictions on something. How does liberalisation relate to Gorbachev? - ANSWERSHe implemented Glasnost. What was Glasnost? - ANSWERSThe Soviet policy of openness under Mikhail Gorbachev Why was Glasnost introduced? - ANSWERSGlasnost was needed due to corruption and nepotism within the Party. It would provide the opportunity of removing officials who went against reform. What was the impact of Glasnost? - ANSWERS1) People criticised the Party on poor housing, Stalin's mass terror, famine and WWII. 2) By 1989, the population was much more politicised. There was 60,000 informal groups and clubs voicing their opinion of political reform. The Party and Gorbachev were criticised highly for not introducing radical reform. What was democratisation? - ANSWERSIt was an attempt by Gorbachev to get people involved in the Communist Party and political debate. When were secret ballots introduced? - ANSWERSEarly 1987. What is pluralism? - ANSWERSWhere there is more than one political party contesting elections. What encouraged nationalist resurgence in the USSR? - ANSWERSPollution in the Baltic Republics and culture and language. When were Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania independent states? - ANSWERS1939 How did nationalist resurgence occur in the Baltic Republics? - ANSWERS1) April - October 1988 - Popular Front was established which called for protection for their native languages and cultural traditions, but soon they demanded independence. 2) In August 1989 the anniversary of the Nazi-Soviet Pact (1939) was used to stage a mass demonstration for independence. 3) 1990 - The Popular Fronts won a majority in election to the Supreme Soviets in the Baltic Republics. Shortly, they all declared their independence (an illegal move). What does a Structuralist historian believe? - ANSWERSStructures like political, economic and social caused the fall of the USSR. What does an Intentionalist historian believe? - ANSWERSIt is the fault of leaders and individuals for the fault of the USSR. What does a Social Historian believe? - ANSWERSThe experience of the population caused the fall of the USSR. What does a Western historian believe? - ANSWERSGorbachev/Yeltsin's actions are mostly to blame for the fall of the USSR. What does an Eastern historian believe? - ANSWERSIt is Gorbachev's ineffective political, economic or social policy that caused the fall