2.3.4
The Achievements of Lenin & Trotsky
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Bolshevik Policies on Women and Education
The Bolsheviks introduced lots of new policies aimed at women and education in an attempt to promote communism.
Women in Russia before 1920
- 1917: Women and men were declared equals, and divorce was made much easier and cheaper.
- Marriage could now be non-religious.
- 1919: the Zhenotdel was set up under Alexandra Kollontai as an organisation to improve the rights and position of women.
- Lenin disagreed with Kollontai’s beliefs on the sexual liberation of women.
Women's policy after 1920
- 1920: Abortion was legalised.
- 1923: Kollontai became the first female ambassador in the world, serving in Norway.
- 1926: Women in a relationship could own property separately from their husbands.
Women under the NEP
- Despite these changes, in general, the economic position of women under the NEP worsened.
- Women’s rights were not seen as a priority by leading members of the government, and investment in the services industry (which benefited women) was reduced.
- The revolution had only improved gender equality a little bit.
Education
- Free education (up to the age of 17) was introduced in Russia in 1919. In the Red Army, a literacy drive aimed to increase soldiers’ intellectual capabilities and their understanding of communist ideas.
- Over half the population was literate by 1926.
- Yet by 1927 only 5% of teachers were actually members of the Communist Party, and education was not fully subjected to communist standards until the 1930s.
Economic Achievements of Lenin and Trotsky
Despite constant controversy around the New Economic Policy (NEP), Lenin enjoyed a certain amount of economic success.
Economic growth
- Economic growth was strong, particularly during 1924 and 1925.
- This increased the popularity of the Bolshevik leadership, and optimism about possibilities with the NEP increased.
Electrification programme
- Lenin's electrification programme was the best example of a successful public works project.
Agriculture
- Productivity in farming went back to pre-war levels
- Some peasants were able to raise funds to buy new machinery and tools.
- But exports to other countries never reached their 1913 levels.
Workers
- The length of the working day fell from 9.9 hours to 7.8 hours by 1928.
- This applied to both women and men.
- But unemployment remained high as many people moved to the towns.
- Economic growth was not quite fast enough to solve this problem.
1The End of Tsardom
1.1Russia's Economy & Society
1.2Nicholas II's Autocracy & the Court
2Lenin's New Society
2.1The Provisional Government
2.2The Impact of Lenin's Dictatorship
3Stalin's USSR
3.1Stalin the Dictator
3.2Stalin's Modernisation of the USSR
Jump to other topics
1The End of Tsardom
1.1Russia's Economy & Society
1.2Nicholas II's Autocracy & the Court
2Lenin's New Society
2.1The Provisional Government
2.2The Impact of Lenin's Dictatorship
3Stalin's USSR
3.1Stalin the Dictator
3.2Stalin's Modernisation of the USSR
Practice questions on The Achievements of Lenin & Trotsky
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- 3Education in the USSR:Fill in the list
- 4During which years was economic growth strong under Lenin?Multiple choice
- 5Which public works project was most successful under Lenin?Multiple choice
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