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.

Illustrative background for Women in Russia before 1920Illustrative background for Women in Russia before 1920 ?? "content

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.
Illustrative background for Women's policy after 1920Illustrative background for Women's policy after 1920 ?? "content

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.
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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.
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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.

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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.
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Electrification programme

  • Lenin's electrification programme was the best example of a successful public works project.
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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.
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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.

Jump to other topics

1The End of Tsardom

1.1Russia's Economy & Society

1.1.1Industrialisation

1.1.2Living & Working Conditions

1.2Nicholas II's Autocracy & the Court

1.2.1Growth of Revolutionary Opposition

1.2.2The 1905 Revolution & the October Manifesto

1.2.3Reforming Russia Before 1914 - Stolypin

1.2.4The Duma & Political Stalemate

1.3The First World War

1.3.1The Impact of Military Defeats

1.3.2Social & Economic Effects of WW1

1.3.3Romanov Unpopularity

1.3.4The Tsar's Abdication

1.3.5Top Grade AO2/3 - The End of Tsardom

2Lenin's New Society

2.1The Provisional Government

2.1.1The Failure of the Government

2.1.2Social & Economic Problems

2.1.3Lenin & Trotsky

2.1.4The Growth of the Bolsheviks

2.1.5The October / November Revolution

2.1.6Top Grade AO2/3 - The Provisional Government

2.2The Impact of Lenin's Dictatorship

2.2.1The End of the First World War

2.2.2The Cheka

2.2.3Red Terror & Centralisation

2.2.4The Civil War & The Red Army

2.2.5Propaganda

2.2.6Top Grade AO2/3 - Early Bolshevism & the Civil War

2.3Social & Economic Developments

2.3.1War Communism

2.3.2The Kronstadt Rising

2.3.3The New Economic Policy (NEP)

2.3.4The Achievements of Lenin & Trotsky

2.3.5Top Grade AO2/3 - Social & Economic Developments

3Stalin's USSR

3.1Stalin the Dictator

3.1.1The Power Struggle to Succeed Lenin

3.1.2The Communist Party & Government

3.1.3The Terror & the Purges

3.1.4The Secret Police

3.1.5Cult of Personality

3.1.6Propaganda & Censorship under Stalin

3.1.7Top Grade AO2/3 - Stalin's Dictatorship

3.2Stalin's Modernisation of the USSR

3.2.1Collectivisation

3.2.2Five Year Plans

3.2.3Social & Economic Consequences

3.2.4Social & Economic Consequences 2

3.2.5The Extent of Modernisation

3.3Impact of the Second World War

3.3.1Stalin's Wartime Leadership

3.3.2Political, Economic & Social Consequences of War

3.3.3Top Grade AO2/3 - Modernisation of the USSR

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The New Economic Policy (NEP)

Top Grade AO2/3 - Social & Economic Developments