Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-2-social-and-economic-effects-of-ww1

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# Social & Economic Effects of WW1

History: AQA GCSE Russia, 1894-1945, topic 1.3.2

## Economic Effects of the First World War

Russia was not the only country that struggled with the effects of “total war” on its economy and society.

### Economic effects

![Economic effects](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/557977c0-a916-4b3b-b3f1-e51b5a09319b/shutterstock_768324739.jpg)

- The government printed too much money, which caused the Russian currency (ruble) to fall in value. 
 - This worsened the cost-of-living crisis. 
- Taxes were increased on the poor to fund government spending on the war. 
- Government spending increased by a multiple of eight between 1913 and 1916 AD.

### Inflation

![Inflation](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/a44ebe31-e3d3-47ad-bc44-01f803801d24/shutterstock_309498407.jpg)

- Inflation (rising prices and fall in value of currency) meant that workers’ wages could no longer afford everyday items. 
- During the war years, wages increased by 200%, but food and fuel increased 400% in price. 
 - This cut living standards by 50%.

## Social Effects of the First World War in Russia

Russia was not the only country that struggled with the effects of “total war” on its economy and society. But Russia was the only country that faced revolution in 1917 AD.

### Railways

![Railways](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/6ce919e8-a315-4922-8aa9-87014ee7bba3/shutterstock_171153017.jpg)

- The army took over control of the railroads and railways and requisitioned (took forcibly) huge amounts of food to feed the army. 
 - This caused the Russian railway system to collapse, which caused the food supply to the towns and cities to suffer.

### Refugees

![Refugees](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/4008dc7e-5311-403d-ba00-cdc0abd74659/shutterstock_242816347.jpg)

- Many refugees came from across Russia to Petrograd, but the city struggled to cope because it was far away from food-producing areas. 
 - The bread ration fell from 1.2kg to 0.8kg from 1916-1917 AD. 
 - By February, Moscow was receiving 1,500 fewer wagons of grain per month compared to before the war.

### Peasants in the countryside

![Peasants in the countryside](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/950c9a97-2c9e-4ebf-b670-0d265715578c/shutterstock_170157710.jpg)

- There was suffering in the countryside too.
 - Around 16 million peasants fought in the army and many were injured or died. 
- Horses that had previously been used for ploughing were seized by the military. The war made it very difficult to keep producing enough food.

## Test yourself on Social & Economic Effects of WW1

- Which of the following about the economic effects of war are correct?
- What was the name of the Russian currency?
- The Railway System in Russia in WW1
- What happened to the bread ration in Russia between 1916 and 1917 AD?
- Which of these are true of Russia in WW1?

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/68cb5c28-b4d9-41f3-a315-2a7d3e63fc5e/section/5c97bf74-d03d-4030-a5cb-3c1b788dda43/session)

- Previous topic: [1.3.1 The Impact of Military Defeats](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-1-the-impact-of-military-defeats.md)
- Next topic: [1.3.3 Romanov Unpopularity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-3-romanov-unpopularity.md)

## History: AQA GCSE Russia, 1894-1945 contents

### 1 The End of Tsardom
- 1.1 Russia's Economy & Society
  - [1.1.1 Industrialisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-1-1-industrialisation.md)
  - [1.1.2 Living & Working Conditions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-1-2-living-and-working-conditions.md)
- 1.2 Nicholas II's Autocracy & the Court
  - [1.2.1 Growth of Revolutionary Opposition](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-2-1-growth-of-revolutionary-opposition.md)
  - [1.2.2 The 1905 Revolution & the October Manifesto](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-2-2-the-1905-revolution-and-the-october-manifesto.md)
  - [1.2.3 Reforming Russia Before 1914 - Stolypin](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-2-3-reforming-russia-before-1914-stolypin.md)
  - [1.2.4 The Duma & Political Stalemate](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-2-4-the-duma-and-political-stalemate.md)
- 1.3 The First World War
  - [1.3.1 The Impact of Military Defeats](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-1-the-impact-of-military-defeats.md)
  - [1.3.2 Social & Economic Effects of WW1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-2-social-and-economic-effects-of-ww1.md)
  - [1.3.3 Romanov Unpopularity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-3-romanov-unpopularity.md)
  - [1.3.4 The Tsar's Abdication](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-4-the-tsars-abdication.md)
  - [1.3.5 Top Grade AO2/3 - The End of Tsardom](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-5-top-grade-ao23-the-end-of-tsardom.md)

### 2 Lenin's New Society
- 2.1 The Provisional Government
  - [2.1.1 The Failure of the Government](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-1-the-failure-of-the-government.md)
  - [2.1.2 Social & Economic Problems](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-2-social-and-economic-problems.md)
  - [2.1.3 Lenin & Trotsky](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-3-lenin-and-trotsky.md)
  - [2.1.4 The Growth of the Bolsheviks](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-4-the-growth-of-the-bolsheviks.md)
  - [2.1.5 The October / November Revolution](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-5-the-october-november-revolution.md)
  - [2.1.6 Top Grade AO2/3 - The Provisional Government](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-6-top-grade-ao23-the-provisional-government.md)
- 2.2 The Impact of Lenin's Dictatorship
  - [2.2.1 The End of the First World War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-1-the-end-of-the-first-world-war.md)
  - [2.2.2 The Cheka](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-2-the-cheka.md)
  - [2.2.3 Red Terror & Centralisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-3-red-terror-and-centralisation.md)
  - [2.2.4 The Civil War & The Red Army](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-4-the-civil-war-and-the-red-army.md)
  - [2.2.5 Propaganda](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-5-propaganda.md)
  - [2.2.6 Top Grade AO2/3 - Early Bolshevism & the Civil War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-6-top-grade-ao23-early-bolshevism-and-the-civil-war.md)
- 2.3 Social & Economic Developments
  - [2.3.1 War Communism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-3-1-war-communism.md)
  - [2.3.2 The Kronstadt Rising](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-3-2-the-kronstadt-rising.md)
  - [2.3.3 The New Economic Policy (NEP)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-3-3-the-new-economic-policy-nep.md)
  - [2.3.4 The Achievements of Lenin & Trotsky](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-3-4-the-achievements-of-lenin-and-trotsky.md)
  - [2.3.5 Top Grade AO2/3 - Social & Economic Developments](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-3-5-top-grade-ao23-social-and-economic-developments.md)

### 3 Stalin's USSR
- 3.1 Stalin the Dictator
  - [3.1.1 The Power Struggle to Succeed Lenin](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-1-the-power-struggle-to-succeed-lenin.md)
  - [3.1.2 The Communist Party & Government](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-2-the-communist-party-and-government.md)
  - [3.1.3 The Terror & the Purges](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-3-the-terror-and-the-purges.md)
  - [3.1.4 The Secret Police](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-4-the-secret-police.md)
  - [3.1.5 Cult of Personality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-5-cult-of-personality.md)
  - [3.1.6 Propaganda & Censorship under Stalin](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-6-propaganda-and-censorship-under-stalin.md)
  - [3.1.7 Top Grade AO2/3 - Stalin's Dictatorship](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-7-top-grade-ao23-stalins-dictatorship.md)
- 3.2 Stalin's Modernisation of the USSR
  - [3.2.1 Collectivisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-2-1-collectivisation.md)
  - [3.2.2 Five Year Plans](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-2-2-five-year-plans.md)
  - [3.2.3 Social & Economic Consequences](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-2-3-social-and-economic-consequences.md)
  - [3.2.4 Social & Economic Consequences 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-2-4-social-and-economic-consequences-2.md)
  - [3.2.5 The Extent of Modernisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-2-5-the-extent-of-modernisation.md)
- 3.3 Impact of the Second World War
  - [3.3.1 Stalin's Wartime Leadership](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-3-1-stalins-wartime-leadership.md)
  - [3.3.2 Political, Economic & Social Consequences of War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-3-2-political-economic-and-social-consequences-of-war.md)
  - [3.3.3 Top Grade AO2/3 - Modernisation of the USSR](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-3-3-top-grade-ao23-modernisation-of-the-ussr.md)