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

[Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [GCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse.md) › [History](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history.md) › [AQA](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa.md) › Social & Economic Problems

# Social & Economic Problems

History: AQA GCSE Russia, 1894-1945, topic 2.1.2

## Social Problems

Kerensky and the Provisional Government had problems keeping the peasants under control.

### The government and the old regime

![The government and the old regime](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-05/86f73969-b012-4daa-87f8-66e42db4d7d8/shutterstock_223257358.jpg)

- The fundamental problem for the Provisional Government was that it seemed similar to the members of the 1912 AD Duma and the tsar's old regime.
- The Provisional Government was not representative like the Soviets, which held elections. 
 - Although the Provisional Government intended to hold an election, the turmoil of 1917 AD at home and at the front meant that this was impossible.

### The peasantry

![The peasantry](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/11238f67-858d-456f-b6e9-1d73fef745ca/shutterstock_620759114.jpg)

- The Provisional Government failed to satisfy the peasants.
- Most peasants just wanted to be left to get on with their own lives. 
- Many peasants supported the Socialist Revolutionaries, although usually peasants did not have a clear political agenda or ideology.

### The redistribution of land

![The redistribution of land](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/b54e634c-a379-46c0-b54e-fde261bc2d16/shutterstock_170157710.jpg)

- Many peasants wanted land. Some suggested that they should seize land from their former masters. 
- The government wanted to wait for an election before making sweeping changes. 
- But many peasants seized land anyway. When the Bolsheviks were looking for support, they played on the peasants’ thirst for land by promising it to them during the October Revolution.

## Economic Problems

Russia was on the verge of economic collapse in 1917 AD. The Provisional Government was unable to solve these issues.

### Industry

![Industry](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-05/58bca283-c5e7-4a9a-b408-d2ddea320dea/shutterstock_544567789.jpg)

- Basic materials for industry could not reach Russia because of the war. 
- This shortage worsened through 1917 AD, and the army was unable to fight effectively because of a lack of weapons.

### Farming

![Farming](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/63d7d79d-0e9f-4933-b883-0953af9837f1/shutterstock_568043557.jpg)

- Peasant farmers were forced to join the military.
- This led to weaker agricultural production.
- This led to price rises because of shortages of food.

### Transport

![Transport](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/physics/AQA%20New%20Modules/2.1.5/train%20tracks.jpg)

- Russia's railway system was unable to supply the cities effectively. 
- The system was full taking troops and supplies to the front line.

### Inflation

![Inflation](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/chemistry/6.1.1%20Calculating%20rates%20of%20reactions/6.1.1_profit-min.jpg)

- The value of the rouble also fell because of the war.
- This contributed to even higher prices for food and other goods.

## Test yourself on Social & Economic Problems

- Which of the following about the provisional government are correct?
- Which party did many peasants support?
- Who replaced Prince Lvov as Prime Minister of the Provisional Government?
- What happened to Russian industry in 1917?
- What was Russia's transport system like in 1917 AD?

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/68cb5c28-b4d9-41f3-a315-2a7d3e63fc5e/section/8ba9f282-8dfc-4126-b0b7-f658e116b18c/session)

- Previous topic: [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)
- Next topic: [2.1.3 Lenin & Trotsky](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-3-lenin-and-trotsky.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)