Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-3-4-the-achievements-of-lenin-and-trotsky [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) › The Achievements of Lenin & Trotsky # The Achievements of Lenin & Trotsky History: AQA GCSE Russia, 1894-1945, topic 2.3.4 ## 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 ![Women in Russia before 1920](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/15562bbb-af56-4e0a-bc15-9e59843dfa77/shutterstock_249572551.jpg) - 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 ![Women's policy after 1920](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/0945122c-e6df-4450-87c6-0056fdbaea71/shutterstock_218040022.jpg) - 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 ![Women under the NEP](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/ef028a6c-e4c4-489d-87e8-854702305500/shutterstock_768324739.jpg) - 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 ![Education](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/41c0eee9-1494-4014-af0b-8b6abc66652f/shutterstock_215528821.jpg) - 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/a3db707f-3f62-4fbf-adcd-8c55fd796f69/economic-growth-improvement.jpg) - 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 ![Electrification programme](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/physics/Edexcel/7%20electricity/transmission_cables.jpg) - Lenin's electrification programme was the best example of a successful public works project. ### Agriculture ![Agriculture](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/biology/7.3.1-%20Effects%20of%20human%20interactions%20on%20ecosystems/farmer-880567_640-min.jpg) - 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 ![Workers](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/e92742c7-221e-42ec-8feb-85c27daf2e41/mining-856022_1920.jpg) - 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. ## Test yourself on The Achievements of Lenin & Trotsky - What was the name of the organisation set up by Alexandra Kollontai to further the rights and position of women? - Which of the following about women's policy are correct? - During which years was economic growth strong under Lenin? - Which public works project was most successful under Lenin? - What changes happened to agriculture under Lenin and Trotsky? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/68cb5c28-b4d9-41f3-a315-2a7d3e63fc5e/section/4f1e4723-ca34-46a3-8bf1-1b7a5afe5204/session) - Previous topic: [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) - Next topic: [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) ## 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)