Lessons 7 · 1 lessons · Sh. Ergashev, B. Xodjayev, J. Abdullayev. World history (1918–1991), Grade 10, 1st edition. Turon-Iqbol Publishing House, Tashkent, 2017
7
The USSR, 1918–1939 (I): 1918–1929
Textbook: pp. 30–36
GoalDescribe the formation of the Soviet state in 1918–1929: the civil war, “war communism”, the creation of the USSR and the NEP.
New words
civil war · fuqarolar urushi“war communism” · «harbiy kommunizm»New Economic Policy (NEP) · yangi iqtisodiy siyosat (NEP)national-territorial delimitation · milliy-hududiy chegaralanish
Explanation
After the October 1917 seizure of power the Bolsheviks held power; on 3 March 1918 the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed with Germany, by which Russia lost large territories. The civil war between the Bolsheviks and their opponents (the White movement and other forces) lasted from 1918 to 1922 and was joined by intervention from the Entente powers. During the war “war communism” was introduced: industry was nationalised, trade restricted and food taken from peasants by requisitioning (razvyorstka). Because of the severe crisis, famine and unrest of 1921 the Bolsheviks moved to the New Economic Policy (NEP): requisitioning was replaced by a tax in kind, private trade and small industry were allowed, while the state kept control of large industry and banks. On 30 December 1922 the Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian and Transcaucasian republics formed the USSR; in 1924 Lenin died and the first Union constitution was adopted. In 1924 national-territorial delimitation was carried out in Central Asia, and the Uzbek SSR was among the republics formed; meanwhile the one-party system was consolidated and at the end of the 1920s the NEP began to be dismantled step by step.
Worked examples
Comparing war communism and the NEP: the first meant requisitioning and a ban on trade; the second a tax in kind and partial restoration of market and private trade. The NEP restored the economy and brought output close to pre-war levels by the mid-1920s.
Why 1921 was a turning point: famine covered the Volga region and Ukraine, peasant and sailors’ uprisings broke out, and the leadership had to change course. International relief was organised by figures such as the Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen.
Class activity
Table: in two columns “War communism | NEP” students fill in five features (property, trade, countryside, industry, result); pairs check each other’s tables.
Practice
1
When was the USSR formed and by which republics?
On 30 December 1922; the Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian and Transcaucasian republics.
2
What was the essence of the NEP?
A tax in kind instead of requisitioning; partial restoration of the market, private trade and small industry.
3
When and with whom was the Brest-Litovsk treaty concluded?
In March 1918 with Germany (and its allies).
4
Why did the Bolsheviks abandon “war communism”?
Production had collapsed, famine and uprisings broke out; peasant discontent threatened the regime.