Describe the war communism and the new economic policy

War communism is a strong, strict government control of most industries, railways and banks at the time of the Russian Civil war. Peasants had to turn over their surplus ( centrally collected and redistributed) to the government.

Terror was used to silence the critics of the revolution plus censorship

On 30^th July 1918 the tsar and his family were executed. Secret police (Cheka) was introduced.

Outcome: The civil war devastated famine so certain changes were needed

1921-28 NEP ( New Economic Policy )

- reintroduction of certain capitalist measures

- government controlled heavy industry, banks, BUT small manufactures were allowed to have their own business

- surplus arrow market arrow money

- terror eased

- economic pluralism ( capitalists, socialists) BUT no political pluralism

- only one party ( Bolshevik party )

A few changes in politics

1922: USSR

Changes:

- elimination of titles of nobility

- Orthodox Church loss of influence

- Laws: equality of men and women, 8 hour working day

1924: Lenin died

-struggle to take over the power

Trotsky against Dzhugashvili ( Stalin, man of steel )

It led to world revolution ( Trotsky ) against socialism in one country