Stalin's domestic policies

Outline:

Economic

- Collectivisation 28/29 - 32

   - Success:

     - 90% of farmland

     - Greater control over agriculture

     - Was able to feed the growing working force in the cities, which was also increased by the     collectivisation  

   - Failure

     - Did not increase efficiency greatly 

     - Still needed to buy grain from USA and Canada 

     - Livestock levels fell massively 

     - Famine of 32-33 with 5 mil death from collectivisation 

- Five years plan 

   - Success

     - GDP tripled whereas most other countries were still suffering from the depression

     - Prepared USSR for war

     - Iron levels tripled and coal fourfold and steel sixfold

     - Formed into an industrial society with the doubling of the urban population from 26 to 56 mil

   - Failure

     - The quality if the product lacked behind the capitalist countries, both due to high goals and unskilled peasants working in the factories

     - Focus in heavy industry instead if consumer goods - not good for population

     - Technological gap from western countries

Political

- Great terror

   - Success 

     - Managed to oppress his opponents and made him all powerful as he replaced the purged people with his supports in the party

   - Failure 

     - The army was greatly damaged which halts the army in the first part of WWII 

     - 600,000 party members died

     - Between 2-7 million died of prison camp inmates 

     - 1/8 people punished ~ one in every family 

Social

- Education

   - Illiteracy rate increased from 40% in 13 to 94% in 53

- Family life 

   - Success

     - Increased women in the workforce and military

   - Failure

     - Failed to increase the birth rate and the divorce a rate