[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYV-qYeWPkk&feature=related[/youtube]
Depending on what group you are in, you will be dealing with the twin issues of repression and reform in April. You might like to look at the graphic film representation of the Great Terror above, and then read the Edward Acton lecture notes on the topic. Now study this timeline.
Some questions.
1. How far do you think I have got the relative positioning of the levels of suffering correct ?
2. Could you construct essays on the varying extents and differing reasons for repression ? Do you understand the Acton legitimacy argument ?
3. What is the link between economic reform and political repression in our period ?
Mr Kydd.
In response to question one, I agree with the majority of the relative positionings of the levels of suffering. However, I would put the NEP lower down than the impact of Stolypin’s reforms because I think that the ending of grain requistioning reduced suffering further than the ending of redemption payments as an increase in food reduces suffering more than an increase in money. I would also put the suffering under serfdom slightly higher up from the start. I think that the suffering under War Communism should be significantly higher than in 1905 as I believe that the suffering during the civil war was unlike anything experienced under the Tsarist regime.
I think the graph is pretty accurate apart from that War communism should be a little bit higher as it was still quite repressive.
I agree with both Laura and Zack here that the graph tends to be fairly accurate. The only part I may change is how low Khrushchev and the ‘secret speech’ is. Although, it is obviously significantly better than under Stalin, there were clearly aspects of continuity such as the use of the Gulag systems and the secret police, it is important to note that although the use was far less, it was still there and the use of these repressive tools still occurred, thus perhaps it should be slightly higher on the graph.
I agree with most of the timetine, especially under stalin, which displays how unique the scale of repression under his rule was. I agree with Zack about War communism sseing greater amounts which then shows a better picture of how things get worse and worse as the course progresses.
In response to question one, I agree with the majority of the relative positionings of the levels of suffering. However, I would put the NEP lower down than the impact of Stolypin’s reforms because I think that the ending of grain requistioning reduced suffering further than the ending of redemption payments as an increase in food reduces suffering more than an increase in money. I would also put the suffering under serfdom slightly higher up from the start. I think that the suffering under War Communism should be significantly higher than in 1905 as I believe that the suffering during the civil war was unlike anything experienced under the Tsarist regime.
We agree with most of the diagram however, I disagree your view of the level of repression in the New Economic Policy as we as it was the ‘Golden Age’ of the peasants. We also believe that the level of suffering should be higher at the point of Emancipation as it was seen as a ‘cruel joke’ on the peasants which in fact made their lives worse than when they were serfs.
I agree with making the NEP lower than Stolypin’s reforms due to it having more postive impacts on the lives of the peasants. However, I mainly agree with the overall layout especially the significant rise in repression under the ‘Great Terror’.