Write a few lines to show what you know about:

• kulaks
• the Duma
• women workers between 1900 and 1930
• the Liberals
• Stalin’s collectivisation programme.

Kulaks — The well to do peasants were known as Kulaks. The Bolsheviks used the term to chastise peasants who withheld grain from them during the Russian Revolution. Stalin’s collectivisation program targeted kulaks, leading to their persecution, deportation, and loss of property. They were raided for enforced grain collections.

The Duma — The Duma was the elected legislative body in Russia from 1906 until its dissolution during the March 1917 Revolution. The Duma was established by Tsar Nicholas II in response to the 1905 revolution and aimed to be a representative assembly. However, its powers were limited, and it rarely enjoyed the cooperation of the ministers or the emperor.

Women workers between 1900 and 1930 — The factory labour force in Russia was constituted by women workers in large numbers (31%). However, women were paid significantly less than men for their work. Women workers led strikes during the February Revolution. Marfa Vasileva almost single handedly called a successful strike at the Lorenz telephone factory.

The Liberals — The groups which looked to change society were the liberals. Liberals wanted a nation which tolerated all religions. Liberals also opposed the uncontrolled power of dynastic rulers. They wanted to safeguard the rights of individuals against governments. They argued for a representative, elected parliamentary government, subject to laws interpreted by a well-trained judiciary that was independent of rulers and officials. They did not believe in universal adult franchise, that is, the right of every citizen to vote. They felt men of property mainly should have the vote. They also did not want the vote for women.

Stalin's collectivisation programme — By 1927-1928, the towns in Soviet Russia were facing an acute problem of grain supplies. The government fixed prices at which grain must be sold, but the peasants refused to sell their grain to government buyers at these prices. Stalin, who headed the party after the death of Lenin, introduced firm emergency measures. He believed that rich peasants and traders in the countryside were holding stocks in the hope of higher prices. Party members toured the grain-producing areas, supervising enforced grain collections, and raiding ‘kulaks'. Under Stalin’s collectivisation program, peasants were forced to cultivate collective farms. Land and implements were transferred to the ownership of collective farms. Peasants worked on the land, and kolkhoz profits were shared. Those who resisted collectivisation were severely punished and often deported