Paper 3, Option 38.1: The making of modern Russia, 1855–1991 - 1 The changing status and condition of the peasantry — Edexcel A-Level History
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Paper 3, Option 38.1: The making of modern Russia, 1855–1991 - 1 The changing status and condition of the peasantry explained
Paper 3, Option 38.1: The making of modern Russia, 1855–1991 - 1 The changing status and condition of the peasantry covers 2 specification points, including The abolition of serfdom 1861, Stolypin's… and The burden of redemption payments and….
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Open a point below for its explanation and revision guidance.
The impact of changes in government policy, 1855–1991 (key developments: the abolition of serfdom 1861, Stolypin's reforms 1906–11, the Land Decree 1917, NEP 1921, collectivisation 1928–32, the increase in state farms (sovkhoz) at the expense of kholkhoz after 1945).
This topic examines how state policy reshaped the peasantry from 1855 to 1991. The 1861 abolition of serfdom freed peasants but tied them to land and redemption payments. Stolypin's reforms (1906–11) encouraged private farming and land consolidation to create a prosperous class. The 1917 Land Decree legitimised peasant seizures and abolished landlord property. The 1921 NEP replaced requisitioning with a tax in kind, allowing limited markets. Collectivisation (1928–32) forced peasants into kolkhozy and eliminated kulaks. After 1945, state farms (sovkhozy) expanded at the expense of collective farms (kolkhozy), increasing state control. Assess impact by comparing intended aims with outcomes for peasants' status, condition and productivity.
Living standards and leaving the land, 1855-1991: the burden of redemption payments and overpopulation, periods of famine, migration and prosperity (key developments: the concession of peasant plots 1932, reduction of taxes on private plots and peasant households 1953–54).
This topic examines peasant living standards and movement from land between 1855 and 1991. After 1861, redemption payments and rural overpopulation kept many peasants impoverished. Periodic famines, notably 1891–92 and 1921–22, caused mass suffering. Migration to Siberia and urban areas offered escape but was often temporary or forced. Some periods saw prosperity, such as the NEP years and post-1953 reforms. The 1932 concession of peasant plots allowed limited private cultivation within collectives. The 1953–54 reduction of taxes on private plots and peasant households eased burdens and improved incentives. Assess living standards by weighing these developments against continued state extraction and rural poverty.
Your focus
- Explain the key government policies affecting peasants from 1855 to 1991.
- Analyse the intended and unintended consequences of these policies for peasants.
- Evaluate the extent to which government policy improved or worsened the condition of the peasantry.
Show all 6 objectives
- Explain the factors affecting peasant living standards from 1855 to 1991.
- Analyse the causes and consequences of migration and famine.
- Evaluate the impact of government concessions on peasant prosperity.
Paper 3, Option 38.1: The making of modern Russia, 1855–1991 - 1 The changing status and condition of the peasantry exam tips
Marking Points
- Explains the 1861 abolition of serfdom: peasants gained legal freedom but remained tied to the commune and burdened by redemption payments, limiting real improvement.
- Analyses Stolypin's reforms 1906–11: aimed to create a class of independent farmers; some prospered, but many peasants remained in repartitional communes and reform was incomplete.
- Assesses the 1917 Land Decree: legitimised peasant land seizures, redistributed land, but did not resolve rural poverty or increase productivity significantly.
- Evaluates NEP 1921: replaced grain requisitioning with a tax in kind, allowing peasants to sell surpluses; recovery followed, but tensions remained over pricing and procurement.
- Examines collectivisation 1928–32: forced consolidation into kolkhozy, dekulakisation, and state procurement; caused resistance, famine, and long-term inefficiency.
- Explains post-1945 increase in sovkhozy at the expense of kolkhozy: state farms expanded, often on marginal land, increasing state control but not necessarily improving output.
- Explains the burden of redemption payments after 1861: peasants paid for land over decades, reducing disposable income and often causing arrears.
- Analyses overpopulation: rapid rural population growth reduced per capita land, leading to poverty and pressure to migrate.
- Describes periods of famine: 1891–92 and 1921–22 caused millions of deaths, exacerbated by policy failures and environmental factors.
- Evaluates migration: movement to Siberia, Central Asia and cities offered opportunities but was often driven by hardship and sometimes coerced.
- Identifies periods of prosperity: NEP (1921–28) and post-1953 reforms saw improved living standards for some peasants.
- Explains the 1932 concession of peasant plots: allowed collective farmers small private plots for own use, providing a vital safety net.
- Assesses the 1953–54 reduction of taxes on private plots and peasant households: reduced financial pressure, encouraged production, and improved rural incomes.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Plan essays by grouping policies chronologically or thematically (e.g., freedom vs control, economic vs political aims) to show change over time.
- 💡Use precise dates and terms (e.g., 1861, 1906–11, 1917, 1921, 1928–32, sovkhoz, kolkhoz) to demonstrate secure knowledge.
- 💡When assessing impact, weigh intended aims against actual outcomes for peasants' status, living standards and productivity, and reach a substantiated judgement.
- 💡Use specific examples of famines and their causes to show understanding of the interplay of policy and environment.
- 💡Compare living standards across different periods (e.g., 1860s vs 1920s vs 1950s) to demonstrate change over time.
- 💡When discussing migration, distinguish between voluntary economic migration and forced resettlement, and assess consequences for both areas left behind and destinations.
Common Mistakes
- Treating the 1861 abolition as an immediate improvement for all peasants; correction: recognise that redemption payments and communal constraints limited benefits for many.
- Assuming Stolypin's reforms transformed the entire peasantry; correction: note that only a minority became independent farmers, and reform was cut short by his assassination and later war.
- Confusing kolkhozy and sovkhozy; correction: kolkhozy were collective farms nominally owned by peasants, while sovkhozy were state farms where workers were employees.
- Overstating the success of NEP for peasants; correction: acknowledge recovery but also the 'scissors crisis' and procurement difficulties that strained peasant-state relations.
- Assuming redemption payments ended in 1861; correction: they continued until 1906, when they were cancelled.
- Treating famine as solely natural; correction: recognise the role of government policy, such as requisitioning during the Civil War and collectivisation.
- Believing migration was always voluntary; correction: note that some migration was forced or semi-forced, e.g., deportation of kulaks.
- Overlooking the significance of private plots; correction: acknowledge that private plots often produced a disproportionate share of food and income.