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Backward Russian Agriculture
- Russian agriculture was notoriously backward before 1917, with inefficient land distribution and outdated farming methods.
- Peasants primarily farmed for subsistence, with surpluses coming from noble estates using hired labor.
Bolshevik Land Policy
- The Bolsheviks' land decree during the revolution confirmed peasant land seizures, though their true aim was state-owned collective farms.
- This contradicted their previous stance and highlighted their cynical pursuit of power.
War Communism and Famine
- War Communism's forced grain seizures led to drastically reduced agricultural output and a catastrophic famine in 1921-1922.
- This failure prompted the New Economic Policy (NEP), allowing peasants to sell surpluses for profit.