Edexcel OCR History a Level paper 1 Lenin - Yeltsin 1917-91 Flashcards
What year did the Bolshevik Revolution occur?
1917
Who was the leader of the Bolsheviks during the October Revolution?
Vladimir Lenin
What was the primary goal of the Bolshevik Revolution?
To overthrow the Provisional Government and establish a socialist state.
True or False: The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed in 1918.
False
Fill in the blank: The Russian Civil War lasted from _____ to _____.
1917; 1922
What were the two main factions in the Russian Civil War?
The Red Army (Bolsheviks) and the White Army (anti-Bolsheviks)
What was War Communism?
A policy implemented by the Bolsheviks during the Civil War that involved nationalizing industry and requisitioning agricultural produce.
What economic policy did Lenin introduce in 1921 to revive the economy?
New Economic Policy (NEP)
Who succeeded Lenin as leader of the Soviet Union?
Joseph Stalin
What was the purpose of the Five-Year Plans introduced by Stalin?
To rapidly industrialize the Soviet economy.
True or False: The Great Purge occurred in the 1930s.
True
What was the main consequence of the Great Purge?
The execution and imprisonment of millions, including many Communist Party members.
What major event marked the beginning of World War II for the Soviet Union?
The invasion by Nazi Germany in 1941.
Fill in the blank: The Soviet Union was officially established in _____ with the creation of the USSR.
1922
What was the main goal of the Marshall Plan?
To aid the economic recovery of European countries after World War II.
What was the Cold War primarily about?
The ideological conflict between the capitalist West and the communist East.
Who was the leader of the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Nikita Khrushchev
What was the significance of the Prague Spring in 1968?
It was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia that was ultimately suppressed by Soviet intervention.
True or False: Mikhail Gorbachev introduced policies of Glasnost and Perestroika.
True
What does Glasnost mean?
Openness; it refers to increased transparency and freedom of information in the Soviet Union.
What does Perestroika mean?
Restructuring; it refers to the reform of the political and economic system in the Soviet Union.
What year did the Soviet Union officially dissolve?
1991
Who was the first President of Russia after the dissolution of the Soviet Union?
Boris Yeltsin
What significant event took place in Russia in August 1991?
A failed coup attempt against Gorbachev.
Fill in the blank: The October Revolution is also known as the _____ Revolution.
Bolshevik
What was the main aim of the Soviet foreign policy during the Cold War?
To spread communism and counter Western influence.
True or False: The Soviet Union was a member of NATO.
False
What was the main economic challenge faced by Yeltsin during his presidency?
Hyperinflation and economic instability.
What was the significance of the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis?
It resulted in a power struggle between Yeltsin and the parliament, leading to military intervention.
What event is often considered the end of the Cold War?
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Fill in the blank: The Soviet Union’s policy of _____ aimed to reduce nuclear arms and improve relations with the West.
Détente
Who were the main opponents of the Bolsheviks during the Civil War?
The White Army, comprising various anti-Bolshevik groups.
What was the purpose of the Comintern?
To promote worldwide communism and support communist parties abroad.
What was the impact of Stalin’s collectivization policy?
It aimed to consolidate individual landholdings into collective farms, leading to widespread famine and resistance.
True or False: The Soviet Union was a major ally of the United States during World War II.
True
What was the main effect of the Helsinki Accords of 1975?
They improved East-West relations and recognized existing European borders.
Fill in the blank: The Soviet invasion of _____ in 1979 marked the beginning of a long conflict in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan
What was the significance of the 1917 February Revolution?
It led to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II and the establishment of a Provisional Government.
What economic system did the Soviet Union adopt after the revolution?
Centralized planned economy.
Fill in the blank: The _____ were a series of trials held in the 1930s to eliminate opposition to Stalin.
Show Trials
What was the role of the KGB in the Soviet Union?
It was the main security agency responsible for state security and intelligence.
What event in 1956 led to significant reforms in Hungary?
The Hungarian Revolution.
True or False: The Soviet Union was the first country to put a man into space.
True
Who was the first human in space?
Yuri Gagarin
What was the impact of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster?
It raised awareness of nuclear safety and led to changes in Soviet policies.
What was the significance of the 1991 Russian referendum?
It showed overwhelming support for the sovereignty of the Russian Republic.
Fill in the blank: The Soviet Union’s collapse was partly due to _____ economic reforms.
Failed
What was the role of the Soviet Union in the Vietnam War?
It provided support to North Vietnam against the U.S. and South Vietnam.
True or False: The Soviet system was characterized by democratic elections.
False
What was the significance of the Berlin Blockade?
It was one of the first major crises of the Cold War that tested the resolve of the Western Allies.
What is meant by ‘Socialism in One Country’?
Stalin’s policy that prioritized the development of socialism within the Soviet Union rather than promoting global revolution.
Fill in the blank: The Soviet Union’s involvement in _____ led to a prolonged military conflict and international condemnation.
Afghanistan
What was the significance of the 1991 August Coup?
It was an attempt to overthrow Gorbachev that ultimately led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Who was the leader of the Soviet Union during the 1980s?
Mikhail Gorbachev
What was the primary focus of Gorbachev’s policies?
Reform of the Soviet political and economic system.
Fill in the blank: The Soviet Union was characterized by a _____ economy.
Command
What was the purpose of the Soviet space program?
To demonstrate technological superiority and compete with the United States.
True or False: The Soviet Union was involved in the Korean War.
True
What was the significance of the 1972 SALT I Treaty?
It was the first agreement between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to limit nuclear arms.
What was the primary outcome of the 1989 revolutions in Eastern Europe?
The collapse of communist regimes across the region.
Fill in the blank: The Soviet Union’s foreign policy was often described as _____ diplomacy.
Coercive
What was the impact of the 1990 unification of Germany on the Soviet Union?
It symbolized the end of the Cold War and increased pressure on the Soviet regime.
Who were the main figures in the opposition to Yeltsin during his presidency?
Communists and nationalist factions.
What was the significance of the 1998 Russian financial crisis?
It highlighted the economic instability and led to a loss of confidence in Yeltsin’s government.
What was the primary cause of the 1991 Soviet coup attempt?
Opposition to Gorbachev’s reforms and increasing nationalism in the republics.
Fill in the blank: The Soviet Union was officially dissolved on December 26, _____ .
1991
