Exam Study

Question 1

The 5 member executive committee of the communist party. It was established in 1919 and early members included Lenin, Trotsky, Stalin, Kamenev and Krenstinsky, later Zinoviev joined

Answer 1

Politburo

Question 2

The New Economic Policy was introduced in 1921 as a ‘temporary’ policy that was to end War Communism during the Civil war. It allowed for small-scale capitalism, some private trade and small scale private land ownership. The NEP led to a quick revival of the Russian economy after the Civil War.

Answer 2

NEP

Question 3

The scissor crisis was predicted by Trotsky and he discovered that urban prices would begin to exceed rural prices, and once this occurred rural production would steadily fall.

Answer 3

Scissors Crisis

Question 4

was the leader of the Soviet Union from the late 1920s until his death in 1953.
Under him, the Soviet Union became the world’s number two superpower.
He led his country to victory against Germany during the Second World War.

Answer 4

Josef Stalin

Question 5

joined the Bolshevik Party in 1903 and was elected to the central committee in 1907.
In 1917, he returned to Russia and was a key opponent of the Provisional Government.
After Lenin’s death, formed a triumvirate with Stalin and Kamenev.
Alongside Kamenev, he was falsely implicated in the murder of Kirov in 1934, tried for treason and executed in 1936.

Answer 5

Gregori Zinoviev

Question 6

joined the Bolshevik Party in 1903 and was active in the attempted revolution of 1905.
He returned from exile in Switzerland after the abdication of the Tsar in 1917, becoming a Politburo member in 1918.
With Stalin and Zinoviev, he ruled as part of a triumvirate from 1923, but split with Stalin over ‘Socialism in One Country’.
was implicated, without foundation, in Kirov’s murder in 1934, and subsequently was found guilty of plotting against Stalin.
*He was executed in 1936.

Answer 6

Lev Kamenev

Question 7

was a key Bolshevik ideologue and popular party member, closely associated with the party’s left wing.
A member of the Politburo from 1924, and head of the Comintern from 1926, aligned with Stalin in the power struggles of the 1920s.
Expelled from the Politburo in 1929, was executed in 1938 for counter-revolutionary activities.

Answer 7

Nikolai Bukharin

Question 8

was a lawyer and member of the Socialist Revolutionary Party.
Following the February 1917 Revolution, he became a key figure in the Provisional Government, becoming Prime Minister in July.
his government was eventually overthrown by the Bolsheviks in October 1917

Answer 8

Alexander Kerensky

Question 9

was appointed commander-in-chief if Russian forces in August 1917 by Alexander Kerensky.
Dissatisfied with Kerensky’s conduct of the war, he attempted a military coup in August/September 1917.
He was killed fighting the Red forces during the civil war in April 1918.

Answer 9

Kornilov

Question 10

was the Commissar for Social Welfare in the Bolshevik government following the November Revolution.
She was a firm advocate for women’s equality, and established the Zhenotdel, or Women’s Department.
Her opposition to later party policies led to her being edged out of government and into diplomatic posts.

Answer 10

Kollontai

Question 11

Features and impacts of War Communism

Answer 11

• The policy implemented during the civil war by the Bolsheviks that gave the state total control over all aspects of the economy, including industry, transport, trade and agriculture.
• It was notable for its brutal policies towards the peasants as the government sought to ensure adequate food supplies for the Red Army and urban industrial workers.
• War Communism brought the country to the brink of total economic collapse, but arguably facilitated the Bolsheviks’ victory in the civil war.

Question 12

Features and impact of the NEP

Answer 12

• The New Economic Policy was introduced by the Bolshevik government at the Tenth Party Congress in 1921.
• It brought an end to the policy of War Communism.
• The NEP saw a return to small-scale capitalism, allowing for some private trade and small-scale private land ownership.
• The NEP led to a quick revival of the Russian economy.

Question 13

Russo-Japanese War

Answer 13

1904 to 1905, over territorial expansion in east Asian.
However, Japan won by a significant margin as they had spent years developing their military and industrializing.

Russia had not industrialised and took them too long to transport their military and machinery from the west to the east due to the weak railway systems.

Resources were being sent to fight this war making living standards drop.

Led to Bloody Sunday Revolution of 1905.

Question 14

Bloody Sunday

Answer 14

January 22nd 1905, a peaceful protest occurred in St Petersburg lead by father Gapon.

Due to the Russo-Japanese war the population was upset about the starvation, poor conditions and cold winter endured by the working class.

Imperial forces opened fire on the crowed and killed hundreds.

The Tsar never appeared at the protest when he was meant to, it is rumored that he had already escaped the city causing more hatred toward the incompetent Tsar

Question 15

October Manifesto

Answer 15

Announced October 1905 by Tsar Nicholas

Response to the revolutionary events of ‘Bloody Sunday’, January that year.

It offered the people constitutional rights and promised the creation of the duma, with free and open elections.

This was the first major decision that would limit the Tsar’s autocratic power.

Question 16

The Dumas

Answer 16

A representative parliament formed due to the October Manifesto.

There were 4 Duma’s before the February revolution.

The power and influence of the Duma was limited by the ministers and the Tsar.

• Attempt by tsar to reform
• The first 2 were dissolved as they were too radical
• The other 2 were stacked to the tsar favour and bias