Russia, 1917-41 (Flashcards)
What were the main causes of the February Revolution in 1917?
Military failures in WWI, food shortages, harsh winter of 1916-17, strikes in cities, Tsar Nicholas II’s poor leadership, and discontent among soldiers.
What role did the Provisional Government play in the October Revolution?
Failure to address land reforms, continuing WWI, and inability to manage rising Bolshevik influence led to its overthrow.
How did Lenin’s April Theses appeal to the Russian people?
Promised ‘Peace, Land, and Bread,’ withdrawal from WWI, and power to the Soviets.
What were the key events of the October Revolution?
The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin and Trotsky, stormed the Winter Palace and overthrew the Provisional Government.
Fill in the blank: The Bolsheviks promised _______ in their April Theses.
[Peace, Land, and Bread]
True or False: The Provisional Government successfully ended Russia’s involvement in WWI.
False
What was a significant impact of the harsh winter of 1916-17 on Russia?
Food shortages and increased discontent among the population.
List three factors that contributed to the discontent among soldiers in Tsarist Russia.
- Military failures in WWI
- Poor leadership
- Lack of supplies
What were the consequences of the Bolshevik takeover during the October Revolution?
End of the Provisional Government and establishment of Bolshevik rule.
Fill in the blank: The Bolshevik leadership during the October Revolution was primarily by _______.
[Lenin and Trotsky]
What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, and why was it controversial?
Peace treaty with Germany in 1918; Russia lost large territories (e.g., Ukraine, Poland) but exited WWI.
The treaty was seen as a betrayal by many Russians and had significant political repercussions.
What was War Communism, and why was it introduced?
Economic policy during the Civil War to support the Red Army, involving grain requisitioning, nationalization of industries, and suppression of private trade.
War Communism aimed to ensure the survival of the Bolshevik regime during the Russian Civil War.
How did the New Economic Policy (NEP) differ from War Communism?
NEP allowed small-scale private businesses, reduced state control, and ended grain requisitioning to stabilize the economy.
NEP was introduced to recover the economy after the hardships of War Communism.
What role did the Red Army and Trotsky play in the Civil War?
Trotsky organized a disciplined Red Army and used effective strategies to defeat the White Army.
Trotsky’s leadership was crucial to the Bolsheviks’ victory in the Russian Civil War.
What methods did Stalin use to secure power after Lenin’s death?
Eliminated rivals (e.g., Trotsky, Zinoviev), promoted ‘Socialism in One Country,’ and gained control of the Communist Party.
Stalin’s political maneuvering involved forming alliances and later betraying those allies.
