Unit 8: The Russian Revolution

Question 1

3 pre-revolutionary event

Answer 1

In January, soldiers shot at a group of workers led by a priest named Father Gapon who were protesting for better conditions and over 100 civilians were killed.

In June, sailors mutinied on the Battleship Potemkin.

In September, Japan defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese War.

Question 2

the Romanovs

Answer 2

Czar Nichols II and his German Czarina Alexandra

Question 3

Rasputin

Answer 3

During WWI, when the Czar was away with the troops, the Czarina, who remained in control in St. Petersburg, was influenced by a Siberian mystic named Rasputin who claimed to be able to cure her hemophiliac son, Alexi

Question 4

WWI results on Russia

Answer 4

WWI resulted in widespread poverty and the injury/death of one-quarter of the Russian population; the monarchs could not resolve the serious problems in their country, and the Russian people could not tolerate their weak and inefficient government any longer

Question 5

3 groups that competed for control of the Russian government when Czar abdicated

Question 6

3 groups that competed for control of the Russian government when Czar abdicated

Answer 6

Alexander Kerensky and the Duma (like Russian Parliament) - more democratic and capitalist (initially had control in Russia)

Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks (majority) - communist

Julius Martov and the Mensheviks (minority)

Question 7

Russians’ two major losses

Question 7

Russians’ two major losses

Question 8

Russians’ two major losses

Answer 8

In March, the Bolsheviks signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany to end Russia’s involvement in WWI but they were forced to cede a massive amount of territory & resources to other European powers
In July, the seven Romanovs (held captive in Yekaterinburg) were assassinated & marked the end of the monarchy in Russia

Question 9

2 armies of the Russian Civil War

Answer 9

Red Army - comprised of the pro-communism workers & peasants

White Army - comprised of democrats, monarchists, land and business owners, and the WWI Allies

Question 10

Results of Russian Civil War

Answer 10

After millions of casualties, the Red Army won and Lenin declared the Russian Empire the Union of Soviet Socialists Republics (USSR); they made Moscow their new capital and the Kremlin their place of government

Question 11

When Lenin died…

Answer 11

the Communist Party had to decide who would be his successor; Leon Trotsky had contributed significantly more to the war effort & propaganda than Joseph Stalin, but Trotsky was Jewish & many Russians were anti-Semitic so majority supported Stalin

Question 12

Pravda

Answer 12

Pravda

Question 13

political system of communism

Answer 13

while democrats elect leaders, communists appoint them

Question 14

economical system of communism

Answer 14

while capitalists allow the market forces of supply and demand to determine the distribution of resources, communists don’t allow private property and instead allow the government to determine the distribution of resources

Question 15

communist governments still in existence

Answer 15

China, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, and Cuba