Russian Revolution and Imperial Russia

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Questions and Answers

Who became the new prime minister of Russia after the February Revolution?

A member of the Provisional Government (correct)

Tsar Nicholas II

A German official

Lenin

What was the Petrograd Soviet?

A worker's council (correct)

A communist party

A democratic government

A Tsar's advisory board

Why did Lenin want a smaller and disciplined party?

To work with other political parties

To dedicate to a communist revolution (correct)

To gain mass membership

To spread communist ideology

What did Lenin think was necessary to destroy capitalism?

A proletarian revolution Signup and view all the answers

Why did Germany help Lenin return to Russia?

To gain an ally in the war Signup and view all the answers

What did Lenin call his party?

The Bolsheviks Signup and view all the answers

What kind of societies did Lenin believe a communist revolution was possible in?

Backward societies like Russia Signup and view all the answers

What did Lenin believe revolutions were more based on?

Spontaneous uprisings Signup and view all the answers

Who was the Tsar of Russia during WWI and leading up to the Russian Revolution?

Nicholas II Signup and view all the answers

How were Russian soldiers told to defend themselves in WWI?

Without rifles, relying on each other Signup and view all the answers

What was the Duma and what role did it play leading into the Russian Revolution?

A legislative body that opposed the Tsar Signup and view all the answers

Where did Tsar Nicholas II go when he left the capital city in 1915?

The front lines Signup and view all the answers

Why did Alexandra Romanov trust Rasputin instead of political advisors?

Rasputin was a healer who helped her son Signup and view all the answers

Why did protestors have violent street demonstrations in Petrograd?

Due to food and fuel shortages Signup and view all the answers

What did the Russian army do when Nicholas ordered them to shoot the protestors?

They refused to fire on the protestors Signup and view all the answers

What did Nicholas do once the Duma declared a Provisional government on March 12, 1917?

He abdicated the throne Signup and view all the answers

What did the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk allow Lenin to do?

Consolidate power and establish the Bolshevik government Signup and view all the answers

What was the 'White Opposition' opposed to?

The Bolshevik government and Lenin's rule Signup and view all the answers

What happened to deserters or soldiers who disobeyed orders in the Red Army?

They were executed immediately Signup and view all the answers

Which side did the Western Allies support during the Russian Civil War?

The White Armies and the counter-revolutionaries Signup and view all the answers

What was a key factor in the Bolsheviks' victory over the White Armies?

The Bolsheviks' better military organization and leadership Signup and view all the answers

What was a part of the Bolsheviks' War Communism policy during the Civil War?

Nationalizing industries and seizing grain from peasants Signup and view all the answers

What was the Cheka?

A secret police force that suppressed opposition Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the Western Allies' support for the White Armies?

It had little impact on the outcome of the Civil War Signup and view all the answers

What was the main reason for the Bolsheviks' rise to power in Russia?

Democracy had made way to a power vacuum that the Bolsheviks exploited. Signup and view all the answers

What was a key factor that contributed to the Bolsheviks' success in seizing power?

The provisional government's lack of strong leadership. Signup and view all the answers

What happened on November 6, 1917?

The Bolsheviks seized power in Russia. Signup and view all the answers

Why did the Bolsheviks' policies appeal to the people?

They promised to nationalize industries and establish a socialist economy. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the elected delegates were Bolsheviks in the Constituent Assembly?

25% Signup and view all the answers

What did Lenin do to the Constituent Assembly?

He dissolved it. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main reason why the Bolsheviks were able to maintain power for over 4 years?

They were able to consolidate their power and suppress opposition. Signup and view all the answers

What was the percentage of the elected delegates from the Socialist Revolutionary Party in the Constituent Assembly?

40% Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Fall of Imperial Russia

Tsar Nicholas II was the ruler of Russia during WWI and the lead-up to the Russian Revolution.
Many Russian soldiers went to battle without rifles, and were told to defend themselves with their bare hands.
The Duma was a legislative body established in 1905, which played a significant role in the Russian Revolution.

The Provisional Government

Tsar Nicholas II left the capital city in 1915 and appointed his wife Alexandra as regent.
Alexandra trusted Rasputin, a mystic, instead of political advisors, which led to protests.
Protests in Petrograd turned violent, and Tsar Nicholas ordered the army to shoot the protesters, but they refused.
The Duma declared a Provisional Government on March 12, 1917, and Tsar Nicholas abdicated.
The event was known as the February Revolution.

The Provisional Government Changes

Three significant changes made by the Provisional Government were:
- Freedom of speech and assembly were granted
- Capital punishment was abolished
- A democratic electoral system was introduced

The Fall of the Provisional Government

The Provisional Government fell apart due to its inability to address Russia's involvement in WWI and the country's economic woes.

Lenin and the Bolshevik Revolution

Lenin based his philosophy on Marxist ideology.
Lenin believed that only a revolutionary vanguard party could destroy capitalism.
Lenin thought that a Communist revolution was possible even in agrarian societies like Russia.
Lenin believed that revolutions were driven by human will rather than historical laws.
Lenin's group was called the Bolsheviks or "majority party," while the opposing party was known as the Mensheviks or "minority party."
Germany helped Lenin return to Russia following the February Revolution in hopes that he would withdraw Russia from WWI.
Lenin viewed WWI as an imperialist war and wanted Russia to withdraw.

Trotsky and the Seizure of Power

Leon Trotsky was a key figure in the Bolshevik Revolution and led the Petrograd Soviet.
Trotsky convinced the Petrograd Soviet to make him the leader of the Military Revolutionary Committee.
On November 6, 1917, the Bolsheviks, led by Lenin and Trotsky, seized power in the October Revolution.

Reasons for Bolshevik Success

Three main reasons for the Bolsheviks' success were:
- The power vacuum created by the Provisional Government's collapse
- The strong leadership of Lenin and Trotsky
- Bolshevik policies that appealed to the masses, such as land reform and withdrawal from WWI

Dictatorship and Civil War

The Bolsheviks won only 24% of the elected delegates in the Constituent Assembly, while the Socialist Revolutionary Party won 58%.
Lenin dissolved the Constituent Assembly.
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace treaty with Germany that allowed Lenin to focus on consolidating power.
The "White Opposition" consisted of anti-Bolshevik forces, while the Reds were the Bolshevik Army.
The Bolsheviks ultimately defeated the White Armies due to their more organized military and harsh punishments for deserters or disobedient soldiers.
The Western Allies supported the Whites, but it had little impact.
The Bolsheviks implemented War Communism, which included nationalization of industries and forced labor.

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Description

Explore the events leading to the Russian Revolution, including the role of the Duma and Tsar, and the experiences of Russian soldiers in WWI.