Russian Revolution Overview Quiz

The industrialization of Russia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries was characterized by the growth of factories, particularly in cities like St. Petersburg and Moscow. This industrial growth led to the development of a new working class, comprised of both skilled and unskilled workers. The government attempted to regulate working conditions in large factories, but conditions in smaller craft workshops were often harsher.

While Russia was a major exporter of grain, its industrial sector developed in pockets, with notable centers in St. Petersburg and Moscow. The railway network expansion in the 1890s fueled further industrial growth, attracting foreign investment.

Russian industrialists owned most factories, and the government attempted to regulate them by setting minimum wages and limiting working hours. However, these regulations were often not enforced effectively, leading to poor working conditions in numerous factories.

Workers in Russia varied in their skills and living conditions, with skilled workers enjoying higher status and wages. Despite the growth of large factories, craft workshops continued to operate, with workers facing longer hours and potentially worse conditions. The working class was also divided by their connection to villages or permanent residence in cities.

Women made up a significant portion of the factory workforce in Russia by 1914, but they earned less than men, often receiving half to three-quarters of a man's wage.

Workers in Russia formed associations to support each other in times of need, but these associations were not widespread, leading to limited collective action in protecting workers' rights.

Despite the government's attempts to regulate working conditions in Russian factories, workers often faced harsh conditions, including long hours, poor pay, and insufficient housing. Life for many workers was difficult, and they frequently relied on charitable organizations for survival.

The Russian government banned all political parties before 1914.

A group of socialists who founded the Russian Social Democratic Workers Party in 1898. They admired Marx's ideas.

Because of government repression, the Russian Social Democratic Workers Party had to operate secretly.

The Russian Social Democratic Workers Party created a newspaper to spread their message, organized strikes, and mobilized workers.

Some Russian socialists believed that the Russian peasants' land division system was similar to socialist ideals.

The 'mir' was a communal system where Russian peasants pooled their land and divided it periodically based on family needs.

Workers would meet on breaks or in the lunchroom, often hiding from management, to discuss and take action.

A group of workers would block the exit to prevent management from knowing about their meeting.

A person who would stand and deliver a message to the group of workers usually during their secret meetings.

The Socialist Revolutionary Party formed in 1900, advocating for peasant rights and demanding land redistribution from nobles to peasants.

Lenin believed that peasants were not a unified group and couldn't be fully integrated into a socialist movement due to varying levels of wealth and economic roles.

The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, believed in a disciplined party with controlled membership, while the Mensheviks favoured a more open and inclusive party structure.

Tsarist Russia was an autocracy, meaning the Tsar had absolute power and was not accountable to a parliament.

Liberals in Russia campaigned for a constitution to limit the Tsar's power and establish a more representative government.

In the 1905 revolution, liberals, Social Democrats, and Socialist Revolutionaries, along with peasants and workers, demanded a constitution.

Nationalists in Poland and Jadidists in Muslim-dominated areas supported the 1905 revolution, seeking greater autonomy and modernization, respectively.

The 1905 revolution was a turning point in Russia's history, highlighting the growing unrest against the Tsarist regime.

Jadidists advocated for a modernized form of Islam to lead their societies, combining religious values with modern ideas and progress.

The 1905 revolution was a turbulent period in Russia's history due to the conflicting ideologies and demands of various social groups.

The Bolsheviks, led by Leon Trotsky, organized a military uprising in Petrograd in 1917. The uprising began on October 24th (Julian calendar), and by nightfall, the city was under the control of the Military Revolutionary Committee. The Bolsheviks seized government offices, arrested ministers, and took over key military points, leading to the fall of the Provisional Government.

The Provisional Government was formed in February 1917 after the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II. It aimed to establish a constitutional monarchy and prepare for elections for a constituent assembly. However, it was quickly challenged by the Bolsheviks who advocated for a socialist revolution.

The 'October' Revolution (also known as the Bolshevik Revolution) took place on November 7th, 1917, following the Bolshevik takeover of Petrograd. This event marked the beginning of the Soviet Union and the establishment of a communist government.

The All-Russian Congress of Soviets was a gathering of representatives from local and regional soviets (councils) across Russia. During the 1917 revolution, the Congress played a crucial role in endorsing the Bolshevik uprising and establishing the Soviet government.

The Military Revolutionary Committee was a body established by the Bolsheviks in Petrograd. It played a key role in organizing the October Revolution, coordinating the military takeover, and seizing control of the city from the Provisional Government.

Lenin believed the Provisional Government would establish a dictatorship. In September 1917, he started preparing for a Bolshevik revolution.

The Bolsheviks aimed to seize power through a socialist revolution. Lenin gained support from the Petrograd Soviet and the Bolshevik Party in October 1917.

The Provisional Government lost support from the people due to its inability to deal with the economic and social issues facing Russia.

The Bolsheviks gained popularity among workers and soldiers through their promises of peace, land, and bread.

The Bolsheviks organized demonstrations in July 1917 to push for a socialist takeover, but the Provisional Government harshly repressed them.

Peasants, encouraged by the Socialist Revolutionaries, took control of land between July and September 1917, demanding redistribution.

The Bolsheviks, with support from workers and soviets, were preparing for an uprising against the Provisional Government to establish a socialist state.

The Bolsheviks successfully seized power from the Provisional Government in October 1917, marking a significant turning point in Russian history.

The conflict between the Provisional Government and the Bolsheviks intensified throughout 1917, leading to a power struggle and ultimately the Bolshevik revolution.

The Bolsheviks, a Marxist political party, aimed to establish a socialist system in Russia, leading to the overthrow of the Provisional Government and the establishment of the Soviet Union.