Ch 25.2 ID list

Question 1

Nicholas II (r. 1894-1917)

Answer 1

The last Tsar of Russia, ruling from 1894 until his abdication in 1917. His autocratic style and failure to address political and social unrest contributed to widespread dissatisfaction. He led Russia into World War I, which worsened economic and military crises. Ultimately, he was forced to abdicate during the March Revolution and later executed by the Bolsheviks.

Question 2

Rasputin (d. 1916)

Answer 2

A Siberian mystic who became influential in the Russian royal family due to his supposed healing abilities with the Tsarevich Alexei. His close relationship with Tsarina Alexandra undermined public confidence in the monarchy. Many believed he manipulated government decisions during World War I. He was assassinated by nobles seeking to save the monarchy’s reputation.

Question 3

March Revolution (Feb. in Russia)

Answer 3

It began with mass protests and strikes in Petrograd over food shortages and war fatigue. Soldiers joined demonstrators, leading to the collapse of imperial authority. Nicholas II abdicated, ending centuries of Romanov rule. A Provisional Government was established, but it struggled to address Russia’s problems.

Question 4

Provisional Government

Answer 4

A Government that was formed after Nicholas II’s abdication to lead Russia temporarily. It was dominated by liberals and moderate socialists, promising democratic reforms. However, it continued fighting in World War I, which made it unpopular. Its inability to solve land and peace issues led to its overthrow by the Bolsheviks.

Question 4

Alexander Kerensky (d. 1970)

Answer 4

A prominent leader of the Provisional Government and a moderate socialist. He tried to maintain Russia’s involvement in World War I, hoping to preserve national unity. This decision alienated soldiers and workers, weakening his support. Kerensky fled after the Bolshevik takeover in November 1917.

Question 5

Petrograd Soviet

Answer 5

A council of workers’ and soldiers’ deputies formed during the March Revolution. It represented radical socialist interests and often conflicted with the Provisional Government. The Soviet issued “Order No. 1,” giving soldiers more power and undermining government authority. It played a crucial role in supporting the Bolsheviks’ rise to power.

Question 5

Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924)

Answer 5

The leader of the Bolshevik Party and a revolutionary Marxist thinker. He returned to Russia in April 1917, advocating for “peace, land, and bread.” He orchestrated the October Revolution, overthrowing the Provisional Government. He established a communist regime and withdrew Russia from World War I.

Question 6

Bolsheviks

Answer 6

A radical Marxist faction led by Lenin, committed to revolution and establishing a dictatorship of the proletariat. They gained support among workers, soldiers, and peasants by promising peace and land reform. In November 1917, they seized power in Petrograd. The Bolsheviks later won the civil war, creating the Soviet Union.

Question 7

Mensheviks

Answer 7

A moderate Marxist group that split from the Bolsheviks over strategy and ideology. They favored gradual reforms and broad-based support for socialism. During the revolution, they supported the Provisional Government and opposed the Bolshevik coup. After the civil war, the Mensheviks were suppressed by the new communist regime.

Question 8

Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)

Answer 8

A key Bolshevik leader and brilliant organizer of the Red Army. He played a major role in the success of the October Revolution and the defeat of anti-Bolshevik forces in the civil war. Trotsky advocated for international revolution and opposed Stalin’s policies. Eventually, he was exiled and assassinated in Mexico.

Question 9

November Revolution (Oct. in Russia)

Answer 9

Occurred when the Bolsheviks seized control of Petrograd. Led by Lenin and Trotsky, they overthrew the Provisional Government. The event marked the beginning of communist rule in Russia. It sparked a civil war between the Reds and Whites.

Question 10

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 1918

Answer 10

A treaty signed between Bolshevik Russia and Germany, ending Russia’s participation in World War I. Russia ceded vast territories, including Ukraine and Poland, to Germany. The treaty was highly controversial and unpopular among Russians. It allowed Lenin to focus on consolidating power at home.

Question 10

Reds vs. Whites

Answer 10

The two main opposing sides in the Russian Civil War (1918–1921). The “Reds” were the Bolsheviks, who supported communist revolution and were led by Lenin and Trotsky. The “Whites” were a coalition of anti-Bolshevik groups, including monarchists, liberals, and foreign supporters, who wanted to defeat the communists and restore order. The conflict ended with the victory of the Reds, leading to the creation of the Soviet Union.