RUSSIA

Question 1

Who was Karl Marx?

Answer 1

Philosopher who criticized capitalism. He believed capitalism will collapse, leading to socialism and eventual communism.

Question 2

What are Soviets?

Answer 2

Soviets were councils of workers, soldiers, and peasants in Russia who supported socialist ideology.

Question 3

What are Proletariat?

Answer 3

Proletariat are the working class, often the lowest class in society, who sell their labour and don’t own the means of production.

Question 4

What are Bourgeoisie?

Answer 4

The bourgeoisie are typically middle or upper-class individuals who own the means of production, such as factories and land, and exploit the proletariat’s labour for profit.

Question 5

Who is Vladimir Lenin?

Answer 5

Vladimir Lenin was a Russian revolutionary and leader of the Bolshevik Party who led the 1917 Russian Revolution, establishing the Soviet Union and implementing communist policies.

Question 6

Define “Peace, Bread, Land”

Answer 6

The slogan used by Lenin and the Bolsheviks during the 1917 Revolution, promising peace (end to the war), food for the people, and land for the peasants.

Question 7

Who is Tsar Nicholas II?

Answer 7

Last emperor of Russia, abdicated in 1917 during the revolution. Failed to gather military support, facing economic struggles and military defeats.

Question 8

What is the 1905 Revolution?

Answer 8

The 1905 Revolution was a series of protests and strikes in Russia, fuelled by poor conditions and political repression. It resulted in the creation of the Duma (Russian parliament).

Question 9

What is March Revolution?

Answer 9

Spontaneous uprising in Russia, driven by food shortages and dissatisfaction with the war. It led to Tsar Nicholas II’s abdication and the establishment of the Provisional Government.

Question 10

What is November Revolution?

Answer 10

Planned uprising led by Lenin and the Bolsheviks to overthrow the Provisional Government and establish a communist state.

Question 11

Who is Leon Trotsky?

Answer 11

Leon Trotsky was Lenin’s right-hand man, a leader in the November Revolution, and head of the Red Army. After Lenin’s death, he was exiled by Stalin as an “enemy.”

Question 12

Who is Alexander Kerensky?

Answer 12

Alexander Kerensky was the Prime Minister of Russia after Tsar Nicholas II’s abdication. He led the Provisional Government but was overthrown by the Bolsheviks in the November Revolution.

Question 13

What is the Kornilov Affair?

Answer 13

Attempted overthrow by General Kornilov to remove socialists from the government. The Provisional Government armed the Bolsheviks to defend Petrograd, boosting their support and helping them gain power in the November Revolution.

Question 14

What is the Duma?

Answer 14

The Duma was the Russian parliament established after the 1905 Revolution. It had limited power, meant to represent the people, but ultimately had little influence over decision-making.

Question 15

What is July Days?

Answer 15

The July Days were protests and uprisings in Petrograd against the Provisional Government, caused by discontent with the war and poor conditions. The Bolsheviks were involved but suppressed, with many leaders arrested.

Question 16

What is Provisional Government?

Answer 16

The Provisional Government, formed after Tsar Nicholas II’s abdication, was made up mostly of aristocrats. It failed to address the people’s needs, continuing the war and ignoring economic issues, which led to widespread unrest.

Question 17

What are Petrograd Soviets?

Answer 17

The Petrograd Soviets were councils of workers, soldiers, and peasants in Petrograd during the Russian Revolution. They held significant power and opposed the Provisional Government, supporting the Bolsheviks and their socialist ideals.

Question 18

What are Mensheviks?

Answer 18

The Mensheviks were once part of the same party as the Bolsheviks but split over strategy. They favoured a gradual, step-by-step revolution, believing a capitalist phase was needed before socialism, while the Bolsheviks pushed for immediate change.

Question 19

What are Bolsheviks?

Answer 19

Radical socialist faction led by Lenin, advocating for a quick, proletariat-led revolution to overthrow the government and establish socialism.

Question 20

What is the April Theses?

Answer 20

Outlined Lenin’s vision for Russia’s future: overthrow the Provisional Government, withdraw from World War I, and transfer power to the Soviets.
(Also Peace, Bread, Land)

Question 21

What is the Kronstadt Revolt?

Answer 21

Uprising of Soviet sailors at the Kronstadt naval base against the Bolshevik government, demanding political freedom. It exposed internal discontent within the Bolshevik ranks.

Question 22

What is the Russian Civil War?

Answer 22

Conflict between the Red Army (Bolsheviks) and the White Army (anti-Bolsheviks). It resulted in the Bolsheviks’ victory and the establishment of the Soviet Union.

Question 23

What is the Constituent Assembly?

Answer 23

First free election in Russian history. When the Bolsheviks didn’t secure a majority, Lenin and his party dissolved the Assembly in January 1918. They then established the Cheka to eliminate political opponents, marking a step towards authoritarian rule.

Question 24

What is the Sovnarkom - Decrees?

Answer 24

Bolshevik government body. Issued decrees like peace, land reforms, and workers’ rights to consolidate power after the November Revolution of 1917.

Question 25

What is the Cheka?

Answer 25

Bolshevik secret police created by Lenin. Tasked with suppressing political opposition and enforcing Bolshevik rule through arrests, executions, and terror.

Question 26

What is the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?

Answer 26

Peace treaty signed between Soviet Russia and the Central Powers. Withdrew Russia from the war at the cost of severe territorial loss.

Question 27

What is the Treaty of Rapallo?

Answer 27

Agreement between Germany and Soviet Russia to restore their relationship and reject any territorial and financial claims they had against each other.

Question 28

What is War Communism?

Answer 28

Economic and political system during the Russian Civil War that forced peasants to hand over surplus crops to support the Red Army, and banned private trade.

Question 29

What is New Economic Policy?

Answer 29

NEP set a fixed amount of crops that peasants had to give to the state, allowed limited trade, and let peasants sell surplus for profit. It aimed to stabilize agriculture and the economy after the civil war.

Question 30

What is Lenin's testament?

Answer 30

Lenin expressed concerns about Stalin's growing power and suggested that he be removed from his position as General Secretary to prevent potential conflicts within the party.

Question 31

Who is Stalin?

Answer 31

Soviet leader after Lenin's death. Industrialized the USSR, led during World War II, and instilled terror through purges and harsh policies.

Question 32

What is "Socialism in One Country"?

Answer 32

Stalin's policy focused on strengthening socialism within the Soviet Union rather than prioritizing global revolution.

Question 33

What is General Secretary?

Answer 33

Initially an administrative role, the General Secretary oversaw party appointments, allowing control over who held key positions. Stalin used this power to place loyal supporters in roles, securing his dominance.

Question 34

What is the Five Year Plans?

Answer 34

Stalin's economic program to rapidly industrialize the USSR and modernize agriculture, aiming to compete with Western nations.

Question 35

What is Collectivization?

Answer 35

Policy of grouping individual farms into large, state-controlled collectives. Multiple farmers worked together on shared land to improve agricultural efficiency.

Question 36

Who are the Kulaks?

Answer 36

Rich land-owning peasants who opposed collectivization. Many burned their farms and slaughtered their livestock, which resulted in many of their executions, arrest, etc.

Question 37

What are the Gulags?

Answer 37

Soviet forced labour camps under Stalin. Used for political prisoners and criminals. Horrible living conditions.

Question 38

What is Kolkhoz?

Answer 38

Collective farms, created during collectivization, where farmers worked together on shared, state-controlled land to increase efficiency.

Question 39

What is Industrialization?

Answer 39

Policy to modernize the USSR's economy by increasing heavy industry output, such as coal, steel, and oil.

Question 40

Who is Sergey Kirov?

Answer 40

Head of the Leningrad Communist Party and close ally of Stalin. His assassination in 1934 was used by Stalin as a pretext to launch the Great Purge.

Question 41

What is the Great Purges?

Answer 41

Stalin's campaign to eliminate perceived enemies through mass arrests, executions, and forced labour in gulags, instilling widespread terror.

Question 42

Who is Grigory Zinoviev?

Answer 42

Bolshevik leader and ally of Lenin, later accused of opposing Stalin and executed following a show trial.

Question 43

Who is Lev Kamanev?

Answer 43

Bolshevik leader and ally of Lenin. Accused of conspiring with Trotsky against Stalin. Executed following public show trial.

Question 44

Who is Nikolai Bukharin?

Answer 44

Bolshevik leader and Lenin's ally. Did not admit to treason but was executed following a show trial during the Great Purge.

Question 45

What is the Cult of Personality?

Answer 45

Extensive propaganda glorifying Stalin as a hero, disregarding his heinous acts, to instill loyalty and devotion among the Soviet people.

Question 46

What are Show Trials?

Answer 46

Suspects were forced to confess to fabricated crimes, used to legitimize Stalin's purges and consolidate his power.

Question 47

What is NKVD?

Answer 47

Soviet secret police under Stalin, responsible for mass arrests, executions, and gulags during the Great Purge.

Question 48

Who is Lavrenty Beria?

Answer 48

Soviet politician and head of the NKVD after Yezhov. Oversaw the Great Purge and show trials under Stalin's regime.

Question 49

What is the Soviet Foreign Policy?

Answer 49

Focused on promoting communism, securing the USSR's survival, and countering capitalist influence. Initially aimed for peace, later supported global socialist movements and alliances with socialist states

Question 50

What is Comintern?

Answer 50

Founded by Lenin in 1919 to promote global communist revolutions. Later, Stalin restructured it to control international communist movements, ensuring they aligned with Soviet interests.

Question 51

What is the League of Nations?

Answer 51

The League of Nations was an international peace body established after WWI. The Soviet Union joined but later left, citing its failure to address issues like Nazi Germany's aggression.

Question 52

What is the Spanish Civil War?

Answer 52

Stalin supported the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War to counter fascism and spread communism. He provided aid and sought to extend Soviet influence over the Republicans.

Question 53

Who is Vyacheslav Molotov?

Answer 53

Soviet politician and diplomat, Stalin's loyal ally and Foreign Minister during his regime.

Question 54

What was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

Answer 54

A non-aggression treaty signed between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939, ensuring that the two nations would not attack each other. It was broken when Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in 1941.