The Fall of Tsardom and Lenin

Question 1

What event sparked a wave of protests across the Russian Empire in 1905?

Answer 1

Bloody Sunday.

Question 2

What significant meeting occurred in April 1905?

Answer 2

Third RSDLP Congress.

Question 3

What did Lenin argue at the Third RSDLP Congress?

Answer 3

The Tsarist regime could only be overthrown if the peasants rose up against the monarchy.

Question 4

What was the October Manifesto?

Answer 4

A response by Tsar Nicholas II to the 1905 Revolution, agreeing to reforms including freedom of speech and political parties.

Question 5

When did Lenin return to St Petersburg?

Answer 5

8th November 1905.

Question 6

What occurred during the Fourth RSDLP Congress in April 1906?

Answer 6

Further disagreements with the Mensheviks.

Question 7

What was the outcome of the Fifth RSDLP Congress in May 1907?

Answer 7

The Bolsheviks dominated the congress.

Question 8

Why did Lenin decide to move to Switzerland in June 1907?

Answer 8

The Second Duma was disbanded and the Okhrana was looking for revolutionaries.

Question 9

What significant publication did Lenin release in 1909?

Answer 9

Materialism And Empirio Criticism.

Question 10

What happened in January 1910 regarding the Bolshevik Party?

Answer 10

Lenin did not support a move to reunite the Bolsheviks but was outvoted.

Question 11

What was the purpose of the Eighth International Socialist Congress in April 1910?

Answer 11

Lenin attended as a representative of the RSDLP.

Question 12

What significant relationship did Lenin begin in May 1910?

Answer 12

An extra-marital relationship with Inessa Armand.

Question 13

What decision did the RDSLP make in June 1911?

Answer 13

To focus attention back on Russia.

Question 14

What major event occurred on 1st August 1914?

Answer 14

Germany declared war on Russia.

Question 15

What was the significance of the name change from St Petersburg to Petrograd in September 1914?

Answer 15

St Petersburg was considered too German.

Question 16

What did Lenin advocate at the Zimmerwald Conference in September 1915?

Answer 16

Socialists should use the war to foment a revolution against the aristocracy.

Question 17

What did Lenin publish in 1917 regarding imperialism?

Answer 17

Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism.

Question 18

What sparked the February Revolution in January 1917?

Answer 18

150,000 workers protested due to lack of food and poor living conditions.

Question 19

What notable action was taken on 27th February 1917 during the February Revolution?

Answer 19

Tsar Nicholas ordered troops onto the streets to remove protesters by force.

Question 20

What was established by the Duma during the February Revolution?

Answer 20

A Provisional Committee demanding the Tsar’s abdication.

Question 21

When did Tsar Nicholas II abdicate?

Answer 21

2nd March 1917.

Question 22

What was the role of Lenin’s April Theses published in April 1917?

Answer 22

To outline the need for immediate peace and transfer of power to the proletariat.

Question 23

Who joined the Bolsheviks on 2nd July 1917?

Answer 23

Leon Trotsky.

Question 24

What were the July Days in 1917?

Answer 24

Demonstrations against the government organized by Stalin and supported by workers and soldiers.

Question 25

What was the outcome of the October Revolution in 1917?

Answer 25

Bolshevik forces occupied key buildings and arrested members of the Provisional Government.

Question 26

What was established on 26th October 1917?

Answer 26

The first Soviet government with Lenin as Chairman.

Question 27

What was the Declaration of the Rights of the Peoples of Russia?

Answer 27

It gave non-Russian ethnic groups the right to set up their own independent states.

Question 28

What was the purpose of the Cheka established on 6th December 1917?

Answer 28

To arrest, imprison, and execute opponents of Lenin.

Question 29

What treaty ended Russian involvement in World War One?

Answer 29

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on 3rd March 1918.

Question 30

What significant military force did Trotsky form in 1918?

Answer 30

The Red Army.

Question 31

What happened to the Romanov family on 17th July 1918?

Answer 31

They were executed at Yekaterinburg.

Question 32

What did Lenin blame for the food shortages in Russia in 1918?

Answer 32

Kulaks hoarding grain to increase its value ## Footnote Kulaks were wealthy peasants who resisted grain requisitioning.

Question 33

What significant change was made by the Russian Congress of the Soviets in July 1918?

Answer 33

Renaming the Russian Republic to the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic

Question 34

When was the Romanov family executed and what is the historical debate surrounding it?

Answer 34

Executed on July 17, 1918; debate on whether Lenin sanctioned the execution ## Footnote The execution took place in Yekaterinburg.

Question 35

What was the outcome of Lenin's assassination attempt in August 1918?

Answer 35

Lenin was badly injured and Stalin proposed a 'mass terror' against those responsible

Question 36

What was the Red Terror and when did it begin?

Answer 36

A campaign ordered by Lenin to put down political opposition, began in September 1918

Question 37

What declaration was made in November 1918 regarding Poland?

Answer 37

Poland declared independence from Russia

Question 38

What was the Russo-Polish War and when did it begin?

Answer 38

Clash between Polish and Russian troops over territory, began in February 1919

Question 39

What role was formalized in March 1919 regarding the Communist Party?

Answer 39

The role of the Politburo to operate with the Central Committee to formulate policy

Question 40

When did the Red Army virtually defeat the White forces during the Russian Civil War?

Answer 40

July 1919

Question 41

What did Lenin introduce in January 1920?

Answer 41

Labour conscription for all 16 to 50 year olds

Question 42

What was the outcome of the Russo-Polish War in mid-August 1920?

Answer 42

The Red Army was forced to retreat from Poland and a peace treaty was signed at Riga

Question 43

What did Lenin announce in February 1921?

Answer 43

His New Economic Policy (NEP)

Question 44

What was the purpose of the New Economic Policy introduced by Lenin?

Answer 44

To allow peasants to keep a portion of their produce and enable private trading

Question 45

What significant event occurred on January 1, 1922, regarding the Russian currency?

Answer 45

A new Russian Ruble was introduced, worth 10,000 old rubles

Question 46

Who was chosen for the new post of General Secretary in April 1922?

Answer 46

Joseph Stalin

Question 47

What happened to Lenin on May 25, 1922?

Answer 47

He suffered a stroke while recovering from surgery

Question 48

What was the fate of Lenin after his second stroke in December 1922?

Answer 48

He withdrew from politics but remained the leader of the Communist Party

Question 49

What document did Lenin complete in January 1923, and what did it propose?

Answer 49

The Testament; proposed changes to the structure of Communism and thoughts on successors

Question 50

What was the Declaration of the Forty Six and when was it written?

Answer 50

A document expressing concern about the lack of democracy in the party, written in October 1923

Question 51

What significant event happened on January 21, 1924?

Answer 51

Vladimir Lenin died

Question 52

What change was made to Petrograd on January 26, 1924?

Answer 52

Renamed Leningrad to honour Lenin