Russian Revolution

What event sparked the 1905 Revolution?

Bloody Sunday — peaceful protesters led by Father Gapon were shot by Tsarist troops.

What were the main causes of the 1905 Revolution?

Social inequality, peasant and worker unrest, loss in the Russo-Japanese War, and lack of political reform.

What groups participated in the 1905 Revolution?

Workers, peasants, liberals, students, and some minority nationalities.

What was the Potemkin Mutiny?

A rebellion by sailors on the battleship Potemkin protesting harsh conditions; it symbolized growing military discontent

What did the October Manifesto promise?

Civil liberties, expanded voting rights, and the creation of the Duma.

Why did the 1905 Revolution fail to overthrow the tsar?

The opposition was divided, the military stayed loyal, and the October Manifesto temporarily satisfied many.

What triggered the February 1917 Revolution?

Bread shortages, war exhaustion, and strikes in Petrograd.

What was the role of women in February 1917?

Female textile workers led the International Women’s Day strikes that started the uprising.

What caused the army to defect in February 1917?

Low morale, huge casualties in WWI, and sympathy with protesting workers.

What was the outcome of the February Revolution?

Tsar Nicholas II abdicated; the Provisional Government and Petrograd Soviet formed — dual power.

Why was the Provisional Government unpopular?

It kept Russia in WWI, delayed land reform, and struggled with economic chaos.

What group led the October Revolution?

The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin.

What were Lenin’s April Theses?

A call for “Peace, Land, and Bread,” ending the war, giving land to peasants, and transferring power to the Soviets.

What was the Military Revolutionary Committee?

A Bolshevik-controlled body that organized the takeover of Petrograd.

What happened on October 25–26, 1917?

Bolsheviks seized Winter Palace, arrested the Provisional Government, and took control.

Why did the Bolsheviks succeed in October?

Provisional Government’s weaknesses, Bolshevik promises (Peace, Land, Bread), Trotsky’s organizing, and popular support in soviets.

What was the immediate result of the October Revolution?

Bolshevik government established; decrees on land, peace, and workers’ control issued.

Who was Tsar Nicholas II?

The last Romanov tsar; his poor leadership, resistance to reform, and role in Bloody Sunday contributed to the 1905 and 1917 revolutions.

Who was Father Georgy Gapon?

A priest who led the peaceful 1905 march on the Winter Palace that ended in Bloody Sunday.

Who was Sergei Witte?

A reform-minded advisor to the tsar who wrote the October Manifesto and pushed for industrialization.

Who was Pyotr Stolypin?

Prime minister after 1905; introduced agricultural reforms and harsh repression (“Stolypin’s necktie” = hangman’s noose).

Who was Leon Trotsky in 1905?

Leader of the St. Petersburg Soviet during the 1905 Revolution; later a key figure in 1917.

Who was Alexandra (Tsarina)?

Nicholas II’s wife; relied heavily on Rasputin and helped damage the monarchy’s reputation.

Who was Rasputin?

A mystic who influenced the royal family; seen as corrupt and contributed to public distrust of the tsarist regime.

Who was Alexander Kerensky?

A leader in both the Provisional Government and Petrograd Soviet; became head of the Provisional Government after the February Revolution.

Who was General Kornilov?

A military leader who attempted the Kornilov Affair against the Provisional Government; his actions weakened Kerensky and strengthened the Bolsheviks.

Who was Vladimir Lenin?

Leader of the Bolsheviks; wrote the April Theses; masterminded the October Revolution and established Bolshevik rule.

Who was Leon Trotsky in 1917?

Chairman of the Petrograd Soviet and head of the Military Revolutionary Committee; organized the Bolshevik takeover.

Who was Joseph Stalin in 1917?

A Bolshevik organizer and editor of Pravda; not the main revolutionary leader but later became dictator after Lenin.

Who was Julius Martov?

Leader of the Mensheviks; opposed the Bolsheviks’ seizure of power.

Who was Lavr Kornilov?

(Also relevant in October context) His failed coup earlier helped discredit Kerensky and set the stage for Bolshevik success.

Who was Felix Dzerzhinsky?

Founder of the Cheka (secret police) after the Bolsheviks seized power.

Who was the triple alliance

Germany, Austria-Hungry, Italy

Who was the Triple entente

United kingdom, France, Russia

Who was the central powers

Germany, Austria-hungry, Turkey/ottoman empire

Who was the allied powers

United Kingdom, France, Russia,Italy, United States

Who killed Francis Ferdinand

Gavrilo Princip from the Black hand

What were forces of WWI

Aggressive nationalism

Imperial rivalries

Militarism 

Arms race

Tangled alliances

Pass grieves 

Efforts at Peace

Modern Olympic games

Nobel peace prize

Pacifist organizations

First Universal Peace conference

The Hague Tribunal

What was the Schlieffen Plan

Germany created a plan to avoid fighting on their eastern and western fronts at the same time. They planned to invade France by going through Belgium and then circling back to fight Russia on the eastern front.

Elected body that first met in 1906

Duma

Reforming Minister appointed by tsar Nicholas II in 1906

Stolpyin 

Marxist terminology for the industrial working class

Proletariat

political philosophy advocated by Mikhail Bakunin

Anarchism 

Sickly heir of Tsar Nicholas II

Alexei

Council of Worker

Soviets

Country from which Germans took Lenin back to Russia in 1917

Switzerland

City housing the winter palace

Petrograd

Commander-in-chief of the army, accused  of trying to form military in 1917

Kornilov 

Peasant communes

Mirs

Treaty that ended Russo-Japanse War

Treaty of Portsmounth

Kerensky condemned Lenin as a German Spy

July days

Replaced Stolypin

Gorenmykin

Wealthy peasant farmers

Kulaks