Russian Revolution, Soviet Union, and Modern Russia: Key Terms and Concepts

Russian Revolution

A series of revolutions in 1917 that ended the Tsarist regime and led to the creation of the Soviet Union.

February Revolution

Abdication of Nicholas II.

October Revolution

Bolsheviks seized power with the slogan 'Bread, Peace, Land.'

Execution of Nicholas II and his family

July 17, 1918, in Yekaterinburg; executed by Bolsheviks to prevent restoration of monarchy.

Vladimir Lenin

Leader of the Bolsheviks; founder of the USSR (1922).

Joseph Stalin

Soviet dictator from 1929 to 1953.

Nikita Khrushchev

Soviet leader from 1953 to 1964.

Soviet society

Destruction of old elites and rise of workers and state-controlled classes.

Religion in the Soviet Union

Suppressed and controlled by the state; atheism promoted.

Two Russias: rural vs. urban culture

Rural culture is traditional and poorer; urban culture is industrial and more modern.

Soviet popular culture

Used as a propaganda tool to promote communist ideology.

Soviet housing

State-provided apartments that were overcrowded and of low quality.

Mikhail Gorbachev

Last Soviet leader from 1985 to 1991.

Boris Yeltsin

First President of Russia from 1991 to 1999.

Vladimir Putin

Current President of Russia with authoritarian rule.

The Russian Federation: society

Blend of tradition and modernity with a new class system.

Politics and society

Semi-presidential system with strong executive power and limited opposition.

Sentiments, beliefs, and ideologies

Emphasis on order over freedom, strong leader, and nationalism.

Ukraine

Historically diverse region with ongoing conflict with Russia.

Women in Russian culture

Early autonomy followed by later restriction and modern issues of inequality.

New Russia (culture)

Censorship in music, literature, and film; social media surveillance.

Size of Russia

Covers over 1/8 of Earth's inhabited land and spans 11 time zones.

Location of Russia

Extends across Europe and Asia, divided by the Ural Mountains.

Land of Russia

Mostly vast plains with varying geographical features.

Siberia

75% of Russia's land, stretching from the Urals to the Pacific Ocean.

Climate of Russia

Continental climate with hot summers and extremely cold winters.

Population of Russia

~146 million people with 160 ethnic groups.

Language of Russia

Russian is the official language, with over 100 minority languages.