Russia's Turbulent History: From Tsar to Stalin

What was the significance of the Trans-Siberian Railway in Russia?

It took 8 days to cross Russia, highlighting the vastness of the country.

How was Tsar Nicholas II similar to Marie Antoinette?

Both were seen as detached and out of touch with their respective nations.

What was the role of the Okhrana in Tsarist Russia?

The Okhrana was the secret police that snooped on the populace.

What triggered the 1905 Revolution in Russia?

The Bloody Sunday incident, where peaceful protestors were gunned down, leading to nationwide outrage.

What were the two rival powers during the February Revolution of 1917?

The Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet.

What slogan did Lenin use during the October Revolution?

"Peace, Land, Bread!"

Who led the Red Guard during the October Revolution?

Leon Trotsky.

What were the main factions in the Russian Civil War?

Reds (Bolsheviks), Whites (monarchists), and Greens (peasants).

What was the Red Terror?

A campaign of political repression and mass executions led by Dzerzhinsky's Cheka.

What was War Communism?

A policy that requisitioned food from peasants, leading to famine and unrest.

What was the NEP (New Economic Policy)?

A temporary retreat from strict communism that allowed some private trade.

What was Stalin's strategy after Lenin's death?

He quietly promoted allies to key positions to consolidate power.

What was the Great Turn in Stalin's policies?

The shift from the NEP to central planning and rapid industrialization.

What was collectivization under Stalin?

The confiscation of peasants' land and labeling wealthy peasants (kulaks) as enemies.

What was the Holodomor?

A man-made famine in Ukraine from 1932-33 that resulted in 3.5-5 million deaths.

What were the Five-Year Plans?

Stalin's ambitious economic plans aimed at rapid industrial growth.

What was the role of women in Stalin's Soviet Union?

Women were pushed back into traditional roles, with restrictions on abortion and divorce.

What was the Komsomol?

The Soviet youth organization that combined political indoctrination with military training.

How did Stalin's regime approach religion?

The USSR was officially atheist, with churches closed and priests arrested.

What was the Yezhovschina?

A period of intense political repression from 1936-38, resulting in mass executions and gulags.

What were show trials during Stalin's era?

Public trials where old Bolsheviks confessed to absurd crimes under duress.

What was the Cult of Personality surrounding Stalin?

A propaganda campaign that glorified Stalin through statues, songs, and education.

What was the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact?

A non-aggression pact between the USSR and Nazi Germany before WWII.

What was the significance of the Battle of Stalingrad?

It was a turning point in WWII where the Soviets suffered heavy losses but ultimately won.

What was the human cost of the Great Patriotic War for the USSR?

Approximately 27 million Soviet deaths.