Summary of the Russian Revolution
Nicholas II ruled Russia from 1894, but his reign was marked by poverty, struggle, and eventually, revolution. The 1905 revolution led to the creation of a state duma, but its power was limited. World War I further divided the empire, and the Tsar’s leadership was questioned.
The Fall of the Romanovs
In 1917, protests in Petrograd led to the Tsar’s abdication, ending 300 years of Romanov rule. A Provisional Government was formed, but it shared power with the Petrograd Soviet, a more radical council.
The Rise of the Bolsheviks
The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, opposed the war and demanded land redistribution and power transfer to the people’s Soviets. Their slogan, “Bread, Peace, and Land,” gained popularity as Russia’s crisis deepened.
The October Revolution
In October 1917, the Bolsheviks seized power, and Lenin announced the overthrow of the Provisional Government. The Bolsheviks consolidated their hold on power, fighting a brutal civil war against counter-revolutionary forces.
The Execution of the Romanovs
In 1918, the Bolsheviks executed the Romanov family, including Tsar Nicholas, his wife, and their children. The civil war resulted in an estimated 2 million soldier deaths and 9 million civilian deaths.
The Aftermath
By 1921, the Bolsheviks emerged victorious, and Lenin built a new socialist order. The Soviet Union was created in 1922, but it remained a single-party state with suppressed opposition. The hopes for Russian democracy were extinguished by the Bolshevik October Revolution.
Term | Definition | Example Usage |
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Tsar | A monarch who ruled Russia from 1613 to 1917, with absolute power. | Nicholas II ruled Russia as the Tsar from 1894. |
Petrograd Soviet | A council that represented the interests of the working class and peasantry during the Russian Revolution. | The Petrograd Soviet shared power with the Provisional Government in 1917. |
Bolsheviks | A radical political party led by Vladimir Lenin that seized power in the October Revolution. | The Bolsheviks’ slogan, “Bread, Peace, and Land,” gained popularity during the Russian Revolution. |
Provisional Government | A government formed after the February Revolution in 1917, which was powerless to stop the Bolsheviks’ rise to power. | A Provisional Government was formed after the abdication of Nicholas II in 1917. |
Romanovs | A royal family that ruled Russia from 1613 to 1917, including Tsar Nicholas II and his family. | The Romanov family was executed by the Bolsheviks in 1918. |
October Revolution | A revolution that took place in October 1917, in which the Bolsheviks seized power from the Provisional Government. | The October Revolution marked the beginning of the end of the Romanov dynasty. |
Civil War | A conflict that took place in Russia from 1918 to 1922, between the Bolsheviks and counter-revolutionary forces. | The civil war resulted in an estimated 2 million soldier deaths and 9 million civilian deaths. |
Soviet Union | A socialist state that was formed in 1922, which remained a single-party state with suppressed opposition until its dissolution in 1991. | The Soviet Union was created by Lenin in 1922. |
February Revolution | A revolution that took place in February 1917, which led to the abdication of Nicholas II and the formation of a provisional government. | The February Revolution marked the beginning of the end of the Romanov dynasty. |
Single-party state | A political system in which a single political party holds power and suppresses opposition. | The Soviet Union was a single-party state under Lenin and subsequent leaders. |
Russian Revolution Vocabulary Quiz
What does the term “abdication” mean?
- The act of seizing power from a ruler
- The act of giving up power or a position voluntarily
- The act of creating a new government
- The act of leading a revolution
What does the term “provisional” mean?
- Permanent and unchanging
- Temporary and intended to last for a short time
- Relating to a specific region or area
- Relating to a specific group of people
What does the term “counter-revolutionary” mean?
- Supporting a revolution or change
- Opposing a revolution or change
- Neutral or uninvolved in a revolution
- Leading a revolution
What does the term “consolidated” mean?
- Weakened or divided
- Strengthened or united
- Changed or altered
- Destroyed or eliminated
What does the term “suppressed” mean?
- Allowed or permitted
- Restricted or controlled
- Encouraged or supported
- Ignored or neglected
Answer Key
- b. The act of giving up power or a position voluntarily
- b. Temporary and intended to last for a short time
- b. Opposing a revolution or change
- b. Strengthened or united
- b. Restricted or controlled
Passive Voice in the Past Simple Tense
The passive voice in the past simple tense is used to describe an action that was done to someone or something in the past. It is formed using the verb ‘was/were’ + the past participle of the main verb. For example: “The Tsar’s leadership was questioned” or “The Romanov family was executed”. The passive voice is often used when the doer of the action is unknown or not important. |
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Quiz: Passive Voice in the Past Simple Tense
- By 1921, _______________________ victorious, and Lenin built a new socialist order.
A) The Bolsheviks were emerged
B) The Bolsheviks emerged
C) The Bolsheviks were emerged victorious
D) The Bolsheviks had emerged victorious - The Provisional Government _______________________ with the Petrograd Soviet, a more radical council.
A) was shared power
B) shared power
C) was sharing power
D) was shared its power - The Romanov family, including Tsar Nicholas, his wife, and their children, _______________________ in 1918.
A) was executed
B) were executed
C) was executing
D) were executing - The state duma _______________________ in 1905, but its power was limited.
A) was created
B) was creating
C) created
D) were created - Russia’s crisis _______________________ as the Bolsheviks’ slogan, “Bread, Peace, and Land,” gained popularity.
A) was deepened
B) was deepening
C) deepened
D) deepens
Answer Key
1. C) The Bolsheviks were emerged victorious
2. B) shared power
3. B) were executed
4. A) was created
5. A) was deepened