Russia 1914-24 Exam Questions
Source A (A painting showing Lenin addressing the people during the Revolution of October 1917) (a) What does source A show you about the role of Lenin? (2)
Source A A cartoon showing Rasputin with the Tsar Nicholas and Tsarina Alexandra (a) What does source A show you about Rasputin s role in Russia? (2)
Source A [A cartoon showing Russian Society in 1905] (a) What does source A show you about Russian society? (2)
Source A (A photograph of a priest blessing wounded Russian Troops in WW1) (a) What does source A show you about Russia s involvement in WW1?
Source A ( A photograph of Deserting Russian Soldiers in WW1) (a) What does source A show you about Russia s involvement in WW1?
Source A ( A bread queue in Moscow in September 1917) (a) What does source A show you about conditions in the cities of Russia during WW1? [2]
Source A A painting showing Lenin returning to Petrograd in April 1917 (a) What does source A show you about Lenin s role in the Russian Revolution of 1917? [2]
Source A A painting made in the 1930 s showing the Bolsheviks Storming the Winter Palace in October 1917 (a) What does source A show you about the Bolshevik Revolution? [2]
Source B Before the war we thought of the Tsar as a God on Earth. I remember that when he visited the Kursk region in 1913 we all went to see him. My mother said, That s him, there. Our Little Father. If there was no Tsar then there would be no Russia. All that changed by 1917. We thought the Tsar didn t care. He didn t care that our food was stolen from us. Some men came to the town and they called him the executioner with a crown. I don t think we believed this but no one would even have dared to say it before 1917 ( From Natalya Fydoronova speaking in 1964. She was a child in Russia during WW1) (b) Use Source B and your own knowledge to explain how attitudes towards the Tsar had changed by 1917
Source B The situation is serious. The capital is in a state of anarchy. The government is paralysed; the transport system is broken down; the food and fuel supplies are completely disorganized. Discontent is general and on the increase. There is wild shooting in the streets, troops are firing at each other. It is urgent that someone enjoying the confidence of the country be entrusted with the formation of a new government (A Telegram sent by the President of the Duma, Michalr Rodzianko, to the Tsar on 27 th Feburary 1917) (b) Use Source B and your own knowledge to explain the events of the February 1917 Revolution (4)
Source B In recent battles, a third of the men had no rifles. The poor devils had to wait patiently until their comrades fell before their eyes and they could pick up their weapons. The army is drowning in it s own blood ( A report by a Russian Army General during WW1) (b) Use Source B and your own knowledge to explain the impact of Russia s involvement in WW1 (4)
Source B: Deary, I heard that horrible Rodzianko wants the Duma to be called together oh please don t its not their business, they want to discuss things not concerning them and bring more discontent they must be kept away. Listen to our friend Rasputin...it is not for nothing God sent him to us...we must pay attention to what he says...forgive me, but I don t like the choice of Minister of war, Polaniov, he is our friend s (Rasputin s) enemy. Listen to our friend Rasputin. It is not for nothing God sent him to us...we must pay attention to what he says (A letter from the Tsarina to the Tsar in 1916. This was sent when the Tsar was away at the frontline. It highlights the mounting political tension in Russia) (b) Use Source B and your own knowledge to explain how Rasputin increased political tensions in Russia between 1916 and 1917 (4)
Source B The Provisional Government possesses no real power and its orders are executed only in so far as this is permitted by the Petrograd Soviet which holds the most important elements of actual power, such as troops, railroads, postal and telegraph services ( A letter from a Minister in the Provisional Government in 1917) Use source B and your own knowledge to explain the period of Dual Power from February 1917 (4)
Source B: Hardly off the train, Lenin asked the party comrades, Why didn t you seize power? And at once he comes out with his April Theses.He is called mad and delirious but suddenly it becomes apparent that he has the ear of the man in the street His whole genius consists in his ability to say what these people want to say, but do not know how to say (The view of a Bolshevik supporter in 1917) (b) Use Source B and your own knowledge to explain Lenin s role in gaining mass support for the Bolsheviks (4)
Source B In the actual organisation of the final stages of the Bolshevik Revolution, Lenin s role fell far short of Trotsky s...yet there is no doubt that without Lenin the Bolshevik coup would have been postponed and might have failed ( From a Historian of the Russian Revolution, written in 1984) (b) Use Source B and your own knowledge to explain Lenin s role in the Bolshevik Revolution of October 1917 (4)
Source C (A painting showing Lenin talking to Russian workers after his return to Russia in April 1917. It was painted by a Communist in the 1920 s when Lenin was leader of Communist Russia) (c) How far does source c support the view that Lenin had the widespread support of the workers in the cities? (5)
Source C During the last few days we have been living as if it were on a volcano...it is not of course a question of bread. The trouble is that in that large city it is impossible to find a few hundred people who feel kindly towards the Tsar and his government (A diary entry from a member of the Duma in February 1917) How far does source C support the view that there was mass discontent with the Tsar in February 1917? (5)
Source C A painting showing Lenin returning to Petrograd in April 1917 It was painted by a Communist under Communist rule in the 1920 s(c) How far does source C support the view that Lenin was the most important reason for the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917? (5)
Source C A cartoon showing Rasputin with the Tsar Nicholas and Tsarina Alexandra. It was drawn by an opposition group in January 1917 How far does source C support the view that people had turned against the Tsar and Tsarina? (5)
Source D The Bolshevik Party was waging a determined struggle to win over the masses. The struggle was headed by Lenin, who led and guided the Party s central committee. He frequently addressed mass rallies and meetings. Lenin s speeches, noted for their intelligent content and brilliant delivery, inspired workers and soldiers. The Bolshevik Party s membership began to grow rapidly ( A view of the role of Lenin by a Communist writer under Communist rule written in 1981) How useful is source A to a historian studying Lenin s role in the Bolshevik Revolution? (6)
Source D Hardly off the train, Lenin asked the party comrades, Why didn t you seize power? And at once he comes out with his April Theses.He is called mad and delirious but suddenly it becomes apparent that he has the ear of the man in the street His whole genius consists in his ability to say what these people want to say, but do not know how to say (The view of a Bolshevik supporter in 1917) How useful is source D to a historian studying the level of support for Lenin in April 1917? (6)
Source D Deary, I heard that horrible Rodzianko wants the Duma to be called together oh please don t its not their business, they want to discuss things not concerning them and bring more discontent they must be kept away. Listen to our friend Rasputin...it is not for nothing God sent him to us...we must pay attention to what he says...forgive me, but I don t like the choice of Minister of war, Polaniov, he is our friend s (Rasputin s) enemy. Listen to our friend Rasputin. It is not for nothing God sent him to us...we must pay attention to what he says (A letter from the Tsarina to the Tsar in 1916. This was sent when the Tsar was away at the frontline. It highlights the mounting political tension in Russia) How useful is source A to a historian studying the importance of Rasputin? (6)
Source D Before the war we thought of the Tsar as a God on Earth. I remember that when he visited the Kursk region in 1913 we all went to see him. My mother said, That s im, there. Our little Father. If there was no Tsar then there would be no Russia. All that changed by 1917. We thought the Tsar didn t care. He didn t care that our food was stolen from us. Some men came to the town and they called him the executioner with a crown. I don t think we believed this but no one would even have dared to say it before 1917 ( From Natalya Fydoronova speaking in 1964. She was a child in Russia during WW1) How useful is source A to a historian studying the impact of the War on attitudes towards the Tsar? (6)
Source E: Joseph Berger, a Comintern staff worker imprisoned under Stalin, writing in Italy in 1973 I honestly believe that there was a movement before 1917 towards Revolution which nothing could have broken or stopped. It was this movement which brought Lenin to power. The reason why the Bolsheviks came to power is, I believe, because at that moment they had the people behind them. It was the people, not Lenin who made the Revolution Source F: From a school textbook written in 1994 The Bolshevik Party was waging a determined struggle to win over the masses. The struggle was headed by Lenin, who led and guided the Party s central committee. He frequently addressed mass rallies and meetings. Lenin s speeches, noted for their intelligent content and brilliant delivery, inspired workers and soldiers. The Bolshevik Party s membership began to grow rapidly Why do sources E and F have different views about who led the Bolshevik seizure of power? (8)
Section B questions Unit 2
Describe the role of Sovnarkom (4)
Describe the Treaty of Brest Litovsk (4)
Describe the different sides in the Russian Civil War (4)
Describe War Communism (4)
Describe Trotsky s role in the Civil War (4)
Describe the role of the Cheka (4)
Explain how Lenin established Bolshevik rule after the 1917 Revolution (5)
Explain why Civil War broke out in Russia (5)
Explain why the Bolsheviks won the Civil War (5)
Explain the effects of War Communism (5)
Explain what happened to the Tsar in July 1918 (5)
Explain how Lenin established Bolshevik Rule after the Civil War (5)
Explain the role of Propaganda and Censorship in establishing Bolshevik Rule (5)
How important was Trotsky in allowing the Bolsheviks to win the civil war? (6)
How successful was the policy of war communism? (6)
Was Trotsky s leadership the main reason why the Bolsheviks won the Civil War? (10)
Had Lenin succeeded in establishing Communist Rule in Russia by 1921? (10)
Section B questions Unit 3
Describe the Kronstadt uprising (4)
Describe the conditions in Russia in 1921 (4)
Describe the features of the NEP (4)
Describe the effects of the NEP (4)
Describe the attitude of Lenin s government towards women (4)
Explain why Lenin had to abandon War Communism (5)...
Explain why Lenin introduced the NEP (5)
Explain why Lenin was so keen to suppress religion in the Soviet Union (5)
Explain how Lenin tried to use Art and Culture to establish support for Communist Rule (5)
Explain how Lenin tried established relations with other world powers (5)
Explain the power struggle to succeed Lenin (5)
Explain why Lenin thought neither Stalin or Trotsky could succeed him (5)
How successful was the New Economic Policy? (6)
Had Lenin succeeded in establishing a Communist State in Russia by 1924? (10)
Had Lenin established complete Communist rule in Russia by 1924? (10)
Had Lenin left behind a strong legacy in Russia? (10)