The Russian Revolution

-Unit Exam Study Outline-

Your exam will be written on Monday, November 1st. I would like

you study the following things:

Vocabulary

• Karl Marx

• Socialism

• Communism

• Proletariat

• Bourgeoisie

• Tsar

• Nicholas II

• Alexandra

• Romanov

• Bloody Sunday

• The Duma

• Rasputin

• Abdicate

• February Revolution

• Provisional Government

• Soviets

• Tobolsk
 • Vladimir Lenin

• October Revolution (aka “Red October” or “Bolshevik Revolution”)

• The Bolsheviks (aka The Reds)

• Tsarist loyalists (aka The Whites)

• Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

• Julian Calendar (13 days behind our calendar – used by the Russians)

• Gregorian Calendar (our calendar)

Ideas to Know

• Be able to explain the difference between socialism and communism

(see Venn Diagram from Friday’s class)

• Explain Karl Marx’s 3-stage process for establishing Communism within

a country. (see fill-in-blank notes and concept web)

• Be able to explain the meaning behind the Soviet Union’s national

symbol of the Hammer and Sickle in relation to Karl Marx’s
communism.

• Be able to describe how Imperial Russia was set up politically and the
conditions of life at the beginning of the 20th century (before the
Revolution).

• Be able to explain in detail how Rasputin’s influence quickened the

Revolution.
• The Russian Revolution happened in 2 stages in 1917. Be able to
explain the progression of events that led to the complete change of
government by the end of 1917. (i.e. Study the February and October
Revolutions – see fill-in-blank notes)

• Be able to explain how the October Revolution brought about Russia’s

surrender to Germany in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. (see fill-in-the-
blank notes)

• Know when and why the Russian Civil War was fought. (study Reds vs
Whites)

• Know when, where, and why the Romanov Family was

executed/murdered.
ESSAY QUESTION

Question: Is Communism a good idea or an evil idea? Explain.

In your essay question you are going to pick a position and argue for it.
This means that you need 2-3 points to your argument that you are
going to use historical evidence to support your opinion with. Your
essay should be organized as follows:

Introduction (introduce topic and state your position)

I. Major Point #1 and arguments (use historical evidence as

you argue your position)

II. Major Point #2 and arguments (use historical evidence as

you argue your position)

III. Major Point #3 and arguments (use historical evidence as

you argue your position)

Conclusion (summarise the major points of your argument)