HIST 246 MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
Nicholas II - ANS Who: last tsar of Russia, forced to abdicate
What: weak leader and dominated by others/Rasputin
When: ruled 1894-1917
Significance: Unsympathetic to reforms and refused to work with Duma/give more power to
people so general agitation amongst populace built up. When workers striked and women
rioted over food/supply shortages, he refused to do anything except send troops but then they
defected and supported the revolt. Soon he was forced to abdicate and passed the throne to his
brother, who soon also abdicated and this was the end of the monarcy.
Alexandra - ANS Who: Tsarina of Russia
What: German-born wife of Nicholas II
When: 1894-1917
Significance: Reinforced tsar's absolutist notions, because she wanted the resented and
despised Rasputin to be able to stay at court since she believed he had healing powers that
could keep her hemophilic son alive. She was also very unpopular during World War I, because
she was born in Germany, and so she was seen as the "other, trying to undermine Russia."
Insisted on keeping tsar's powers intact so that only men in favor of Rasputin would be
members of government
February Revolution - ANS When: March (old calendar February) 1917
Who: Workers/political groups/women
What: lack in confidence in monarchy epitomized by Rasputin combined with a lack of
responsiveness by Nicholas II led to general agitation and discontent among the people -
spontaneous and organized by political groups, related to wartime deprivation and crises (heavy
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,death tolls, food/supply shortages, inflation/lagging wages). Then workers strike and women
riot over shortages but tsar remains unresponsive except to send troops, who then defect and
support revolt.
Significance: Abdication of Nicholas II marked the end of the monarchy and the creation of a
provisional government staffed by Duma people (bourgeois body), as well as "Soviets" (workers
councils) and a quasi power-sharing system.
October Revolution - ANS When: October 24, 1917 (Russian calendar)
Who: Bolsheviks vs. Mensheviks vs. Duma
What: turning "bourgeois revolution" into "proletariat socialist" revolution - more radical and
don't want to work within existing power system, so Bolsheviks led by Trotsky and Lenin head
forward immediately, using any means necessary, claiming power in the name of the soviets.
Significance: This marked the beginning of the long communist period in Russia. The immediate
effects were partitioning of large estate and distributing land among peasants, all banks were
nationalized and control over factories was given to workers. It also marked the end of Russian
participation in WWI and inspired similar movements across Europe (they failed)
Rasputin - ANS Who: Russian monk and "holy man" who the tsarina believed had healing
powers and was important advisor to Nicholas II
When: 1869-1916 (assassinated)
What: Essentially controlled tsar and so had immense power - generally resented and despised;
opposed war, tsar and tsarina convinced themselves that he was a "holy man" through whom
they heard the "voice of the people," assassinated with hopes of loosening tsar's opposition to
change of govt system (but tsar shut himself off)
Significance: Because he was so despised but the tsarina wanted to keep him in power, the tsar
was encouraged to remain autocratic. During the war and during calls for a more liberal
government, making sure he could keep his position was one of the major reasons that caused
the tsar and tsarina to oppose any chance of limit to autocracy - tsarina even made sure that
only men in favor of Rasputin would be in government - resulted in bad ministers and some
germanophiles (bc Rasputin opposed war)
Provisional Government - ANS What: A temporary government created by the Duma after
the abdication of the tsar, staffed by Duma people (not radicals - bourgeois body)
When: March-October 1917
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Significance: Unable or unwilling to do what workers and peasants wanted - not radical enough
and execution of measures of provisional govt dependent on soviets of workers and soldiers;
wanted to continue war, leading to increased frustration; increased frustration by
workers/soviets eventually leads to October Revolution
Kerensky - ANS Who: left-leaning Duma member who became leader of provisional
government
When: in power mid-1917-October Revolution (overthrown by Bolsheviks)
What: appointed because considered main link to increasingly restless and discontented mass
of workers and peasants, but also undermined by Kornilov's attempted coup to retain order
Significance: workers fending off Kornilov's troops+troops deserving made Kerensky look bad bc
it seemed like the government couldn't control the army and also that things had gotten so bad
that counterrevolutionaries were able to attempt a coup - pretty much marked end of
provisional government
Bolsheviks - ANS Who: revolutionary Marxists who wanted social and economic reforms, as
well as a political revolution - when in power first led by Lenin, later Stalin
When: 1903 (split from Mensheviks)-1917 and beyond (seizure of power)
Where: wanted to control Russia's main administrative and industrial center Petrograd
What: believed after February Revolution that real revolution that would give the proletariat the
power monopoly had not yet come, believed (at least initially) in Marxist tradition of
international revolution and antimilitaristm - most important is power of proletariat over
bourgeoisie
Significance: orchestrated Russian revolution that completely changed the structure of Russian
politics - taking power meant beginning of communism in Russia, exit of Russia from WWI
Mensheviks - ANS Who: Splinter party from Russian Splinter party - founded by Martov -
aimed at closer collaboration - moderate socialists (opposition to Bolsheviks)
When: 1903-1917 (not actually but that's when Bolsheviks took power)
What: Inclined to cooperate with liberal bourgeoisie and support war for democracy, wanted
social and economic reforms and democratic party with mass membership, peaceful socialism,
initially had more members than Bolsheviks but were disorganized and seen as ineffective so
lost support
Significance: were willing to work with bourgeoisie, didn't want Bolshevik revolution, but
ineffectiveness and disorganization made it seem like the Bolshevik revolution was the only way
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
Nicholas II - ANS Who: last tsar of Russia, forced to abdicate
What: weak leader and dominated by others/Rasputin
When: ruled 1894-1917
Significance: Unsympathetic to reforms and refused to work with Duma/give more power to
people so general agitation amongst populace built up. When workers striked and women
rioted over food/supply shortages, he refused to do anything except send troops but then they
defected and supported the revolt. Soon he was forced to abdicate and passed the throne to his
brother, who soon also abdicated and this was the end of the monarcy.
Alexandra - ANS Who: Tsarina of Russia
What: German-born wife of Nicholas II
When: 1894-1917
Significance: Reinforced tsar's absolutist notions, because she wanted the resented and
despised Rasputin to be able to stay at court since she believed he had healing powers that
could keep her hemophilic son alive. She was also very unpopular during World War I, because
she was born in Germany, and so she was seen as the "other, trying to undermine Russia."
Insisted on keeping tsar's powers intact so that only men in favor of Rasputin would be
members of government
February Revolution - ANS When: March (old calendar February) 1917
Who: Workers/political groups/women
What: lack in confidence in monarchy epitomized by Rasputin combined with a lack of
responsiveness by Nicholas II led to general agitation and discontent among the people -
spontaneous and organized by political groups, related to wartime deprivation and crises (heavy
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,death tolls, food/supply shortages, inflation/lagging wages). Then workers strike and women
riot over shortages but tsar remains unresponsive except to send troops, who then defect and
support revolt.
Significance: Abdication of Nicholas II marked the end of the monarchy and the creation of a
provisional government staffed by Duma people (bourgeois body), as well as "Soviets" (workers
councils) and a quasi power-sharing system.
October Revolution - ANS When: October 24, 1917 (Russian calendar)
Who: Bolsheviks vs. Mensheviks vs. Duma
What: turning "bourgeois revolution" into "proletariat socialist" revolution - more radical and
don't want to work within existing power system, so Bolsheviks led by Trotsky and Lenin head
forward immediately, using any means necessary, claiming power in the name of the soviets.
Significance: This marked the beginning of the long communist period in Russia. The immediate
effects were partitioning of large estate and distributing land among peasants, all banks were
nationalized and control over factories was given to workers. It also marked the end of Russian
participation in WWI and inspired similar movements across Europe (they failed)
Rasputin - ANS Who: Russian monk and "holy man" who the tsarina believed had healing
powers and was important advisor to Nicholas II
When: 1869-1916 (assassinated)
What: Essentially controlled tsar and so had immense power - generally resented and despised;
opposed war, tsar and tsarina convinced themselves that he was a "holy man" through whom
they heard the "voice of the people," assassinated with hopes of loosening tsar's opposition to
change of govt system (but tsar shut himself off)
Significance: Because he was so despised but the tsarina wanted to keep him in power, the tsar
was encouraged to remain autocratic. During the war and during calls for a more liberal
government, making sure he could keep his position was one of the major reasons that caused
the tsar and tsarina to oppose any chance of limit to autocracy - tsarina even made sure that
only men in favor of Rasputin would be in government - resulted in bad ministers and some
germanophiles (bc Rasputin opposed war)
Provisional Government - ANS What: A temporary government created by the Duma after
the abdication of the tsar, staffed by Duma people (not radicals - bourgeois body)
When: March-October 1917
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Significance: Unable or unwilling to do what workers and peasants wanted - not radical enough
and execution of measures of provisional govt dependent on soviets of workers and soldiers;
wanted to continue war, leading to increased frustration; increased frustration by
workers/soviets eventually leads to October Revolution
Kerensky - ANS Who: left-leaning Duma member who became leader of provisional
government
When: in power mid-1917-October Revolution (overthrown by Bolsheviks)
What: appointed because considered main link to increasingly restless and discontented mass
of workers and peasants, but also undermined by Kornilov's attempted coup to retain order
Significance: workers fending off Kornilov's troops+troops deserving made Kerensky look bad bc
it seemed like the government couldn't control the army and also that things had gotten so bad
that counterrevolutionaries were able to attempt a coup - pretty much marked end of
provisional government
Bolsheviks - ANS Who: revolutionary Marxists who wanted social and economic reforms, as
well as a political revolution - when in power first led by Lenin, later Stalin
When: 1903 (split from Mensheviks)-1917 and beyond (seizure of power)
Where: wanted to control Russia's main administrative and industrial center Petrograd
What: believed after February Revolution that real revolution that would give the proletariat the
power monopoly had not yet come, believed (at least initially) in Marxist tradition of
international revolution and antimilitaristm - most important is power of proletariat over
bourgeoisie
Significance: orchestrated Russian revolution that completely changed the structure of Russian
politics - taking power meant beginning of communism in Russia, exit of Russia from WWI
Mensheviks - ANS Who: Splinter party from Russian Splinter party - founded by Martov -
aimed at closer collaboration - moderate socialists (opposition to Bolsheviks)
When: 1903-1917 (not actually but that's when Bolsheviks took power)
What: Inclined to cooperate with liberal bourgeoisie and support war for democracy, wanted
social and economic reforms and democratic party with mass membership, peaceful socialism,
initially had more members than Bolsheviks but were disorganized and seen as ineffective so
lost support
Significance: were willing to work with bourgeoisie, didn't want Bolshevik revolution, but
ineffectiveness and disorganization made it seem like the Bolshevik revolution was the only way
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
