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AQA A Level History Russia Unit 3: The emergence of
Communist dictatorship 1917-1941 Questions and
Correct Answers/ Latest Update / Already Graded
What is Lenin's definition of a Marxist State
Ans: The state is a result of class society as the minority, in charge, need a
mechanism to enforce their rule so the state is made to enforce the rules of the
Bourgeoisie
The Dictatorship of the Proletariat is a state where the proletariat is the group
represented by the state
In a socialist society the state withers away as the state gets rid of class
differences which made the state exists e.g the state socalsies industry which
means that everyone owns industry so everyone is equal and no state is needed
Also the proletariat will become more experienced over time so the role the
state will decrease as the proletariat can make decisions for themselves
As everyone is equal there is no need for a repressive force as a repressive force
is needed to repress the majority for the minority but as the majority are in
charge no repressive measures are needed
When was The State and Revolution written and by who
Ans: Lenin wrote it in summer 1917 whilst hiding in Finland
What does The State and Revolution say
© 2025/ 2026 | ® All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Ans: It stated his ideas of how to transition to a socialist government once in
power saying:
There should be a proletariat revolution with suppression of the bourgeois
classes
Lenin suggested that the general will of the people would support the
revolutionary government
He thought that the people would be able to run their own affairs so there would
be less need for bureaucracy and this was reflected in the decrees giving workers
control of the factories and the peasants control of the land
Lenin also stressed the need for th the 'dictatorship of the proletariat' during
which the remnants of the remnants of the bourgeoisie state would be crushed
and bourgeoisie attitudes and values would be squeezed out of society
What were the Bolsheviks hopes during WW1
Ans: The Bolsheviks thought that other countries would follow the Decree on
Peace and that the war would end in a peace treaty with no annexation and no
indemnities
They believed that other countries would follow the bolshevik example and that
WW1 would turn into lots of civil wars against the bourgeoisie
They believed that Russia would not survive without the industry of other
capitalist countries
What happened during the First peace negotiations with Germany
Ans: Trotsky was sent to Brest-litovsk to negotiate peace with the Germans
and to delay as much as possible so revolution would break out in Germany and
Austria
The Germans got annoyed at this delaying so Trotsky left saying no war or peace
What were the opinions of peace within the Bolshevik party
© 2025/ 2026 | ® All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
Ans: Lenin believed that peace was necessary for the survival of the revolution
as they did not have an army to fight the Germans with however Stalin was one of
the only people who agreed with this view
However left communists in the party like Bukharin wanted the war to turn into a
revolutionary war across europe so Lenin's plans for peace were opposed
What was the outcome of the First peace negotiations
Ans: Germany advanced after the breakdown of peace talks and gained 150
miles in three days of fighting
Harsher peace terms were but forward that had to be accepted but they only
were after debate and Lenin's threat of resignation with Trotsky quitting as
Foreign Commissar
The treaty of Brest-litovsk was signed on the 3rd of March 1918
What were the terms of the treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Ans: It was seen as a shameful peace with no other party willing to accept it and
no leading Bolsheviks putting their name to it
It lost 27% of farm land 1/6 of the population 26% of railway lines and 74% of iron
and coal reserves
Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania along with parts of Poland became
independent and the Germans set up governments in Belarus, Ukraine and
Georgia
The treaty encouraged patriotic Russians to join anti Bolsheviks forces and make
civil war which was inevitable
The left SR's favoured a revolutionary war and resigned from the Sovnarkom in
protest at the treaty
What happened within the Party after the treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Ans: There was a period of debate within the party between Left Communists
and Lenin but this split faded after 7th The Party Congress where they agreed
that that general tightening up was essential
Lenin was never challenged again
© 2025/ 2026 | ® All rights reserved
, 4 | Page
How did Lenin take control of the soviet and socialist opposition
Ans: Lenin said that all power would be given to the Soviet but the Petrograd
Soviet did not contain a majority of Bolsheviks so Lenin side lined it with
Sovnarkom ruling by decree and meeting daily with the Soviet meeting more
infrequently
November 1917: Lenin allowed left SRs to join Sovnarkom due to protests but he
was hostile to them which caused Kamenev and Zinoviev to temporarily resign
and the Left SRs quit after Brest-Litovsk
How did Lenin deal with the Constituent assembly and political opposition
Ans: The Constituent Assembly met 5th January 1918 with the Bolsheviks
demanding the assembly to be subservient to Sovnarkom which was rejected 237
votes to 137 so the Bolsheviks walked out and the red guard and armed troops
dispersed everyone else and when civilians protested they were fired on and 12
were killed with Lenin claiming they were crushing powerful bourgeois attitudes
December 1917, a one party state was established and the Cheka closed anti-
Bolshevik newspapers, had the Kadets, SRs and Mensheviks arrested
1922 a show trial of SRs with 34 leaders condemned and 11 executed and the
party outlawed
When did the Bolsheviks changed their name and what to
Ans: In March 1918 the Bolsheviks changed their name to the Communists
When was the New Constitution written
Ans: July 1918
What was in the New constitution
© 2025/ 2026 | ® All rights reserved
AQA A Level History Russia Unit 3: The emergence of
Communist dictatorship 1917-1941 Questions and
Correct Answers/ Latest Update / Already Graded
What is Lenin's definition of a Marxist State
Ans: The state is a result of class society as the minority, in charge, need a
mechanism to enforce their rule so the state is made to enforce the rules of the
Bourgeoisie
The Dictatorship of the Proletariat is a state where the proletariat is the group
represented by the state
In a socialist society the state withers away as the state gets rid of class
differences which made the state exists e.g the state socalsies industry which
means that everyone owns industry so everyone is equal and no state is needed
Also the proletariat will become more experienced over time so the role the
state will decrease as the proletariat can make decisions for themselves
As everyone is equal there is no need for a repressive force as a repressive force
is needed to repress the majority for the minority but as the majority are in
charge no repressive measures are needed
When was The State and Revolution written and by who
Ans: Lenin wrote it in summer 1917 whilst hiding in Finland
What does The State and Revolution say
© 2025/ 2026 | ® All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Ans: It stated his ideas of how to transition to a socialist government once in
power saying:
There should be a proletariat revolution with suppression of the bourgeois
classes
Lenin suggested that the general will of the people would support the
revolutionary government
He thought that the people would be able to run their own affairs so there would
be less need for bureaucracy and this was reflected in the decrees giving workers
control of the factories and the peasants control of the land
Lenin also stressed the need for th the 'dictatorship of the proletariat' during
which the remnants of the remnants of the bourgeoisie state would be crushed
and bourgeoisie attitudes and values would be squeezed out of society
What were the Bolsheviks hopes during WW1
Ans: The Bolsheviks thought that other countries would follow the Decree on
Peace and that the war would end in a peace treaty with no annexation and no
indemnities
They believed that other countries would follow the bolshevik example and that
WW1 would turn into lots of civil wars against the bourgeoisie
They believed that Russia would not survive without the industry of other
capitalist countries
What happened during the First peace negotiations with Germany
Ans: Trotsky was sent to Brest-litovsk to negotiate peace with the Germans
and to delay as much as possible so revolution would break out in Germany and
Austria
The Germans got annoyed at this delaying so Trotsky left saying no war or peace
What were the opinions of peace within the Bolshevik party
© 2025/ 2026 | ® All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
Ans: Lenin believed that peace was necessary for the survival of the revolution
as they did not have an army to fight the Germans with however Stalin was one of
the only people who agreed with this view
However left communists in the party like Bukharin wanted the war to turn into a
revolutionary war across europe so Lenin's plans for peace were opposed
What was the outcome of the First peace negotiations
Ans: Germany advanced after the breakdown of peace talks and gained 150
miles in three days of fighting
Harsher peace terms were but forward that had to be accepted but they only
were after debate and Lenin's threat of resignation with Trotsky quitting as
Foreign Commissar
The treaty of Brest-litovsk was signed on the 3rd of March 1918
What were the terms of the treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Ans: It was seen as a shameful peace with no other party willing to accept it and
no leading Bolsheviks putting their name to it
It lost 27% of farm land 1/6 of the population 26% of railway lines and 74% of iron
and coal reserves
Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania along with parts of Poland became
independent and the Germans set up governments in Belarus, Ukraine and
Georgia
The treaty encouraged patriotic Russians to join anti Bolsheviks forces and make
civil war which was inevitable
The left SR's favoured a revolutionary war and resigned from the Sovnarkom in
protest at the treaty
What happened within the Party after the treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Ans: There was a period of debate within the party between Left Communists
and Lenin but this split faded after 7th The Party Congress where they agreed
that that general tightening up was essential
Lenin was never challenged again
© 2025/ 2026 | ® All rights reserved
, 4 | Page
How did Lenin take control of the soviet and socialist opposition
Ans: Lenin said that all power would be given to the Soviet but the Petrograd
Soviet did not contain a majority of Bolsheviks so Lenin side lined it with
Sovnarkom ruling by decree and meeting daily with the Soviet meeting more
infrequently
November 1917: Lenin allowed left SRs to join Sovnarkom due to protests but he
was hostile to them which caused Kamenev and Zinoviev to temporarily resign
and the Left SRs quit after Brest-Litovsk
How did Lenin deal with the Constituent assembly and political opposition
Ans: The Constituent Assembly met 5th January 1918 with the Bolsheviks
demanding the assembly to be subservient to Sovnarkom which was rejected 237
votes to 137 so the Bolsheviks walked out and the red guard and armed troops
dispersed everyone else and when civilians protested they were fired on and 12
were killed with Lenin claiming they were crushing powerful bourgeois attitudes
December 1917, a one party state was established and the Cheka closed anti-
Bolshevik newspapers, had the Kadets, SRs and Mensheviks arrested
1922 a show trial of SRs with 34 leaders condemned and 11 executed and the
party outlawed
When did the Bolsheviks changed their name and what to
Ans: In March 1918 the Bolsheviks changed their name to the Communists
When was the New Constitution written
Ans: July 1918
What was in the New constitution
© 2025/ 2026 | ® All rights reserved
