MWS FINAL EXAM REVIEW 2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Czar Nicholas II and Causes for the Russian Revolution - ANS Definition: Czar Nicholas II was
the last emperor of Russia, ruling from 1894 to 1917. His reign was marked by poor leadership,
resistance to reform, military defeats, and economic struggles.
Causes of the Russian Revolution included:
(1) Harsh working and living conditions for peasants and workers
(2) Lack of political freedoms under the autocratic monarchy
(3) Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War (1905)
(4) Bloody Sunday massacre (1905)
(5) Heavy losses and economic collapse during World War I
(6) Food shortages, inflation, and strikes
(7) The influence of Rasputin and scandals in the royal court
Importance: These long-term issues, combined with Nicholas II's failure to respond effectively,
led to the 1917 revolution that ended over 300 years of Romanov rule and opened the door for
radical political change in Russia.
Rasputin - ANS Definition: A mystic who gained significant influence over the Russian royal
family, especially Tsarina Alexandra, due to his claimed ability to heal their son.
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, Importance: Rasputin's involvement in politics and scandals damaged the royal family's
reputation and increased public distrust in the monarchy, contributing to revolutionary
sentiment.
Effect of WWI on the Russian Revolution - ANS Definition: World War I strained Russia's
economy, military, and morale. Millions of Russian soldiers died or were poorly equipped, and
food and fuel shortages hit civilians hard.
Importance: The hardships caused by WWI made the Russian people more desperate and
angry, accelerating the fall of the monarchy and the rise of revolutionary groups like the
Bolsheviks. In 1918, Lenin signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany, pulling Russia out of
WWI and allowing the Bolsheviks to focus on internal issues. But the treaty gave up large
amounts of land and angered many Russians, leading to civil war.
Vladimir Lenin - ANS Definition: Lenin was the leader of the Bolshevik Party, which seized
power during the October Revolution of 1917. He promised "Peace, Land, and Bread."
Importance: Lenin led the overthrow of the Provisional Government, established a communist
dictatorship, and set the foundation for the Soviet Union.
Bolshevik Revolution/ Russian Civil War - ANS Definition: Conflict from 1917 to 1923
between the Red Army (Bolsheviks/ Communists) and the White Army (anti-Bolsheviks).
Importance: The Red Army's victory led to the creation of the Soviet Union in 1922 - a
communist one-party state under Lenin's leadership.
Joseph Stalin - ANS Definition: Bolshevik revolutionary, head of the Soviet Communists after
1924, and dictator of the Soviet Union from 1928 to 1953.
Importance: He led the Soviet Union with an iron fist, using Five-Year Plans to increase
industrial production and terror to crush opposition.
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, Command Economy - ANS Definition: An economic system where the government makes all
decisions about production and distribution of goods.
Importance: In the Soviet Union, this gave the state control over all aspects of the economy,
limiting freedom but allowing for rapid industrial growth.
Joseph Stalin's 5-Year Plans - ANS Definition: Stalin's plans to rapidly industrialize the Soviet
economy by setting high production goals for factories and increasing heavy industry.
Importance: These plans helped transform the USSR into a major industrial power but led to
worker exploitation, shortages, and harsh conditions.
Collectivization of Farms - ANS Definition: Stalin's policy of forcing peasants to give up their
individual farms and work on large, state-controlled collective farms.
Importance: It aimed to boost agricultural output, but caused famine (especially in Ukraine) and
led to millions of deaths and widespread suffering.
Totalitarianism - ANS Definition: A government that seeks total control over every aspect of
public and private life through dictatorship, censorship, propaganda, and fear.
Importance: Countries like the Soviet Union (Stalin), Germany (Hitler), and Italy (Mussolini)
became totalitarian states during the interwar period, limiting freedoms and leading to
aggression. Each used methods of totalitarianism to gain and maintain complete control over
the lives of its citizens (i.e. indoctrination, propaganda, police terror, and religious/ ethnic
persecution).
Propaganda - ANS Definition: Biased or misleading information used by governments to
influence public opinion or promote a political cause.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Czar Nicholas II and Causes for the Russian Revolution - ANS Definition: Czar Nicholas II was
the last emperor of Russia, ruling from 1894 to 1917. His reign was marked by poor leadership,
resistance to reform, military defeats, and economic struggles.
Causes of the Russian Revolution included:
(1) Harsh working and living conditions for peasants and workers
(2) Lack of political freedoms under the autocratic monarchy
(3) Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War (1905)
(4) Bloody Sunday massacre (1905)
(5) Heavy losses and economic collapse during World War I
(6) Food shortages, inflation, and strikes
(7) The influence of Rasputin and scandals in the royal court
Importance: These long-term issues, combined with Nicholas II's failure to respond effectively,
led to the 1917 revolution that ended over 300 years of Romanov rule and opened the door for
radical political change in Russia.
Rasputin - ANS Definition: A mystic who gained significant influence over the Russian royal
family, especially Tsarina Alexandra, due to his claimed ability to heal their son.
1
Page
@COPYRIGHT @THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
, Importance: Rasputin's involvement in politics and scandals damaged the royal family's
reputation and increased public distrust in the monarchy, contributing to revolutionary
sentiment.
Effect of WWI on the Russian Revolution - ANS Definition: World War I strained Russia's
economy, military, and morale. Millions of Russian soldiers died or were poorly equipped, and
food and fuel shortages hit civilians hard.
Importance: The hardships caused by WWI made the Russian people more desperate and
angry, accelerating the fall of the monarchy and the rise of revolutionary groups like the
Bolsheviks. In 1918, Lenin signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany, pulling Russia out of
WWI and allowing the Bolsheviks to focus on internal issues. But the treaty gave up large
amounts of land and angered many Russians, leading to civil war.
Vladimir Lenin - ANS Definition: Lenin was the leader of the Bolshevik Party, which seized
power during the October Revolution of 1917. He promised "Peace, Land, and Bread."
Importance: Lenin led the overthrow of the Provisional Government, established a communist
dictatorship, and set the foundation for the Soviet Union.
Bolshevik Revolution/ Russian Civil War - ANS Definition: Conflict from 1917 to 1923
between the Red Army (Bolsheviks/ Communists) and the White Army (anti-Bolsheviks).
Importance: The Red Army's victory led to the creation of the Soviet Union in 1922 - a
communist one-party state under Lenin's leadership.
Joseph Stalin - ANS Definition: Bolshevik revolutionary, head of the Soviet Communists after
1924, and dictator of the Soviet Union from 1928 to 1953.
Importance: He led the Soviet Union with an iron fist, using Five-Year Plans to increase
industrial production and terror to crush opposition.
2
Page
@COPYRIGHT @THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
, Command Economy - ANS Definition: An economic system where the government makes all
decisions about production and distribution of goods.
Importance: In the Soviet Union, this gave the state control over all aspects of the economy,
limiting freedom but allowing for rapid industrial growth.
Joseph Stalin's 5-Year Plans - ANS Definition: Stalin's plans to rapidly industrialize the Soviet
economy by setting high production goals for factories and increasing heavy industry.
Importance: These plans helped transform the USSR into a major industrial power but led to
worker exploitation, shortages, and harsh conditions.
Collectivization of Farms - ANS Definition: Stalin's policy of forcing peasants to give up their
individual farms and work on large, state-controlled collective farms.
Importance: It aimed to boost agricultural output, but caused famine (especially in Ukraine) and
led to millions of deaths and widespread suffering.
Totalitarianism - ANS Definition: A government that seeks total control over every aspect of
public and private life through dictatorship, censorship, propaganda, and fear.
Importance: Countries like the Soviet Union (Stalin), Germany (Hitler), and Italy (Mussolini)
became totalitarian states during the interwar period, limiting freedoms and leading to
aggression. Each used methods of totalitarianism to gain and maintain complete control over
the lives of its citizens (i.e. indoctrination, propaganda, police terror, and religious/ ethnic
persecution).
Propaganda - ANS Definition: Biased or misleading information used by governments to
influence public opinion or promote a political cause.
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Page
@COPYRIGHT @THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
