HIST 246 EXAMINATION TEST FINAL PAPER
FULL SOLUTION 2026 GRADED A+.
⫸ Alexandra. Answer: 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. Answer: 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 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. Answer: 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. Answer: 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. Answer: 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
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. Answer: 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
FULL SOLUTION 2026 GRADED A+.
⫸ Alexandra. Answer: 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. Answer: 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 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. Answer: 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. Answer: 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. Answer: 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
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. Answer: 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
