to 1945
Unit Guide
Overall Purpose:
Identify and explain
the main weaknesses that led to the collapse of the Romonov
dynasty in 1917. Analyze the factors
that allowed the Bolsheviks to seize power in the October Revolution. Evaluate Stalin’s rule between
1927-1941.
Main Ideas:
A) What factors affected Marx’s development of the theory of communism?
B) Describe the cornerstone aspects of communism.
C) Why did Marx believe that capitalism was an essential stage on the path to communism? Why did he believe that communism would inevitably replace capitalism?
D) Where
did Marx predict that communist revolutions would first occur? Why was
E) Describe the two geographic factors that have affected Russian history.
F) In
what ways did Russian civilization develop differently from that of
G) What factors led to the Great Reforms of Alexander II? Why were these reforms considered incomplete?
H) Explain the conflict Westernizers and Slavophiles in Russian history.
I) Describe the five major elements of Russian society in 1900. Explain the conflicts between these groups.
J) Describe the ruling philosophy of Nicholas II. How did Rasputin gain influence over the Tsar’s family?
K) Describe how Lenin altered Marx’s philosophy.
L) What factors led to the 1905 Revolution? What effects did the revolution have?
M) Explain the causes of the March Revolution in 1917.
N) Describe the factors that led to the fall of the Provisional Government. Explain how the Bolsheviks seized power in October 1917.
O) What factors allowed the Bolsheviks to defend their seizure of power and emerge victorious in the Civil War?
P) Describe how the Bolshevik Party changed during the Civil War.
Q) What
factors led to the New Economic Policy.
Assess the strengths and weaknesses of
R) Compare and contrast the personalities and policies of Trotsky and Stalin. Why was Stalin able to emerge triumphant from this struggle?
S) Why did Stalin end NEP? Describe the process of collectivization. Why did Stalin pursue this policy?
T) What were the goals of the Five Year Plans? Assess their success.
U) Describe the Great Purges.
V) Be
able to compare
Key Terms:
1. bourgeoisie
2. proletariat
3. dictatorship of the proletariat
4. Kievan Rus’
5. Ivan the Great
6. dvozyane
7. Ivan the Terrible
8. serfdom
9. Cossacks
10. Peter the Great
11. peasant commune
12. Pugachev Rebellion (1773)
13. Decemberist Uprising (1825)
14. Populist Movement
15. Nicholas II
16. Lenin
17. Bolsheviks
18. Provisional Government
19. Soviet
20. Alexander Kerensky
21. Leon Trotsky
22. Cheka
23. War Communism
24. Party Congress
25. Central Committee
26. Politburo
27. nomenklatura
28. Kronstadt Mutiny
29. Nikolai Bukharin
30. kulaks
31. Comintern
32. collective farms
33. Sergei Kirov
34. apparatchik
35. Socialist Realism
36. Gulag Archipelago