Q1: Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
At the beginning of the 20th century, Russia was an autocracy, ruled by Tsar Nicholas II. The Russian Empire included Finland, Poland, Ukraine, and parts of Central Asia. About 85% of the population were peasants, higher than in other European countries. Russia was not as industrialized as Western Europe, but factories existed in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Working conditions in factories were harsh, with long working hours and low wages. Peasants, who cultivated most of the land, were divided between rich landlords and poor farmers. The Russian Orthodox Church was the dominant religious institution.
i. Who ruled Russia at the beginning of the 20th century? (1 mark)
ii. What were the key economic and social conditions in Russia before the revolution? (2 marks)
iii. Name two industrial cities in Russia before the revolution. (1 mark)
Ans:
i. Russia was ruled by Tsar Nicholas II.
ii. Russia was mainly an agricultural country, with 85% of its population being peasants. The industrial sector was small, and working conditions in factories were harsh.
iii. St. Petersburg and Moscow were major industrial cities in Russia.
Q2: Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
In 1905, Russia faced a massive revolutionary uprising due to economic hardship and political repression. On 22 January 1905, a peaceful procession of workers led by Father Gapon marched to the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg to present a petition for better wages, shorter working hours, and improved conditions. However, the Tsar’s troops fired on the crowd, killing over 100 workers and wounding 300 others. This event, known as "Bloody Sunday," sparked widespread strikes and uprisings across Russia, leading to demands for a parliament (Duma).
i. What was "Bloody Sunday," and when did it occur? (1 mark)
ii. Why did workers march to the Winter Palace in 1905? (2 marks)
iii. What major demand did the 1905 revolutionaries make? (1 mark)
In 1905, Russia faced a massive revolutionary uprising due to economic hardship and political repression. On 22 January 1905, a peaceful procession of workers led by Father Gapon marched to the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg to present a petition for better wages, shorter working hours, and improved conditions. However, the Tsar’s troops fired on the crowd, killing over 100 workers and wounding 300 others. This event, known as "Bloody Sunday," sparked widespread strikes and uprisings across Russia, leading to demands for a parliament (Duma).
i. What was "Bloody Sunday," and when did it occur? (1 mark)
ii. Why did workers march to the Winter Palace in 1905? (2 marks)
iii. What major demand did the 1905 revolutionaries make? (1 mark)
Ans:
i. "Bloody Sunday" was the massacre of peaceful demonstrators by the Tsar’s troops on 22 January 1905.
ii. The workers marched to demand better wages, shorter working hours, and improved working conditions.
iii. The revolutionaries demanded the creation of a parliament (Duma) to limit the Tsar’s powers.
Q3: Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
By February 1917, Russia was in deep crisis. The First World War had caused food shortages, economic collapse, and military defeats. Workers and soldiers in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) staged mass protests demanding "bread, wages, and democracy." On 22 February 1917, factory workers went on strike, and within days, thousands joined the movement. The Tsar ordered the army to suppress the protests, but many soldiers refused to fire on the crowd and joined the demonstrators instead. On 2 March 1917, Tsar Nicholas II abdicated, and a Provisional Government took power, marking the end of monarchy in Russia.
i. Why did the February Revolution start in 1917? (1 mark)
ii. What role did soldiers play in the February Revolution? (2 marks)
iii. When did Tsar Nicholas II abdicate? (1 mark)
Ans:
i. The revolution started due to food shortages, economic crisis, and discontent over Russia’s role in World War I.
ii. Soldiers refused to fire on protestors and instead joined the revolutionary movement, leading to the collapse of the monarchy.
iii. Tsar Nicholas II abdicated on 2 March 1917.
Q4: Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
After the February Revolution, the Provisional Government took charge, but it failed to address key issues like land distribution, food shortages, and the war. The Bolshevik Party, led by Vladimir Lenin, gained popularity with their slogans: "Peace, Land, and Bread" and "All Power to the Soviets." On 24 October 1917, the Bolsheviks, supported by workers, soldiers, and the Red Guards, seized key government buildings in Petrograd. The next day, the Winter Palace was stormed, and the Provisional Government was overthrown. The Bolsheviks now controlled Russia.
i. Why did the Provisional Government lose support? (1 mark)
ii. What were Lenin’s key slogans during the October Revolution? (2 marks)
iii. When did the Bolsheviks overthrow the Provisional Government? (1 mark)
Ans:
i. The Provisional Government failed to solve food shortages, land reforms, and continued Russia’s involvement in World War I.
ii. Lenin’s key slogans were "Peace, Land, and Bread" and "All Power to the Soviets."
iii. The Bolsheviks overthrew the government on 24 October 1917.
Q5: Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
After Lenin’s death, Joseph Stalin took control of the Soviet Union. He introduced a policy called Collectivization, where private farms were abolished, and peasants were forced to work in large, state-controlled farms (kolkhoz). Many peasants resisted, destroying their crops and livestock. Stalin used harsh punishments, including deportations and executions. Despite initial failures, industrial production increased rapidly, making the Soviet Union a global power. However, forced collectivization caused severe famines, leading to the deaths of over 4 million people.
i. What was Stalin’s collectivization policy? (1 mark)
ii. What were the consequences of forced collectivization? (2 marks)
iii. How many people died due to the famine caused by collectivization? (1 mark)
Ans:
i. Collectivization was a policy where private farms were abolished, and peasants were forced to work on state-controlled collective farms (kolkhoz).
ii. Many peasants resisted collectivization, leading to food shortages, mass deportations, and millions of deaths.
iii. Over 4 million people died due to famines caused by collectivization.
Q6: Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
Before the Russian Revolution, socialists in Europe were divided into two main groups: moderate socialists and radical socialists. Moderate socialists believed in achieving socialism through peaceful reforms and working within existing political systems. In contrast, radical socialists wanted a complete revolution to overthrow capitalism and establish a classless society. The most influential socialist thinkers were Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who argued that the working class should rise up against capitalism. Marx’s ideas inspired the Bolsheviks in Russia, who later led the 1917 revolution.
i. What were the two main groups of socialists in Europe before the Russian Revolution? (1 mark)
ii. How did Karl Marx influence socialist movements in Europe? (2 marks)
iii. Which socialist group wanted a complete revolution to overthrow capitalism? (1 mark)
Ans:
i. The two main groups were moderate socialists (favored peaceful reforms) and radical socialists (supported violent revolution).
ii. Karl Marx argued that the working class should overthrow capitalism to create a classless society, inspiring revolutionary movements like the Bolsheviks.
iii. Radical socialists wanted a complete revolution to overthrow capitalism.
Q7: Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
Women played a crucial role in the Russian Revolution. In Petrograd, women factory workers led strikes for better wages and bread. On 23 February 1917 (International Women’s Day), thousands of women joined protests demanding food, wages, and an end to the war. Their protests expanded into a mass movement, forcing the Tsar to abdicate. Later, under Lenin’s leadership, the Soviet government granted women equal rights, including the right to work, vote, and receive education.
i. What role did women play in the Russian Revolution? (1 mark)
ii. How did the Soviet government improve women’s rights after the revolution? (2 marks)
iii. On which date did women workers start mass protests in Petrograd? (1 mark)
Ans:
i. Women led strikes and protests demanding food, wages, and an end to the war, which contributed to the Tsar’s abdication.
ii. The Soviet government granted women equal rights, including the right to vote, work, and receive education.
iii. Women workers started mass protests on 23 February 1917 (International Women’s Day).
Q8: Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
After the Bolsheviks seized power in October 1917, they faced opposition from former Tsarist officers, landlords, and foreign powers. This led to the Russian Civil War (1918–1920), where the Red Army (Bolsheviks) fought against the White Army (anti-Bolsheviks). Many Western countries, including Britain, France, and the USA, supported the White Army, fearing the spread of communism. However, under Leon Trotsky’s leadership, the Red Army defeated the White forces, securing Bolshevik control over Russia.
i. Who were the two main opposing forces in the Russian Civil War? (1 mark)
ii. Why did Western countries support the White Army during the Civil War? (2 marks)
iii. Who led the Red Army to victory? (1 mark)
Ans:
i. The two main opposing forces were the Red Army (Bolsheviks) and White Army (anti-Bolsheviks).
ii. Western countries supported the White Army because they feared the spread of communism and wanted to stop Bolshevik rule.
iii. Leon Trotsky led the Red Army to victory.
Q9: Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
After the Russian Civil War, Russia’s economy was in crisis. Industries had collapsed, and food shortages led to famine. In 1921, Lenin introduced the New Economic Policy (NEP), which allowed small businesses and private trade, while the government still controlled major industries. This helped revive the economy, but some communists opposed the NEP, calling it a return to capitalism. However, Lenin argued that the policy was necessary to stabilize the economy before moving towards full socialism.
i. Why did Lenin introduce the New Economic Policy (NEP) in 1921? (1 mark)
ii. What were the key features of the NEP? (2 marks)
iii. Why did some communists oppose the NEP? (1 mark)
Ans:
i. Lenin introduced the NEP to stabilize Russia’s economy after the Civil War and prevent further collapse.
ii. The NEP allowed small businesses and private trade but kept major industries under government control.
iii. Some communists opposed the NEP because they saw it as a return to capitalism instead of full socialism.
Q10: Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
The success of the Russian Revolution (1917) inspired communist movements worldwide. In 1919, Lenin created the Communist International (Comintern) to support workers’ revolutions in other countries. Many socialist and communist parties in Germany, China, and India adopted ideas from the Soviet Union. However, Western countries, including Britain, France, and the USA, feared communist uprisings and took steps to suppress leftist movements.
i. What was the Communist International (Comintern)? (1 mark)
ii. How did the Russian Revolution influence global politics? (2 marks)
iii. Name two countries where communist movements were influenced by the Russian Revolution. (1 mark)
Ans:
i. The Comintern was an organization founded by Lenin in 1919 to promote communist revolutions worldwide.
ii. The Russian Revolution inspired socialist and communist movements in several countries, leading to government crackdowns on leftist groups.
iii. Communist movements were influenced in Germany and China.
