Question 1

What explains the easy success of the Bolsheviks in the October Revolution?

Accepted Answer

The Bolsheviks capitalized on the power vacuum created by the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II and the weakness of the provisional government, which allowed them to seize power with relatively little resistance.

Question 2

Which political orientation characterized the Bolshevik Party at the time of the Bolshevik Revolution?

Accepted Answer

The Bolshevik Party was characterized by a centralized, disciplined, and secretive organization led by Vladimir Lenin, focused on revolutionary change.

Question 3

What was the significance of the sinking of the Lusitania?

Accepted Answer

The sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 by a German U-boat resulted in the deaths of 1,198 people, including 128 Americans. This event outraged the American public and increased tensions between the United States and Germany, contributing to the U.S. decision to enter World War I in 1917.

Question 4

Who was responsible for the Armenian genocide in response to an Armenian nationalist movement?

Accepted Answer

The Armenian genocide was carried out by the Ottoman Empire during World War I, in response to perceived threats from Armenian nationalist movements.

Question 5

How did the state of battlefield medical care affect soldiers during World War I?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How did the state of battlefield medical...

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true of opposition to the war early in the war years?

Accepted Answer

Antiwar activity was limited and had little effect on public opinion overall.

Question 7

At what point did the German army begin attacking all vessels-both neutral and enemy-carrying food and war materiel?

Accepted Answer

During the turnip winter of 1916-1917, Germany intensified its unrestricted submarine warfare, targeting all vessels carrying food and war materiel to weaken the Allies.

Question 8

What type of government did the Bolsheviks establish in 1917-1918?

Accepted Answer

The Bolsheviks established a communist dictatorship after the October Revolution in 1917, leading to the creation of a one-party state under the leadership of the Communist Party.

Question 9

What brought an end to the Russian monarchy?

Accepted Answer

The Russian monarchy ended due to mass strikes and protests during the February Revolution of 1917, where the army eventually sided with the insurgents, leading to Tsar Nicholas II's abdication.

Question 10

What combatant was the first to end its participation in World War I?

Accepted Answer

Russia was the first major combatant to exit World War I, following the Bolshevik Revolution and the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany in March 1918.

Question 11

What role did military technology play in World War I?

Accepted Answer

New weapons like machine guns, tanks, and poison gas were developed, but they did not decisively break the stalemate of trench warfare.

Question 12

What was the Gallipoli Campaign?

Accepted Answer

The Gallipoli Campaign was a failed British and Allied operation aimed at securing a sea route to Russia by attacking Turkish forces on the Gallipoli Peninsula during World War I.

Question 13

What primarily motivated French soldiers to mutiny in 1917?

Accepted Answer

The primary motivation for the French soldiers' mutiny in 1917 was disgust at ineffective leadership, particularly following the failed Nivelle Offensive, which resulted in heavy casualties and little gain. This led to a loss of confidence in military leadership and a demand for better conditions and more reasonable military strategies.

Question 14

How did British generals react to the massive casualties incurred on the first day of the Big Push?

Accepted Answer

The British generals continued the offensive with no change in strategy despite the massive casualties incurred on the first day of the Big Push, which was part of the Battle of the Somme during World War I.

Question 15

What did the British and Allies incorrectly assume, leading to their plan for the Big Push?

Accepted Answer

The British and Allies incorrectly assumed that a massive number of men and explosives would make a breakthrough possible, leading to their plan for the Big Push during World War I.

Question 16

How did the Bolshevik Revolution affect the direction of World War I?

Accepted Answer

The Bolshevik Revolution led to the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which resulted in Russia exiting World War I and ending the war on the eastern front.

Question 17

What was the result of the first use of British tanks in battle?

Accepted Answer

The first use of British tanks in battle during World War I at the Battle of the Somme in 1916 was largely unsuccessful due to mechanical failures and difficult terrain, which led to disappointment rather than a significant breakthrough.

Question 18

Why was the battle of Verdun significant?

Accepted Answer

The Battle of Verdun was significant because it represented a German strategy shift to a war of attrition, aiming to bleed France white and force them into a negotiated peace.

Question 19

Who led the Bolshevik Revolution and was described by American journalist John Reed as "a leader purely by virtue of intellect: colorless, humorless, uncompromising, and detached"?

Accepted Answer

Vladimir Lenin led the Bolshevik Revolution and was known for his intellectual leadership and uncompromising nature, fitting John Reed's description.

Question 20

What occurred during the Easter Rising?

Accepted Answer

The Easter Rising was a 1916 insurrection in Ireland where Irish nationalists sought independence from British rule.

Quiz 21: Things Blow Up: World War I and the Russian Revolution, 1910-1922