Question 1

Stalin's dictators hip over the population of the Soviet Union included

Accepted Answer

Stalin's rule saw a significant increase in heavy industry and infrastructure as part of his economic policies, particularly through the implementation of the Five-Year Plans.

Question 2

After the abdication of the Tsar and the formation of the Provisional Government, the new government made a fatal mistake.  What was that mistake?

Accepted Answer

The Provisional Government made the fatal mistake of trying to continue the unpopular war effort. This decision led to widespread dissatisfaction among the people, the military, and even within the government itself, which ultimately contributed to the Bolsheviks' rise to power.

Question 3

What was the essence of Lenin's New Economic Policy (NEP)?

Accepted Answer

The essence of Lenin's New Economic Policy (NEP) was to encourage small-scale capitalist business and profit seekers while maintaining firm control by the Bolsheviks. The NEP allowed for some private ownership and entrepreneurship in agriculture, retail trade, and light industry. However, heavy industry and major banks remained under state control. The NEP was intended to stimulate the recovery of the Russian economy following the devastation of the First World War and the Civil War, and to consolidate Bolshevik power.

Question 4

During Stalin's years of leadership, the Soviet Union experienced many social changes, including

Accepted Answer

The answer of During Stalin's years of leadership, the Soviet...

Question 5

What was one of the major problems in the cities in Russia by the spring of 1917?

Accepted Answer

By the spring of 1917, one of the major problems in the cities in Russia was bread riots due to a lack of availability of food. The war had disrupted agricultural production and transportation, leading to severe food shortages in urban areas. This, in turn, contributed to social unrest and political instability, which helped fuel the Russian Revolution later that year.

Question 6

The main purpose of collectivization under Stalin was

Accepted Answer

The main purpose of collectivization under Stalin was to gain governmental control over Russia's millions of peasants. This involved taking away their private property and forcing them to work on state-owned farms. The government could then control the supply and distribution of food, as well as ensure that peasants were contributing to the industrialization process. The policy was also aimed at eliminating the influence of wealthy landowners and promoting the socialist ideal of collective ownership. The forced collectivization led to resistance from peasants and resulted in a famine that killed millions, but the government's control over agriculture remained in place.

Question 7

In the 1920s and 1930s many well-meaning people endured the drawbacks of the Stalinists dictatorship such as lack of political freedom, terror and la wlessness, and a low standard of living because they accepted the premise of one of Stalin's famous quotes. What was that quote?

Accepted Answer

Stalin's quote "You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs" was used to justify the ruthless tactics and human costs of his policies, including the forced collectivization of agriculture and the purges of perceived enemies. Many well-meaning people endured these drawbacks because they believed that the sacrifices were necessary for the greater good of the Soviet Union.

Question 8

What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk that was signed in March 1918?

Accepted Answer

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace treaty signed on March 3, 1918, between Russia and the Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire. The treaty ended Russia's participation in World War I by ceding significant territory to the Central Powers. It is considered one of the most important treaties of the war, as it allowed Germany to focus entirely on the Western Front, which ultimately led to its defeat.

Question 9

What was the crucial factor in the collapse of the Tsarist government in Russia?

Accepted Answer

The disastrous and unpopular conduct of the war, specifically Russia's involvement in World War I, was the crucial factor in the collapse of the Tsarist government in Russia. The war put a significant strain on the economy and resources of Russia and resulted in widespread dissatisfaction among the population towards the government's handling of the war effort. This dissatisfaction contributed to the overthrow of the Tsarist government in the 1917 February Revolution.

Question 10

What was the fundamental difference between international communism under Stalin and national socialism under Hitler?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What was the fundamental difference between international...

Question 11

Which revolutionary leader used slogans like "All power to the Soviets" and "Land, bread, and peace" to appeal to the peasant majority?

Accepted Answer

Vladimir I. Lenin, the leader of the Bolshevik party during the Russian Revolution, used slogans like "All power to the Soviets" and "Land, bread, and peace" to appeal to the peasant majority and gain support for the Bolsheviks. These slogans promised the peasants greater control over their lives and the redistribution of land, which were important issues for them. Lenin's leadership and his slogans were instrumental in the success of the Bolshevik Revolution.

Question 12

Under Lenin and Stalin, Russia was fast becoming a

Accepted Answer

Under Lenin and especially Stalin, Russia became a totalitarian government, meaning that the state sought to control every aspect of society and individuals' lives, through means such as censorship, political repression, and propaganda.

Question 13

Leon Tr otsky was forced into exile by Stalin and was finally murdered in which of the following nations?

Accepted Answer

Leon Trotsky was forced into exile by Stalin and finally settled in Mexico. He was assassinated by Stalinist agent Ramón Mercader in Mexico City in August 1940.

Question 14

Toward th e end of his life, Lenin had come to view Stalin as

Accepted Answer

The answer of Toward th e end of his life,...

Question 15

Stalin's coll ectivization and industrialization efforts in the 1930s

Accepted Answer

Stalin's collectivization and industrialization efforts in the 1930s resulted in the scarcity of automobiles and clothing, as well as rationing of food at times. While these efforts did help the Soviet Union become more industrialized and modernized, they also resulted in significant hardships for the population.

Question 16

The out side intervention by Western governments in Russia's civil war resulted in

Accepted Answer

The outside intervention by Western governments was seen as interference in a purely domestic issue by the Bolsheviks, which caused indignation and resentment towards the West. This further strengthened the Bolsheviks' position and propaganda against the Whites, portraying them as puppets of foreign powers.

Question 17

When Ru ssia's more prosperous peasant farmers held back part of their crops in 1928, Stalin did all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Although Stalin did view the peasant farmers' actions as a betrayal and responded with collectivization and a push for industrialization, he did not have them all tried for treason and executed. While there were violent confrontations between the government and peasants who resisted collectivization, mass executions of peasant farmers for withholding crops did not occur.

Question 18

Overall, it w ould appear that regarding crime during Stalin's early years,

Accepted Answer

The text suggests that theft increased during Stalin's early years and people became less concerned about committing theft, indicating a rise in crime related to theft.

Question 19

In the 1920s, what form of government was Russia evolving toward under Lenin and Stalin?

Accepted Answer

Under Lenin and Stalin, Russia was evolving towards a totalitarian form of government, where the state had total control over all aspects of society, including the economy, media, and individual freedoms. This was achieved through the establishment of a one-party Communist state, the elimination of political opposition, and the use of state propaganda and censorship to maintain control.

Question 20

Peasants in Russian villages believed that they had carried out their revolution after they

Accepted Answer

Peasants in Russian villages believed that they had carried out their revolution after they seized land from the nobles and the church, and redistributed it themselves. This was a major goal of the revolution, as the peasants had been oppressed by the landowners for centuries. By taking control of the land, the peasants felt they had accomplished their revolutionary goals.

Quiz 42: The Soviet Experiment to World War II