The Russian Revolution

Questions of war land and bread remained unsolved. Exam tip: treat the Provisional Government's failure as background to October.

1905 created pressure on Tsarism and 1917 ended it. Exam tip: understand both as a gradual process.

Russia was ruled by the autocratic power of the Tsar. Exam tip: remember Tsarism as a major cause of political unrest.

The ruler of Russia immediately before the 1917 Revolution was Tsar Nicholas II, the last monarch of the Romanov dynasty. He governed an autocratic empire in which the Tsar held extensive political authority, while representative institutions had limited power. Russia’s military defeats, food shortages, inflation, and opposition to autocratic rule weakened his position. Lenin was the Bolshevik leader who later led the October Revolution, Kerensky headed the Provisional Government after the February Revolution, and Stalin became influential only later. Therefore, option B is correct.

Workers marched towards the Winter Palace with a petition of demands. Exam tip: link Bloody Sunday with the beginning of the 1905 Revolution.

After 1905 the elected consultative parliament called Duma was created. Exam tip: remember Duma as a limited reform.

The Tsar kept the Duma weak and even dissolved it. Exam tip: use this as evidence that autocracy continued.

The war placed a heavy burden on Russia's economy and people. Exam tip: remember the war as an immediate cause of revolution.

The February Revolution began in Petrograd with strikes and demonstrations. Exam tip: remember Petrograd as the centre of revolution.

Women and workers protested against bread shortages and war. Exam tip: connect bread and peace with popular discontent.

The lockout at Putilov factory increased workers' unrest. Exam tip: note the role of factory workers.

The soldiers' mutiny broke the Tsar's control. Exam tip: link the army's position with regime change.

After the February Revolution the Tsar abdicated in March 1917. Exam tip: remember this as the end of Tsarism.

After the Tsar's removal the Provisional Government was formed. Exam tip: see it as the government between February and October Revolutions.

Soviets were representative councils of workers and soldiers. Exam tip: understand Soviets as bodies of popular representation.

Lenin was a major leader of the Bolsheviks. Exam tip: connect Bolshevik leadership with the October Revolution.

The April Theses called for peace land and nationalisation of banks. Exam tip: treat it as the identity of the Bolshevik programme.

In the April Theses, Lenin demanded the nationalisation of banks as part of a wider socialist programme. Nationalisation means transferring ownership and control from private financiers to the state, so that credit and financial resources could be directed according to public and revolutionary priorities. This demand did not mean that every bank would simply be closed, nor did it involve giving banks to private traders or moving them abroad. It was linked with greater state control over the economy after the revolution. Thus, option C is correct.

Kerensky was a major leader linked with the Provisional Government. Exam tip: connect his name with the government before the October Revolution.

This slogan showed the demand to transfer power to the Soviets. Exam tip: link it with Bolshevik political strategy.