Key Figures
This was the last imperial leader of Russia.
Answer: Who was Tsar Nicholas II?
This economic system is based on private ownership and a free-market economy.
Answer: What is capitalism?
According to the slides, this was the largest social class in Russia.
Answer: The working class.
Who became the head of the Communist Party and used that position to build support for himself?
Answer: Stalin.
What was George Orwell's real name?
Answer: Eric Arthur Blair.
This German philosopher wrote Das Kapital and argued that society was divided between workers and owners.
Answer: Who was Karl Marx?
This system was described as a transition from capitalism toward communism.
Answer: What is socialism?
Approximately what percentage of Russia's population was working class?
Answer: 86.5%
This revolutionary wanted “permanent revolution” throughout the whole world.
Answer: Trotsky.
What famous Orwell book is an allegory of the Russian Revolution and the rise of Communism in the Soviet Union?
Answer: Animal Farm
This man led the Bolshevik Revolution and became the first leader of Soviet Russia.
Answer: Who was Vladimir Lenin?
This system seeks a classless society in which there is no private property and no currency.
Answer: What is communism?
Give ONE of the three major problems that faced the Russian citizens before they decided to revolt.
Money, Food, Transportation
Why did Stalin have an advantage over Trotsky in the struggle for power?
Answer: As General Secretary, Stalin could appoint people to important positions and build a coalition of support.
What is an allegory?
Answer: A story that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden moral or political meaning.
This revolutionary was a hero of the early revolution, was aligned with Lenin, and later became a critic of Stalin.
Answer: Who was Leon Trotsky?
According to Marxist communism, the means of production would be owned by whom?
Answer: Collectively / by everyone.
Prices in Russia increased by almost this much, making life even harder for ordinary people.
Answer: Almost 400%.
What happened to Trotsky in 1929?
Answer: Stalin deported him.
Name TWO themes found in Animal Farm according to the slides.
Answer: Any two: Power and Corruption; Equality vs. Control; Propaganda and Truth; Freedom and Oppression; Danger of a Passive Society.
This Communist Party leader emerged as the leader in 1929 and eventually became an absolute dictator.
Answer: Who was Joseph Stalin?
Put these systems in the order shown on the slides: Communism, Feudalism, Capitalism, Socialism.
Answer: Feudalism → Capitalism → Socialism → Communism
Why was there a shortage of food? Give ONE of the TWO reasons from the slides.
Answer: Farmers were fighting in the war, and bread rations meant most food was going to soldiers.
Trotsky was eventually assassinated in this country.
Answer: Mexico.
Why did Orwell write political stories such as Animal Farm?
Answer: He wanted to expose lies, draw attention to important facts, and criticize oppression/totalitarianism.