Russian Profile
Russian Geography
Czarist Russia
Russian Revolution
Soviet Leaders
100
The approximate population of Russia and the location of its people?

What is 143-146 million; majority located in the western portion (European Russia)

100

This geographic region of Russia cover over 1/2 of the land area (4 million square miles) and is referred to as the "land of little sticks."

What is the Taiga?

100

This leader of Russia is credited with forming the first Russian state (Kievan Rus), conquering the cities of Ladoga & Novgorod, and forming a dynasty that would rule Russia for over 500 years.

Who is Rurik?

100

Discuss 1 economic problem that started the Russian Revolution (not WWI)

- Outdated feudal system

- Massive food/fuel shortages

- Inflation & high taxes

- Serf Redemption Payments

100

This plan translated to "openness" and placed heavy emphasis on political reforms that allowed citizens to have specific freedoms (speech, press) in an effort to improve the Soviet system.

What is Glasnost (Gorbachev)?

200

This ethnic group is the 2nd largest in Russia & has its origins in SE Asia (Mongolia). They have been oppressed throughout Russian history by various leaders.

Who are the Tatars?

200

This southern geographic region of Russia is the main agricultural zone for the nation due to the fertile soil that is found here.

What is the steppes?

200

This Russian leader attempted to "westernize & modernize" Russia by creating the first navy, imposing a beard tax, and expanding borders from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean

Who is Peter I (Great)

200

Massive strikes in St. Petersburg over poor economic conditions began as a major event of the Russian Revolution.  Tsar Nicholas II ordered his troops to stop the rebellion, but most had already deserted & joined the protesters.  Tsar Nicholas would eventually step down, ending the czarist rule in Russia.

What is the February Revolution (1917)

200

Under this plan, all aspects of the Russian economy were placed under complete state control with no private ownership allowed.  The focus of this plan was to fuel the "Red Army" to victory during the civil war.  

What is War Communism?

300

What religion & language do the majority of Russian citizens follow?

What is Russian Orthodox & the Russian language.

300

This geographic region of Russia is found in the north and can be defined as a cold, treeless zone.

What is the Tundra?

300

This leader was called an "Enlightened Monarch" due to an emphasis on art, literature, & architecture in Russia. Borders were also expanded into Eastern Europe (Poland, Ukraine, Belarus) and south to the Black Sea.

Who is Catherine II (Great)

300

In late 1917, Lenin & the Bolshevik party stormed government buildings in Russia (including the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg) and took control of the government.  This event is referred to as ....

What is the October Revolution (1917)

300

This policy represented a dramatic shift in Soviet foreign policy following the death of Stalin. It suggested that the socialist and capitalist blocs could compete ideologically and economically without resorting to a catastrophic nuclear war.

What is peaceful coexistence?

400

How can Russia's governmental system be described? You must include the actual name....

What is a Federal Semi-Presidential Constitutional Republic?

400

Russia is famous for a highly fertile, humus-rich "Black Earth" soil that makes its southern regions a global breadbasket. By what Russian name is this soil known internationally?

What is chernozem

400

This leader ended Mongolian rule, consolidated Russian lands, moved the capital to Moscow, and built the Kremlin.  He was also nicknamed "The Gatherer of Russian Lands."

Who is Ivan III (Great)

400

Following the fall of Nicholas II and the end of Czarist Russia, how was the nation governed?

A provisional Russian government was installed, promoting Democracy.
400

This plan introduced forced collectivization, a policy intended to transform traditional Soviet agriculture and reduce the economic power of the peasantry. It remains one of the most consequential and tragic periods in Soviet history.

Name of leader and policy! 

What is Stalin's First Five Year Plan

500

Describe three (3) specific reasons for Russia's population decline and include one governmental program implemented to address the issue.

(1) Low birth rate due to economic factors, high
     disease rates, etc.
(2) High death rates due to wars, rising health
     concerns & poor economic conditions
(3) Low immigration (lack of jobs, political climate,
     etc.) & high emigration (brain drain)

Govt. fixes = "Order of Parental Glory"; 1x payments for children ($9,300); Family Mortgage Program, National Project Family


500

Discuss 4 major geographic problems plaguing Russia.

Problems: North European Plain (weakest defensive point), no year-round warm water ports, lack of natural defensive geographic features; the core of the nation is focused on the west


500

This Russian leader conquered the region around the Volga River (Caspian Sea) and extended the empire into Siberia (around the Ural Mountains). He also instituted the system of feudalism & serfdom in Russia.

Who is Ivan IV (Terrible)

500

Provide 4 social/political causes of the Russian Revolution

- Social = Redemption Payments, overcrowded cities with poor conditions, bad working conditions (low pay, long hours, etc.)

- Political = bad autocratic rule from Nicholas II, no democratic reforms, rumors of Alexandra & Rasputin

500

Compare & contrast Lenin's NEP with Gorbachev's Perestroika.

Both were moves back toward capitalistic principles mixed with Govt. control
  - allowed private ownership, markets & profit

NEP focused on internal recovery with limited trade w/West; Perestroika allowed foreign investment & trade with West