Political Parties in Russia c. 1905

Which parties wanted to overthrow the Tsar?

• Bolsheviks

• Mensheviks

• Socialist Revolutionaries

• Constitutional Democrats (Cadets/Kadets)

Which parties were mainly supported by workers in cities and large towns (proletariat) and students.

• Bolsheviks

• Mensheviks

• Socialist Revolutionaries

• Constitutional Democrats (Cadets/Kadets)

Answer explanation

Although the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks worked to earn the support of the workers, a lot of their leaders were from the educated middle classes. Lenin's father was a school inspector with a high rank in the education department and Trotsky's parents were wealthy farmers.

Which party was mainly directed at the peasants?

• Bolsheviks

• Mensheviks

• Socialist Revolutionaries

• Constitutional Democrats (Cadets/Kadets)

Answer explanation

Although the Socialist Revolutionaries wanted the support of the peasants, many of the leaders were from the educated middle and upper classes. When the first activists began trying to work with the peasants, they had a lot of trouble relating to them. One revolutionary tried to prove to the peasants that God didn't exist by destroying an icon (a picture of Jesus or a saint). He pointed out, "See! God hasn't struck me dead." Allegedly the peasants replied "God hasn't, but we will" and killed him on the spot.

Which party was famous for carrying out assassinations of government officials?

• Bolsheviks

• Mensheviks

• Socialist Revolutionaries

• Constitutional Democrats (Cadets/Kadets)

Which parties were Marxist?

• Bolsheviks

• Mensheviks

• Socialist Revolutionaries

• Constitutional Democrats (Cadets/Kadets)

Which party was mainly supported by the bourgeouisie and educated classes, including some nobles?

• Bolsheviks

• Mensheviks

• Socialist Revolutionaries

• Constitutional Democrats (Cadets/Kadets)

Which party wanted Russia to be a constitutional monarchy?

• Bolsheviks

• Mensheviks

• Socialist Revolutionaries

• Constitutional Democrats (Cadets/Kadets)

Which party was liberal in its political philosophy?

• Bolsheviks

• Mensheviks

• Socialist Revolutionaries

• Constitutional Democrats (Cadets)

Which party did Trotsky support in 1903?

• Bolsheviks

• Mensheviks

• Socialist Revolutionaries

• Constitutional Democrats (Cadets)

Answer explanation

Leon Trotsky, who spent much of his time during World War I playing chess in Vienna’s Cafe Central, was regarded by his acquaintances as simple, harmless, even slightly pathetic. During his exile Trotsky was known under his real name Bronstein. In March 1917, the Austrian foreign minister was notified by an excited subordinate that a revolution had broken out in Russia. “Russia is not a land where revolutions break out,” the minister skeptically snorted. “Besides, who on earth would make a revolution in Russia? Perhaps Herr Bronstein from the Cafe Central?” - quoted verbatim from "1860 Cafe Central Vienna". Carolus Chess, sites.google.com/site/caroluschess/chess-cafes-and-clubs/cafe-central.

Which party believed in letting anyone who wanted to join?

• Bolsheviks

• Mensheviks