What did the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918) do?

Took Russia out of the First World War

Why did Lenin introduce the NEP (1921)?

War Communism had caused hunger and revolt, such as the Kronstadt mutiny

Plans to build heavy industry fast

Richer peasants persecuted under collectivisation

In February 1917, strikes and mutinies forced Tsar Nicholas II to abdicate. A Provisional Government took over but carried on the unpopular war.
In October 1917, the Bolsheviks, led by Lenin and organised by Trotsky, seized power. They took Russia out of the war at Brest-Litovsk (March 1918), giving up huge areas of land.

The Reds (Bolsheviks) beat the Whites in the Civil War (1918–21), helped by Trotsky's Red Army and the Cheka (secret police). War Communism took grain by force.
After the Kronstadt mutiny (1921), Lenin brought in the New Economic Policy (NEP), allowing some private trade. Lenin died in 1924.

Stalin defeated Trotsky and other rivals and was in control by 1928. The Five-Year Plans (from 1928) built heavy industry fast, helped by propaganda heroes such as Alexei Stakhanov.
Collectivisation forced peasants into collective farms. Kulaks (richer peasants) were persecuted, and millions died in the famine of 1932–33, especially in Ukraine.

After the murder of Kirov (1934), Stalin's Great Terror (1936–38) used the NKVD, show trials and labour camps (gulags) to remove enemies. The army was purged.
A cult of personality, censorship and socialist realism in the arts controlled people's minds. The 1936 Constitution promised rights that did not exist in practice.

Provisional Government: The government that ruled Russia between February and October 1917.
Bolsheviks: Lenin's communist party.
Brest-Litovsk: The 1918 treaty taking Russia out of the war.
War Communism: Bolshevik policy in the Civil War, taking grain by force.
NEP: The New Economic Policy (1921), allowing some private trade.
Five-Year Plans: Stalin's plans to industrialise rapidly.
Collectivisation: Merging farms into large state-controlled farms.
Kulak: A richer peasant, persecuted under Stalin.
Great Terror: Stalin's purges of 1936–38.
Cult of personality: Propaganda presenting the leader as a hero.

What happened to the Tsar in February 1917?: He abdicated: A Provisional Government took over.
Who led the Bolsheviks in October 1917?: Lenin: Trotsky organised the seizure of power.
What did the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918) do?: Took Russia out of the First World War: Russia gave up huge areas of land.
Who won the Russian Civil War?: The Reds (Bolsheviks): Trotsky's Red Army was key.
Why did Lenin introduce the NEP (1921)?: War Communism had caused hunger and revolt, such as the Kronstadt mutiny: It allowed some private trade.
What were the Five-Year Plans?: Plans to build heavy industry fast: The first began in 1928.
Who were the kulaks?: Richer peasants persecuted under collectivisation: Millions died in the famine of 1932–33.
Whose murder in 1934 led to the Great Terror?: Sergei Kirov: Stalin used it as an excuse for purges.