USA HISTORY

AMERICAN IMPERIALISM(1890 1919)

THE UNITED STATES IN WORLD WAR I

[SOURCES]
Which was an effect of WWI on Russia?

(A) ** Severe food shortages

(B) Russia had to pair with another country and became Prussia

(C) WWI had no effect on Russia

(D) Russia became rich

EXPLANATIONS BELOW

Concept note-1: -The shortage of food in St Petersburg and persistent bread queues in the city in the winter of 1916/17 triggered the events of February 1917, leading to the overthrow of the monarchy. The Provisional Government of February to October 1917 mostly repeated the mistake.

Concept note-2: -The foremost cause of these shortages was the diversion of resources, production and transport to war needs, which left inadequate supplies for the civilian economy. The creation of a Special Council for Food in 1915, the imposition of rationing, and other measures did little to alleviate the problem.

Concept note-3: -The food situation worsened year-by-year, becoming critical in early 1917 after the entire potato crop failed. Ultimately the food shortage weakened German soldiers fighting on the Western Front, expected to exist on a fraction of the calories, compared to their well-fed enemies.

Concept note-4: -The decision to go to war in 1914 had catastrophic consequences for Russia. The result was revolution, civil war and famine in 1917–20, followed by decades of Communist rule.

Concept note-5: -The First World War badly hit the Russian industries. Russia’s own industries were few in number and the country was cut off from other suppliers of industrial goods by German control of the Baltic sea. Industrial equipment disintegrated more rapidly in Russia than elsewhere in Europe.