The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 in Russia was caused in part by

• A. A strong economy and surplus of food
• B. The success of the czarist government
• C. Shortage of military supplies and food during World War I
• D. Widespread democratic reforms

Answer: (C)

The main idea this question tests is how wartime strain can undermine a government and fuel revolutionary momentum. In 1917 Russia faced severe shortages of military supplies and food as World War I drained resources, disrupted transportation, and caused famine and inflation. The army wore down, defeats mounted, and civilians suffered at home. The czarist regime appeared unable to manage the war effort or protect the population, which undermined its legitimacy and gave Bolsheviks an opening to promise relief—often summarized as “peace, land, bread.”

If the economy had been strong and food plentiful, those pressures wouldn’t have built the same sharp discontent. A successful czarist government would have reduced the incentive for radical change, and widespread democratic reforms—if they had occurred—would have addressed some grievances rather than magnified them. This combination of military hardship and economic collapse during the war best explains why the Bolsheviks were able to gain traction.