What were the terms and consequences of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918)?

• A. Russia ceded large territories to Central Powers; loss of resources and nationalist backlash, but enabled focus on civil war.
• B. Russia gained territory from Central Powers.
• C. No territorial changes; economic boom.
• D. Kept all territories; lost power.

Answer: (A)

The key idea this question tests is why the Bolshevik government chose to sign Brest-Litovsk: to end Russia’s involvement in World War I even at a high price, in order to preserve the revolution at home and gain time to fight the Civil War.

In March 1918, Russia agreed to terms with the Central Powers that forced it to cede large territories in the west—areas that became or soon would be independent or under new control, including Poland, Ukraine, Finland, and the Baltic states. Along with loss of land, the Soviet state faced the loss of important industrial regions, natural resources, and manpower, plus heavy economic concessions. This was a harsh, painful bargain, but it allowed the new regime to pull troops from the war-front and redirect energy and resources toward internal conflict and consolidation of power.

This is why the answer emphasizes the large territorial and resource losses and the nationalist backlash, while noting the strategic gain for the Bolsheviks in focusing on the Civil War. The other options don’t fit because Brest-Litovsk did not expand Russian territory, did not leave no territorial changes or an economic boom, and did not keep all territories for Russia.