What similarity describes both the French Revolution and the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia?

What similarity describes both the French Revolution and the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia?

• A. Both revolutions occurred because of the same political ideology
• B. Both led to stable long-term governance
• C. Both revolutions were caused by external invasion
• D. Both revolutions were the result of government denial of basic human rights and stressful economic conditions

Answer: (D)

Both revolutions arose from government oppression paired with severe economic hardship that denied people basic rights and daily needs. In France, heavy taxes and an economic crisis fell on the Third Estate while the autocratic system resisted meaningful reform, leading to bread shortages and rising grievances that sparked rebellion. In Russia, the autocracy's denial of political freedoms, combined with the strains of World War I—scarce goods, inflation, and famine—undermined legitimacy and pushed people toward radical change led by the Bolsheviks. The common thread is not ideology or external aggression, but this combination of political denial of rights and harsh economic conditions that motivates revolutionary action.

Both revolutions arose from government oppression paired with severe economic hardship that denied people basic rights and daily needs. In France, heavy taxes and an economic crisis fell on the Third Estate while the autocratic system resisted meaningful reform, leading to bread shortages and rising grievances that sparked rebellion. In Russia, the autocracy's denial of political freedoms, combined with the strains of World War I—scarce goods, inflation, and famine—undermined legitimacy and pushed people toward radical change led by the Bolsheviks. The common thread is not ideology or external aggression, but this combination of political denial of rights and harsh economic conditions that motivates revolutionary action.