Tsarist Russia

History

Karl Marx and communism

The Bolsheviks

The Russian Civil War, 1918-21

Soviet Russia in the 1920s and 1930s

The extent to which communism changed Russia

In this unit, pupils examine the profound societal changes brought about by communism following the Russian Revolution. This sets the stage for the next unit, ‘Post-war Britain: for whom did the United Kingdom become a ‘New Jerusalem’?’, where they will contrast the effects of communism with the democratic socialism that influenced British society in the post-war era.

In ‘The French Revolution: How did Europe respond to the French Revolution?’, pupils studied how France's eighteenth century revolution influenced people's lives. Building on that, this unit explores how the radical ideas of the Russian Revolution transformed Russian society under communism, demonstrating the power of revolutionary ideologies.

In this unit, pupils learn about Karl Marx's theories regarding communism and the conduct and impact of the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917. They examine the Russian Civil War and Russian society in the 1920s and 30s, allowing them to judge the extent to which communism changed Russia.

The Russian Revolution: did communism completely transform Russian society? 

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Write the missing word. Russian emperors were known as ...

Which group made up the majority of Tsarist Russia's population?

How many Russian soldiers died fighting between 1914 and 1917?

Write the missing word. During the February Revolution, Tsar Nicholas II was forced to ...

strikers and female protestors demand an end to their hunger

protests in Petrograd grow larger and demand that Tsar Nicholas II abdicate

soldiers sent to break-up the protests begin to join the protestors

politicians and the army encourage Nicholas II to abdicate

Starting with the earliest, sort the events of the February Revolution into chronological order.

Nicholas took over personal command of the army

Nicholas maintained a secret police force

Which example best demonstrates that Tsar Nicholas II had absolute power in the years before 1917?

Only people from Western Europe fought in WWI

Only people from European countries and their empires fought in WWI

Only people from outside Europe fought in WWI

People from all over the world fought in WWI

Write the missing word. In a feudal society, {{}} make up the majority of the population but have very little power.

In which country did the Industrial Revolution begin?

Match-up the keywords with their correct definitions.

Write the missing word. According to Marx, in a {{}} society, most of the work was done by the proletariat but the bourgeoisie held most of the power and wealth.

bourgeoisie take power from the aristocracy

Starting with the earliest, sort the following stages into order according to theories of Karl Marx.

Starter Quiz