The Bolsheviks
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how the Bolsheviks came to power in Russia and the immediate impact of their rise to power.
Key learning points
- The Bolsheviks were a revolutionary party led by Vladimir Lenin.
- The Provisional Government was toppled by the Bolshevik Party in October 1917.
- Lenin withdrew Russia from WW1 and by agreeing to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in 1918.
- The Bolsheviks shot Tsar Nicolas and limited opposition in Russia.
Keywords
Exile - exile involves being sent or kept away from your own country, usually for political reasons
Provisional - something is provisional if it is only temporary
Seized - something is seized if it is taken suddenly and by force
Secret police - a secret police force is used to make opposition to a government weaker, often using illegal and violent methods
Common misconception
The Bolsheviks revolutionary background meant that they were completely different to the tsar.
The Bolsheviks treated opposition similarly to the tsar, using a secret police and re-introducing censorship.
Teacher tip
Task C could be re-imagined as a debate or role play activity. Students could be classed as either Bolsheviks, members of the Provisional Government or Tsar Nicholas II and asked to respond to the statement.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The Russian word for emperor is .
Q2.The February Revolution in Russia occurred during which conflict?
Q3.Which group made up a majority of the Russian population in 1900?
Q4.What happened to Tsar Nicholas II during the February Revolution?
Q5.Which statement is most accurate?
Q6.Which two reasons help to explain why WWI contributed to the February Revolution in Russia?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match-up each key word with its correct definition
Q2.The leader of the Party was Vladimir Lenin.
Q3.Who seized power in Russia during the October Revolution?
Q4.Which of the following occurred as a result of the 1918 Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
Q5.Which example best demonstrates that the Bolsheviks restricted the freedom to oppose the government in Russia?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: The Bolsheviks, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: The Bolsheviks, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the The Russian Revolution: did communism completely transform Russian society? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.