History Handbook Edexcel Course Code 8H101
RUSSIAN UNIT COURSE INFORMATION The AS Course consists of 2 Units – One on Russian history and the other on British history The Russian unit is Unit 1 and is the breadth studies unit. It equates to 50% of the total AS Marks You will cover the following 2 topics: D3: Russia in Revolution, 1881-1924: From Autocracy to Dictatorship
The challenges to the Tsarist state, 1881-1906: nature of the regime; economic and social changes; opposition parties; the 1905 revolution.
Tsarism’s last chance, 1906-1917: the Dumas; Stolypin; the impact of War; the downfall of the Romanovs.
February/March to October/November 1917: the Provisional Government and the Bolshevik coup.
Holding on to and consolidating power, 1918-24: civil war; changing economic policies; creating the Soviet state.
D4 Stalin’s Russia, 1924-53
The struggle for power — the making of the new vozhd 1924-29: personalities and policies.
Transforming the Soviet Union: the collectivisation of agriculture and its social and economic impact; industrialisation and its economic and social impact; the three five-year plans; changing social policies.
Persecution and control: the origins and course of the purges; culture and the arts in the service of a totalitarian regime.
The making of a superpower: the Great Patriotic War; devastation; war production; victory.
You will be assessed through a … Written examination: 1 hour 20 minutes Candidates will be required to answer two questions out of four, worth 30 marks each; one of these will be on Lenin’s period and One on Stalin’s period. The questions will require candidates to present historical explanations and assess their significance in the historical context of events, individuals’ ideas, attitudes and/or beliefs, and the ways in which they influenced behaviours and action.
You will learn to …..
Recall, select and deploy historical knowledge appropriately, and communicate knowledge and understanding of history in a clear and effective manner. Demonstrate their understanding of the past though explanation, analysis and arriving at substantiated judgements of: a. key concepts such as causation, consequence, continuity, change and significance within an historical context b. the relationships between key features and characteristics of the periods studied.
Lesson schedule 1. An introduction to Russia: What was it like in the Nineteenth Century? How did the Tsars run Russia? Class Work – Describe in no more than 500 words the economic, political and social character of 19th Century Russia. HW – Complete the exercise on Tsar Alexander II and Alexander III 2. Was Nicholas II a weak ruler who failed to understand the problems facing Russia? How far was Russia modernised between 1892 & 1903? Class Work – Draw a chart showing all the problems in Russia under Nicolas II and list against each Tsar Nicolas’ response and whether it was a success or a failure HW - Complete the hand out on economic and political reform in the years 1881- 1905? 3. What opposition was there to Tsarist rule 1881-1905? How effective was opposition before 1905?? Class Work – Create a chorological narrative of Marxist Theory. Describe in 100 words the Kadets, Social Revolutionaries, RSDLP, Bolsheviks and Mensheviks. Make sure you provide names of the leaders, the philosophy of each party or faction and the level of popularity each exercised in Russia in the early 20th Century. HW – How far were divisions among its opponents responsible for the survival of Tsarist rule in the years 1881 – 1905? Jan 2009 - (Total for Question 5 = 30 marks) 4. What were the causes of the 1905 Revolution? How effectively did the Tsar deal with the threat pose by the 1905 Revolution? Class Work – List the causes of the 1905 Revolution, give small summaries of each and then rank them in order of importance. Summarise each of the 4 Dumas, providing an assessment of each Duma. HW – Complete a table on economic growth/transformation 5. How successful was Stolypin in stabilising Russia How likely was revolution in 1914? Class Work – Make a list of Stolypin’s reforms and repressive policies, providing small summaries for each. Categorise them as successes or failures providing reasons for each HW – To what extent was the Tsarist system of government modified in the years 1881 – 1914? June 2011 - (Total for Question 5 = 30 marks) 6. What was the impact of the First World War upon Russia? What influence did Rasputin have on Russian politics? Class Work – List all the consequences of the First World War on Russia, describing how these weakened the Tsarist regime. List any other factors which threatened the Tsarist regime and rank them in order of importance. HW – How far was Nicholas II responsible for the fall of the Romanovs in 1917? June 2012 - Total for Question 6 = 30 marks)
7. What were the reasons for the Revolution of February 1917? Do I understand this unit? Class Work – List how the Tsarist regime was able to maintain power upto the First World War. Describe those who were involved in the February Revolution and list the reasons for why the revolution was a success. Why did Tsarism survive the revolution of 1905 but not that of March 1917? Half Term 8. What kind of government ruled Russia in March 1917 and what were its early achievements? What impact did the return of the Bolsheviks and Lenin have? Class Work – Describe the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet, providing details of what type of power each exercised, and the policies of each. HW – What impact did Lenin’s return have on the Russian revolutionary scene? 9. What were the problems facing the Provisional Government and why did it lose support? What happened in October 1917? Class Work – Make a timeline of the events from February to October – giving small summaries of each crucial event. Make sure you include: The initial decrees, the April Theses, The June Offensive, The July Days, Kornilov’s Revolt and the October Revolution. List all the problems faced by the Provisional Government, ranking them in order of importance. Summarise how the Bolsheviks used the opportunity to overthrow the Provisional Government in the name of the Petrograd Soviet. HW – Why was the Provisional Government so short-lived? Jan 2012 (Total for Question 6 = 30 marks) 10. What were the reasons for Bolshevik success in October 1917? How did the Bolsheviks establish their dictatorship? Class Work – List all the reasons for why the Bolsheviks were successful in October, ranking them in order of importance. List all the ways in which the Bolsheviks tied to establish control soon after October 1917 HW – To what extent was the Bolshevik success in October due to Lenin’s leadership? 11. What does the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly reveal about Lenin’s attitude towards the exercise of power? Why were the Bolsheviks willing to accept the humiliation of Brest-Litovsk? How far was Lenin responsible for the Civil War and who were on the opposing sides? Class Work – Summarise the Constituent Assembly elections and the consequences, summarise the Brest Litovsk Treaty and the consequences, making sure you note the territorial losses and the affect of the Treaty on Russian politics. HW – Print off a map of the Civil War and label the players in the Civil War. Provide a short summary of Reds and The whites and give reasons for why each side succeeded or failed.
12. Why did the Bolsheviks win the Civil War? Why were the Bolsheviks able to stay in power after 1917? Class Work – List the reasons for why the Bolsheviks won the Civil War. Summarise the Kronstadt Rebellion and state what it shows us about the Bolsheviks and their attitudes. HW - How far was Lenin responsible for the Bolsheviks’ growing hold on power in the years 1917-24? (Total for Question 6 = 30 marks) 13. What were Lenin’s strengths and weaknesses as leader of Russia? Do I understand this unit? Class Work – Create a timeline of events from 1881 – 1924. List Lenin’s strengths and weaknesses. HW - TBA
What you need to do in order to get an A grade in History …. a) You will need to spend at least 5 hours of independent study per week on History. This means 2.5 hours for the Russian Unit and 5 hours for the British. b) You will need to read more than just the text book issued to you. Chris Corin is a good book – also read Orlando Figes “A People’s Tragedy”, which is huge, but you can select and read sections from it. c)Take notes as often as possible – weekly is best and will really help with the exam d) Spend time researching your essays – do not just do them from the text book. e) Note the texts and web pages you have researched at the end of your essay. f) Make sure you provide analytical essays which cover both sides of the argument, but come out in favour of one and substantiate your argument with clear and detailed evidence. g) Opinionated arguments which cover both sides of the argument are the most successful. h) There is no short cut …. A Levels require a great deal of work, but the year is short and will finish in June.