1. Unit Y318: Russia and its Rulers, 1855-1964
Key Topic 1: The nature of government
Key issues: Methods of repression and enforcement
Text book: Chapter 1, pages 39-48

2. LO: What were the most effective methods used by the tsars and communists to control opposition?
Repression = to control, restrain, prevent or inhibit the thoughts and actions of others.
Use of repression presupposes that the thoughts and actions of others are threatening and need to be challenged.
‘Epidemics’ of extreme repression referred to as ‘terror’.

3. LO: What were the most effective methods used by the tsars and communists to control opposition?
Secret police: investigate, arrest, imprison, execute and exile ‘opposition’.
Propaganda: manipulate the ideals, values, beliefs and attitudes of the people.
Censorship: control access to information that might affect ideas, values, beliefs and attitudes.
Main tools of repression used by all rulers
Army: deal with riots and unruly mob behaviour (including strikes).
Propaganda, secret police, censorship, red army

4. LO: What were the most effective methods used by the tsars and communists to control opposition?
Your task is to explore one of these areas and present how it was used as a tool between
Was it used together with other tools?
Was it the dominant tool of a particular leader?
Was it used to enforce policies?
Was it used to counter liberal reforms?
Who used it to greatest effect?
You can present your findings as a mind-map/newspaper article/timeline AND a news report or podcast.