1. LO: To assess the nature of
Autocracy, dictatorship and totalitarianism
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lesson you will be able to…
Describe the key issues E-D
Explain how they apply C-B
Judge which period best fits definition A-A*

2. LO: To assess the nature of Autocracy, dictatorship and
totalitarianism
Describe the key issues E-D
Explain how they apply C-B
Judge which period best fits definition A-A*
Task: Once you have written
Your title and date…
Fact Test!
You have 10 minutes!

3. LO: To assess the nature of Autocracy, dictatorship and
totalitarianism
Describe the key issues E-D
Explain how they apply C-B
Judge which period best fits definition A-A*
So what will our exam actually be like?

4. LO: To assess the nature of Autocracy, dictatorship and
totalitarianism
Describe the key issues E-D
Explain how they apply C-B
Judge which period best fits definition A-A*
“In their answers, students will always need to give an overview of the whole period, picking out patterns and trends – imagine they are in a helicopter hovering above, rather than a train going from one event to the next. These two essay openings sentences demonstrate the difference: Train: The first major war of this period was the Revolutionary War. There were some important generals, especially Napoleon Bonaparte. Helicopter: Generalship was always important in war in the period 1792 – 1945 but its nature changed; by the end they were managers of large scale coalitions rather than battlefield leaders.”

5. YOU are the Helicopter of History!
LO: To assess the nature of
Autocracy, dictatorship and
totalitarianism
Describe the key issues E-D
Explain how they apply C-B
Judge which period best fits definition A-A*
Trotsky may well have said
“War is the locomotive of History”
Mr Rowland says…
YOU are the Helicopter of History!

6. Autocracy: A system of government by one person with absolute power.
LO: To assess the nature of
Autocracy, dictatorship and
totalitarianism
Describe the key issues E-D
Explain how they apply C-B
Judge which period best fits definition A-A*
So lets step into our Helicopter…
Autocracy: A system of government by one person
with absolute power.
Dictatorship: Government by a dictator with absolute
authority in any sphere.
Totalitarianism: A system of government that is
centralized and dictatorial and requires complete
subservience to the state.
Which of our regimes best fit this criteria?

7. LO: To assess the nature of Autocracy, dictatorship and
totalitarianism
Describe the key issues E-D
Explain how they apply C-B
Judge which period best fits definition A-A*
Nicholas I
All executive authority in his hands
Edict (Ukaz) only form of law.
Subjects as “children” who should
Not reason with father.
Alexander II
Never intended to depart from Autocracy.
More open to different arguments.
Chose to consult liberal ministers.
Reformed to strengthen Autocracy.
“The concept of the state embodied in the
Person of the autocrat was no way altered
By the end of his reign” – W. Bruce Lincoln.
Wanted reform without abandoning
Autocracy, therefore his compromise failed
Seton-Watson and Mosse.
Alexander III
Autocracy over Democracy
Universal Male Suffrage a
“fatal error”.
Nicholas II
“Inherent belief in the moral righteousness
Of autocracy” – Hans Rogger
Tsarina Alexandra big supporter of autocracy.
“I pledge to uphold the principle of autocracy
As firmly and unflinchingly as my late father”
Considers Military Dictatorship in 1905.
October manifesto set no limits on autocratic power of Tsar.
Acts as personal commander in chief from September 1915.
“Dogmatic devotion to autocracy his weakness” Seton-Watson
“A constitution has been
Given, but the autocracy
Remains”
- Trotsky 1905

8. LO: To assess the nature of Autocracy, dictatorship and
totalitarianism
Describe the key issues E-D
Explain how they apply C-B
Judge which period best fits definition A-A*
Lenin
Personally dissolves the Constituent Assembly 1918.
Elections to Soviet rigged.
Federal Constitution set up, but Lenin dictator in reality.
Lenin was undisputed source of leadership in Russia (Isaac Deutcher)
Stalin
Further overrode party and established a cult of personal rule.
Soviet Constitution 1936 “Stalin Constitution” extended power of central
Federal government.
Presidium continued to exercise major functions of state.
Khrushchev
De-Stalinisation and secret speech
A “Turning Point” in Soviet Politics (Robert Service)
Joint premiership with Malenkov
Removal from power an indication of nature of his government?

9. “Assess the view that the October Revolution
LO: To assess the nature of
Autocracy, dictatorship and
totalitarianism
Describe the key issues E-D
Explain how they apply C-B
Judge which period best fits definition A-A*
“Assess the view that the October Revolution
changed the Nature of rule in Russia ”

10. LO: To assess the nature of Autocracy, dictatorship and
totalitarianism
Describe the key issues E-D
Explain how they apply C-B
Judge which period best fits definition A-A*

11. LO: To assess the nature of Autocracy, dictatorship and
totalitarianism
Describe the key issues E-D
Explain how they apply C-B
Judge which period best fits definition A-A*

12. LO: To assess the nature of Autocracy, dictatorship and
totalitarianism
Describe the key issues E-D
Explain how they apply C-B
Judge which period best fits definition A-A*