1. Why was there a revolution in Feb 1917?

2. Why did the Tsar see his downfall in February 1917?
Lesson outcomes:
To identify the road to the Tsar’s downfall
To explore the key events that led to the Tsar abdicating
To judge which events were more important in causing the Tsar to abdicate
Alternative lesson can be found at the end of this powerpoint
17 min clip

3. Its all a question of timing!
In 1917 Russia was still using the JULIAN calendar. The rest of Europe used the GREGORIAN calendar which was 13 days ahead.
Therefore the ‘February Revolution’ occurred in early March, according to the rest of Europe. Most textbooks use the Russian dates.
It can be confusing about when the two revolutions in 1917 took place!

4. Review your explanation of why revolution broke out in Feb 1917 and make any adjustments in light of what you have discovered so far.

5. St Petersburg, Feb 1917
Look carefully – Why would this picture particularly frighten the Tsar?

6.  Your task
Watch the first 23mins ‘The Russian Revolution in Colour’ Use the following headings to take notes: Events in Petrograd; Events in Kronstadt; Actions of the Tsar
One historian said that Russia was like a bottle of fizzy water that had been shaken for years, until suddenly the top came off. Explain what he meant by this?

7.  Task 1
Read p in Murphy and identify no more than 7 short term-reasons why the Tsar was finally forced to abdicate.

8. Task 2
1905
1917
Divide into two groups, one group will look at the key events around the 1905 Revolution
The second group will look at the 1917 Revolution
You will then share this information and identify similarities and differences in the two Revolutions
OR do card sort worksheet from study history
Explain why the 1917 revolution succeeded whilst the 1905 one failed
Optional Card sort worksheet instead

9.  Your task
Study the cards your are given. Sort them into two piles, those that suggest Nicholas was responsible for his own downfall and those which suggest he wasn’t. Have a third pile for those you are unsure about.
Try to categorise the problems
Study history worksheet – needs to be cut up before given out

10. Essay Planning
How far do you agree that the First World War was the main reason for the abdication of the Tsar in March 1917?
Plan an answer to this question.
In addition to the stated factor choose 3 other key reasons for the Tsar’s abdication. Provide 3 pieces of specific information to support each general point.

11. Why was the Tsar forced to abdicate in March 1917?
In pairs you will be given a character from Russia 1914 – 1917.
Watch the following presentation and work out:
Why these events happened
How your character was involved in the
1st Russian Revolution !
3. Prepare to feedback to the class
Alternative lesson. Need resources
OR – Game from Teaching History – See KD file

12. Events 1914 – March 1917
August World War I started. Russia declared war on Germany and troops were mobilised. The Tsar was very popular.
September The two main Russian armies were defeated in the battles of Masurian Lakes and Tannenberg.

13. End of 1914 Over 1 million Russian soldiers were now dead
End of Over 1 million Russian soldiers were now dead Russia’s industry could not produce enough weapons to supply all the soldiers. The army lacked supplies, and the officers were sometimes incompetent.
1914 – There were shortages of food, coal and industrial materials in the cities. Prices rose and factories closed. The government was blamed.

14. September The Tsar decided to leave Petrograd and go to the Western Front to run the Russian Army The Tsarina and Rasputin were left in charge, and were very unpopular, even among the aristocracy. Rasputin persuaded the Tsarina to replace ministers that he did not like with his friends. The organisation of the supply of food to the cities broke down.
Winter The winter was a bad one. Hardly any food or fuel got into Petrograd. Huge bread queues formed and prices rocketed.

15. 14th Feb 1917 – 100,000 workers strike in Petrograd
18th Feb The situation was desperate. 40,000 workers at the Putilov factory went on strike.
23rd Feb International Women’s Day. Thousands of women joined the demonstrations. The protestors demanded food, fuel and a new government.

16. 26th Feb 1917 The Tsar ordered that the army fire on the protestors
26th Feb The Tsar ordered that the army fire on the protestors. Many soldiers refused and joined the demonstrations. The State Duma refuses to disband.
2nd March The Tsar tried to get back to Petrograd but the railway workers stopped him. He was forced to abdicate

17. Why was the Tsar forced to abdicate in Feb 1917?
Task: Move round the class speaking to other people in the room.
(Your teacher may ask you to look at 3 dates in particular:
14th Feb – 100,000 workers on strike in Petrograd;
26th Feb The Tsar orders military force to break the strike;
2nd March The Tsar abdicates.)
Discuss the following:
Your feelings toward the Tsar
Your feelings about the war
How your country is being run.
4. Your feelings about the events of February 1917
You must consider the knowledge your character would have and the way they were likely to react to the different events and characters.

18. Assessment option
How far do you agree that it was misjudgements by Nicholas II after 1911 that caused the collapse of Tsardom in 1917? (30 marks)
See folder for paper copies of other essays on this topic. Good planning sheets available for ‘to what extent does ww1 explain the outbreak of two revs in Also good article nov 2013 in hist review on romanov fall from power with attached tasks (see paper copy in file – could be a lesson on its own) . Also example essay with feedback in my revision notes p30

19. In 1900 the Tsar has absolute power in Russia and limited opposition.
What your finished
Graph could look like?
See
In 1905 the Tsar was nearly overthrown due to his callous treatment of the Russian people.
The Tsar loses the Civil War and is murdered at Ekaterinburg by the Bolsheviks

20. Watch ‘Land of the Tsars’ (10mins) and around the image of Nicholas & his family note down the key reasons given for the February Revolution

21. How far was Tsar Nicholas to blame?
 Your task
On a sheet of paper draw a line similar to the one below. Plot the following on the line:
Personality & leadership
Social & economic problems
Military situation
Political reforms
Provide 2 piece of evidence for each factor & be prepared to explain your choice to the class
How far was Tsar Nicholas to blame?

22.
Russian rev in colour 90mins
Other clips

23. A note on structuring essays:
Introduction: 4 sentences: one on context, one on question, one on factors and one thesis statement.
Paragraphs
PEEEL: Point, Evidence, Explain, Evaluate and LINK to Q and other paragraphs.
Conclusion: 6 sentences
2 sentences summing up PEEEL arguments, 2 sentences on your own view, and one/two sentence dealing with the “How far…” component of the question.

24. Start by dealing with the stated factor first (same as Unit 1)
Start by dealing with the stated factor first (same as Unit 1). Then deal with other possible factors.
If dismissive of the stated factor being the most significant with little cause – top of Level 3.
Failure to fully understand the focus of the Q tends to put them in Level 3 (top though likely C grade).
Strayed from focus, skeleton analysis = Level 3.
Potential Level 5 students who get a Level 4 tend to not fulfil the required time frame of the issue in the question.
BREADTH means 5-6 paragraphs excluding intro and conclusion. 3 agreeing and 3 against, unless you’re clearly going to disagree then 2 for and 4 against.
DEPTH means 3 facts in each paragraph to back up your points. YOU MUST explain the facts/examples.
SUSTAINED ANALYSIS means the beginning and end of paragraphs blend well, whilst also linking to question.
Mark schemes for Unit 1 and Unit 3A differ only in reference to ‘sustained analysis’.
To get a Level 4 your paragraph openers start “A more important factor is…” rather than just simply saying “Another factor is…”
DO NOT mentions things outside of the time frame specified.