Chapter 15: Russia—Past and Present "The Russian Revolution"

Introduction

Throughout its long history, Russia's people have suffered under a series of harsh, autocratic rulers. In the early years of World War I they endured military defeats on the Eastern Front, and suffered starvation and lack of other goods when the army used all the country's food and resources for its own needs. No wonder the common people were heartened by Lenin's cry of "Peace, land, bread." In this activity, students will take a closer look at the causes, effects, and key leaders of the 1917 revolution in Russia.

Lesson Description

In this lesson students will visit the Modern World History Web site to explore the events leading to and results of the 1917 Russian Revolution. After answering several questions about the causes and effects of the revolution, students will conduct additional research to write a short biography about Vladimir Lenin.

National Geography Standards:
Standard 13: The geographically informed person knows and understands how the forces of cooperation and conflict among people influence the division and control of Earth's surface. Standard 17: The geographically informed person knows and understands how to apply geography to interpret the past.

Instructional Objectives

1. The student will able to identify the long-term and short-term causes of the Russian Revolution.
2. The student will be able to name the key leaders of the Russian Revolution.
3. The student will be able to discuss effects of the revolution in Russia.

Student Web Activity Answers

1. Student's answers may vary, but could include the fact that Russia was an autocracy, the weakness and imcompetence of Tsar Nicholas II, the large gap between the rich and the poor, and violence by terrorist groups and the tsar.
2. Russia was doing poorly in the war, and now the tsar instead of the army commander got blamed for everything that was going wrong.
3. Lenin and Trotsky
4. He issued a "Land Decree" which said that the land now belonged to the people who farmed it, and he issued a "Peace Decree" which stated that the war with Germany was now over.
5. Students' biographies may vary but should be factually accurate and correctly cited.

  Go to Student Web Activity