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Topic title: Russia: Revolution and Dictatorship, 1914-53

Year group: 13 (continued from Year 12)

When taught: All Year

What are we learning?

  • Collectivisation of Agriculture and dekulakisation (including the Holodomor/Great Famine in Ukraine)
  • The Five Year plans
  • The murder of Kirov and Great Terror
  • Culture and Society in the 1930s
  • Foreign Policy and the build up to World War Two / Nazi-Soviet Pact
  • The Great Patriotic Struggle
  • High Stalinism

Why is this important to know? 

  • The Russian Revolution is one of the most significant events of the twentieth century and its impact was felt both in Russia and beyond

Where does this link into our past and future learning? 

  • They Year 13 course helps us to understand how Stalin ruled Russia and his impact politically, socially and economically.
  • The Russian Revolution sits around other world events studied at GCSE, such as Weimar and Nazi Germany and the Cold War.
  • The course really develops historical skills and independent learning, vital for university study.

How will we be assessed on this topic?

  • There is a 2.5hr A-Level Exam at the end of Year 13 which includes one question evaluating historical sources and two essays (from a choice of three). Topics can be chosen from Year 12 and Year 13 content.
  • We complete practice exam style questions throughout the year.
  • Factual recall is assessed periodically through short tests and quizzes.

What makes a strong piece of work in this topic?  What are teachers hoping to see?  

  • Attention to detail and use of specific examples
  • The ability to explain, evaluate and analyse carefully.
  • Appreciating primary source material, looking at its argument/viewpoint, tone/emphasis and considering the implications of its provenance
  • Giving balanced answers that look at different viewpoints
  • At the highest level, appreciating the more nuanced and complex aspects of this topic, for example seeing how different people, places or time periods experienced things differently
  • A willingness to explore the topic in depth through wider reading.

What can I try if I want to stretch and challenge myself on this topic?

  • Read in more depth about the Russian Revolution. The school library has several excellent books.

Supporting document/links:

Quizlet. Click here