Russia and the Soviet Union, 1905-1924 (IGSCE in History)

Unit 1- Tsarist Rule in Russia, 1905–14:
Week 1: Tsarist rule in Russia in 1905 and the reasons for discontent. The Potemkin Mutiny and the setting up of Soviets. The 1905 Revolution, including the October Manifesto and reasons why Nicholas survived. 
Week 2: The attitude of Nicholas to the first four dumas. The growth of opposition groups. Stolypin’s policy of repression and land reform. The Lena Goldfield strike.

Unit 2: Opposition to Tsarist rule 1914–17: the impact of war and the February Revolution
Week 3- Economic, social and political effects of the First World War on Russia. Influence of Rasputin. 
Week 4-Immediate causes of the February Revolution, especially events in Petrograd. The army mutiny. Abdication of Tsar. Setting up of Provisional Government.

Unit 3: Provisional Government and the Bolshevik Revolution.
Week 5- Weaknesses and mistakes of the Provisional Government. The impact of the Petrograd Soviet. The activities of Lenin and the Bolsheviks, including the April Theses and July Days. Nature and impact of the Kornilov Revolt. 
 Key events of the Bolshevik takeover. Reasons for success of Bolsheviks, especially the roles of Lenin and Trotsky.

Unit 4: The Bolshevik consolidation of power and the Civil War
Week 6-Bolshevik consolidation of power, including the significance of the 1917 Decrees, the closure of the Constituent Assembly and the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. 
Week 7-The two sides in the Civil War. Key events and reasons for Bolshevik victory.
Reasons for, nature and effects of War Communism. The Kronstadt Naval Mutiny.

Unit 5: War Communism and the New Economic Policy (NEP) 
Week 8-Reasons for, nature and effects of the New Economic Policy. Opposition to NEP. 
- Achievements of Lenin to 1924.

I have received training for IGSCE courses while teaching them in public schools in the United States.  I have taught this investigative subject matter several times in my high school world history courses, always wishing we had more time to explore such a fascinating topic in history.  I am looking forward to the opportunity to spend 10 weeks on the subject, rather than the 10 minutes that this subject might receive in a rushed world history class.  IGSCE and highly motivated high school students both will do well in the class.  (Next class- China: Conflict, Crisis, and Change.) 

Learners will interact with historic sources in a variety of reading assignments and activities.  The homework will allow students to become better historians as well as more knowledgable in modern Russian history. 
Students who are specifically preparing for the IGSCE will receive assignments to help them prepare for Paper 2.  They will analyze example student papers and practice excellent writing strategies.
All students will write a practice Paper 2 for feedback and evaluation. 

Students who are specifically preparing for the IGSCE will receive assignments to help them prepare for Paper 2.  They will analyze example student papers and practice excellent writing strategies.
All students will write a practice Paper 2 for feedback and evaluation. 

1 hour 50 minutes per week in class, and an estimated 2 - 4 hours per week outside of class.