The Russian Revolution and Civil War

What this unit covers

The resources follow the story in order. Early material looks at the Tsarist regime, such as the notes on Conditions of Russia Before 1917, and at the Mind Maps on the 1905 Revolution and the Dumas. Next come the February Revolution, the Provisional Government and the Kornilov Affair. The largest group then deals with the October Revolution, Bolshevik consolidation, the Russian Civil War and Lenin's economic policies.

Where to start

If the period is new to you, begin with the notes on the collapse of the Tsarist regime, or the Mind Map Causes of the Russian Revolution. They set out the size of the empire, its economic problems and the opposition groups. Then move to the Mind Maps February 1917 Revolution and October Revolution 1917, which break each event into causes and consequences.

For the Bolsheviks in power, the slide set Defending the Bolshevik revolution, October 1917-1924 asks how the Bolsheviks held on after October, starting with the closing of the Constituent Assembly. After that, try the Mind Maps War Communism, The New Economic Policy and Why did the Communists win the Civil War?

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a map first, then take a quiz such as Why were the Bolsheviks able to seize power? Quiz or Russia 1917 - 1924 Quiz. Note the questions you miss and go back to the matching branch of the map. Flashcard decks such as Dates 1917-24 and Mensheviks help with names, terms and timelines. Some resources mention GCSE History and A-level History, so check which matches your course.

Where it fits

This unit sits in the strand The World Wars and the Interwar Era (1900-1945) within History. It links naturally to World War One, which has its own Mind Map here, because the war strained the Tsarist regime.

Open a map, take a quiz, and see what you can recall before you read the notes again.