What you'll learn
Russia's transformation from Tsarist empire to Stalin's USSR.
The end of Tsardom
- Nicholas II, autocracy and discontent; 1905 Revolution; impact of WWI.
- The February Revolution (1917) and abdication; the Provisional Government.
Bolshevik rule
- The October Revolution (1917) led by Lenin; Civil War (Reds vs Whites); War Communism and the NEP.
Stalin
- The power struggle after Lenin; Stalin defeats Trotsky.
- Collectivisation, the Five-Year Plans, the Purges and the cult of personality.
Exam tips
- Distinguish the February and October revolutions of 1917.
- Support Stalin answers with specific policies and their effects.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the two 1917 revolutions.
- Muddling War Communism with the NEP.