Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · History

    Course version: 1HI0 · Version from Sept 2016

    Key topic 1: The revolutions of 1917 - 1 The growth of opposition to the…

    Full specification wording

    Option 30: Key topic 1: The revolutions of 1917 - 1 The growth of opposition to the tsar in early 1917: The impact of the First World War: military defeats; economic, political and social effects; the Tsar as commander-in-chief.

    The First World War devastated Russia, catalysing the Tsar's downfall.

    Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 2 of 2
    • 3 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    The First World War devastated Russia, catalysing the Tsar's downfall. Military defeats, such as at Tannenberg, shattered morale and highlighted equipment shortages. Economically, the war caused massive inflation and transport collapse, leading to acute food shortages. Socially, millions of casualties and widespread starvation fuelled immense public anger. Politically, the situation worsened in 1915 when Tsar Nicholas II became commander-in-chief. This disastrous decision meant he was held personally responsible for all military failures. Furthermore, his absence from Petrograd left the government in the hands of the unpopular Tsarina Alexandra and Rasputin, severely damaging the regime's credibility and alienating the Russian elite.

    What earns the marks

    • Detail specific military failures and their impact on army morale and public confidence.
    • Explain the economic consequences, including inflation and the breakdown of the railway system.
    • Describe the social impact of the war, focusing on casualties, conscription, and food shortages.
    • Analyse the political consequences of the Tsar becoming commander-in-chief and leaving the Tsarina in charge.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Stating the Tsar was a poor military tactician.

      Put it right: Focus on the political impact of him taking personal responsibility for defeats, regardless of his tactical skills.

    • Confusing the economic and social effects.

      Put it right: Clearly distinguish between economic factors like inflation and social factors like starvation and grief.

    • Overstating Rasputin's actual power.

      Put it right: Emphasise that the perception of his influence was more damaging than his actual political control.

    Exam tips

    • Use the decision to become commander-in-chief as a key turning point in the Tsar's loss of support.
    • Link the breakdown of the railway system directly to the food shortages in the cities.
    • When discussing political effects, mention the alienation of the aristocracy, not just the lower classes.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Option 30: Key topic 1: The revolutions of 1917 - 1 The growth of opposition to the tsar in early 1917: The impact of the First World War: military defeats; economic, political and social effects; the Tsar as commander-in-chief. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    What significant decision did Tsar Nicholas II make in September 1915 regarding the First World War?

    Listen

    The First World War devastated Russia, catalysing the Tsar's downfall. Military defeats, such as at Tannenberg, shattered morale and highlighted equipment shortages. Economically, the war caused massive inflation and transport collapse, leading to acute food shortages. Socially, millions of casualties and widespread starvation fuelled immense public anger. Politically, the situation worsened in 1915 when Tsar Nicholas II became commander-in-chief. This disastrous decision meant he was held personally responsible for all military failures. Furthermore, his absence from Petrograd left the government in the hands of the unpopular Tsarina Alexandra and Rasputin, severely damaging the regime's credibility and alienating the Russian elite. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Detail specific military failures and their impact on army morale and public confidence. Explain the economic consequences, including inflation and the breakdown of the railway system. Describe the social impact of the war, focusing on casualties, conscription, and food shortages. Analyse the political consequences of the Tsar becoming commander-in-chief and leaving the Tsarina in charge. A common slip: Stating the Tsar was a poor military tactician. Instead, focus on the political impact of him taking personal responsibility for defeats, regardless of his tactical skills. Exam tip: Use the decision to become commander-in-chief as a key turning point in the Tsar's loss of support.

    See it

    A flowchart beginning with a node for the First World War, which branches into four effects: military defeats, economic effects, social effects and political effects. Military defeats lead to shattered morale and equipment shortages. Economic effects lead to massive inflation and transport collapse, which leads to acute food shortages. Social effects lead to millions of casualties and starvation, which leads to widespread public anger. Political effects lead to the Tsar becoming commander-in-chief in 1915, which leads both to the Tsar being held personally responsible for military failures and to the Tsarina Alexandra and Rasputin being left in charge in Petrograd; the latter leads to damaged credibility and alienated elite.
    This shows how the First World War produced military, economic, social and political effects that damaged the Tsar's regime.

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Economic collapse

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Political instability

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Commander-in-chief

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Economic collapse
    The war caused massive inflation and transport collapse, leading to acute food shortages.
    Political instability
    The Tsar's absence from Petrograd left the government in the hands of the unpopular Tsarina Alexandra and Rasputin, severely damaging the regime's credibility and alienating the Russian elite.
    Commander-in-chief
    The role Tsar Nicholas II took in 1915, meaning he was held personally responsible for all military failures.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A flowchart beginning with a node for the First World War, which branches into four effects: military defeats, economic effects, social effects and political effects. Military defeats lead to shattered morale and equipment shortages. Economic effects lead to massive inflation and transport collapse, which leads to acute food shortages. Social effects lead to millions of casualties and starvation, which leads to widespread public anger. Political effects lead to the Tsar becoming commander-in-chief in 1915, which leads both to the Tsar being held personally responsible for military failures and to the Tsarina Alexandra and Rasputin being left in charge in Petrograd; the latter leads to damaged credibility and alienated elite.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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