Russia in revolution, 1894–1924

This topic covers the dramatic collapse of the Russian Empire under Tsar Nicholas II and the subsequent establishment of the world's first communist state. It spans from the accession of Nicholas II in 1894 to the death of Lenin in 1924, encompassing the 1905 Revolution, the First World War, the February and October Revolutions of 1917, the Russian Civil War, and the consolidation of Bolshevik power. Understanding this period is crucial because it shaped the entire 20th century, influencing global politics, economics, and ideology.

The core narrative is about why the Tsarist autocracy fell and how the Bolsheviks were able to seize and hold power against overwhelming odds. Key themes include the failure of political reform, the impact of war, the role of revolutionary parties, and the struggle for control between different social groups. Students must analyse the interplay of long-term structural problems (like peasant land hunger and industrial unrest) with short-term triggers (like the First World War). This topic also introduces key concepts like Marxism, Leninism, and the dictatorship of the proletariat, which are essential for understanding later Soviet history.

Within the wider Edexcel A-Level course, this unit is often paired with 'Stalin's Russia, 1924–1953' or 'The Soviet Union, 1917–1991', so a solid grasp of the revolutionary period is vital. It also connects to themes of ideology, state-building, and social change that recur across modern history. Students should expect to evaluate interpretations of key events, such as whether the October Revolution was a coup or a popular uprising, and to use primary sources like Lenin's speeches or Tsarist police reports.