Russia 1894–1941

Russia 1894–1941 is a period of dramatic transformation, covering the collapse of the Tsarist autocracy under Nicholas II, the revolutions of 1917, the establishment of the world's first communist state, and the brutal consolidation of power under Stalin. This topic is central to understanding how a vast, multi-ethnic empire descended into chaos, revolution, and totalitarian dictatorship. For OCR A-Level History, you must analyse the political, economic, social, and cultural factors that drove these changes, including the impact of war, industrialisation, and ideology.

The period begins with the reign of Nicholas II, whose weak leadership and resistance to reform fuelled growing opposition from liberals, socialists, and nationalists. The 1905 Revolution forced limited concessions, but the Duma system failed to satisfy demands for democracy. World War I proved catastrophic, exposing the regime's incompetence and leading to the February Revolution of 1917, which ended the monarchy. The Provisional Government's failure to address land, peace, and bread issues allowed Lenin's Bolsheviks to seize power in October 1917, initiating a radical experiment in Marxism-Leninism.

The Bolsheviks faced civil war, economic collapse, and famine, leading to War Communism and then the New Economic Policy (NEP). After Lenin's death, Stalin outmanoeuvred rivals like Trotsky to become dictator. His 'revolution from above' transformed the USSR through forced collectivisation, rapid industrialisation under Five-Year Plans, and a reign of terror via the Great Purges. By 1941, Russia was a totalitarian state with a command economy, but at immense human cost. This topic is vital for understanding modern authoritarianism, the limits of revolutionary change, and the interplay between ideology and power.