The Russian Revolution:

Same Story, Different Perspectives

The Scene:

In March 1917, the ancient Russian monarchy collapsed and plans were made to introduce a democratic republic. By November, the Bolshevik party, under the control of Lenin, overthrough the temporary government and established the world’s first Communist government. The Russian Revolution marks a significant turning point in world history. This project will ask you to demonstrate knowledge of both the issues and events of the Revolution, while presenting that data in a creative manner.

The Project:

Students will put themselves in groups of 3-4 people. Each group will summarize the Russian Revolution in the form of a media report (print, video, or electronic). Only one group per class can use each media format. Some suggestions:

HDaily Newspsper HVideo Newscast

HTabloid (National Enquirer) HWomen’s Day Magazine

HIllustrated Children’s Story HLinked Webpages

HPro-Communist Propaganda HAnti-Communist Propaganda

HCollection of Songs H________________________

Content:

Each project must address the following historical content:

1. Root Causes of the revolutions in Russia

2. Events: March 1917 to Stalin’s Great Turn

3. Role of Individuals: Tsar, Rasputin, Lenin, Trotsky, Stalin, etc

4. Reforms under Lenin, Stalinization

5. Everyday life in the USSR

Project Timeline

Feb. 8/9 – Project Assigned Ü There will be no class time for research Feb. 17/18 – Research Notes due; In-class work period to complete Project Plan Ü Feb. 24/25 – In-class work period Ü Feb. 28 – Final Product Due

Sources: Students can begin by consulting some the following sources:

• World History: The Human Journey (pp. 519-521, & 557-561)

• Russian National Tourist Office: History of Russia http://www.interknowledge.com/russia/rushis01.htm

• Russian History: 1905-30

http://www.dur.ac.uk/%7Edml0www/1905-30.html

• The Russian Revolution

http://www.barnsdle.demon.co.uk/russ/rusrev.html

• Revelations from the Russian Archives

http://lcweb.loc.gov/exhibits/archives/intro.html

• The Soviet Secret Police

http://www.gulag.hu/index.htm

• Soviet Repression Statistics

http://www.uwm.edu/Course/448-343/index4.html

• The Soviet GULAG Era in Pictures

http://www.okay.com/dunc/gulag.htm

Additional sources can be found online or in the LRC.

Components:

There are four components to this project.

1. Research notes – each student will submit concise research notes with full bibliographical information (minimum 4 sides of paper & 3 different sources)

2. Project Plan – each group must submit a detailed outline of their final project, including a description of how the work will be shared by group members.

3. Final Product – students will share a hollistic mark based on the overall quality of the product as a whole.

4. Peer Assessment – each student will receive an individual grade based on their contribution to the group.