Russian Revolution Reading and Questions for Students Pdf
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Teaching the Russian Revolution With The New York Times
Should the Russian Revolution be remembered as one of history'south great turning points — or should it be "relegated to the dustbin of history" given that the new nation information technology created, the Soviet Spousal relationship, no longer exists?
This month is the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution (which at present falls in November, given a unlike calendar). In 1917, Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks orchestrated an boggling coup that created the earth'due south commencement communist state. The centennial presents an opportunity for students to reflect on its significance. Beneath, we suggest a range of activities that employ materials both from the electric current New York Times and from the newspaper's archives.
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If You Have One or Two Class Periods ...
Warm Upwards
Students, working in pairs or small groups, should come up with a list of criteria to determine what historical events should exist commemorated past a nation 100 years later.
Here are some questions for students to consider as they come up with their list:
• What makes a historical event important and worthy of remembering decades after?
• Should the outcome exist symbolic? Should information technology stand for larger ideals? Explain.
• Should the event have noteworthy consequences or effects?
• Should the upshot exist unifying, for society today and into the future? Or, can it be divisive?
• Should the event take global repercussions? Or, is that not necessary?
Then, have students share their criteria with the class. What standards do they agree on? In what ways do they disagree?
Then enquire students to briefly respond to this prompt in writing — based on the criteria they decided on, and on what they already know from studying history:
Should Russia commemorate the Russian Revolution on its 100th anniversary? Why or why non?
But, don't accept students share until after they do the action below.
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Activity
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In the March 2017 article "'Revolution? What Revolution?' Russian federation Asks 100 Years Later," Neil MacFarquhar reports on how the events of 1917 reshaped the country and the world, but the idea of celebrating an uprising of any sort is unwelcome in the Kremlin.
Have students read the article and answer the questions that follow. The commodity begins:
The Kremlin plans to sit out the centenary of the Russian Revolution.
Never mind that the upheavals of 1917 transformed the country and the world, abruptly ending the long rule of the czars, ushering in the Communist era and spawning an ideological confrontation with the W that still resonates.
There will be no national holiday on Sunday, March 12, the date more often than not recognized as the start of the uprising. Nor will there even be a authorities-issued official estimation, similar the one mandating that World State of war 2 was a "Keen Victory."
The official reason proffered for ignoring the event is that Russia remains too divided over the consequences of that fateful twelvemonth.
The more likely explanation, some Kremlin officials, historians and other analysts say, is that President Vladimir V. Putin loathes the very idea of revolution, not to mention the idea of Russians dancing in the streets to gloat the overthrow of any ruler. Moreover, 1917 smudges the Kremlin's version of Russian history as a long, unified march to greatness, meant to instill a sense of national pride and purpose.
Questions for Writing and Word
1. Why does the Kremlin plan to "sit out the centenary of the Russian Revolution?" What's the official reason? What's the "more likely explanation," according to the commodity?
2. What is the Kremlin'south preferred narrative of Russian history? And, why doesn't the Russian Revolution fit neatly into that narrative?
3. What does the phrase, "We live in historical schizophrenia," hateful? Do you agree with that characterization of Russian federation? Practice other countries, such as the United States, likewise alive in "historical schizophrenia?" In what ways?
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Below, we present a diverseness of activities for studying the Russian Revolution in more depth.
i. Brand a social media account documenting the Russian Revolution.
Mikhail Zygar, a one-time editor in chief of the contained Tv set Rain news channel, is recreating the events of 1917 in a Facebook-manner feed. Have students explore Projection 1917 and then create their own Facebook, Twitter or Instagram imitation, imagining that social media existed a century agone. Students might work in pairs or pocket-sized groups to create profiles for different historical figures or fictional characters (peasants or sailors, for example), each representing different points of view and demographics, through whose eyes they might interpret the events. Y'all tin can find different templates online for the diverse social media platforms.
two. Uncover something new in the Times athenaeum.
Times reporters covered the Russian Revolution as it happened in 1917. Only later did historians utilize paper reporting, along with letters, diaries, official papers, witness accounts and other primary sources to piece together a fuller picture of what happened. Ask students: What new information can you find by going back to an original source like The New York Times? Students can fill out our Primary Source Analysis handout (PDF) to guide their work.
They can look for articles using the Advanced Search in The Times (use the "specific dates" option for best results), or in TimesMachine (for subscribers only).
They tin too choose one of these 4 articles that nosotros highlight in our On This Solar day in History feature:
"Hunger Causes Petrograd Riots" (March 12, 1917) — view in TimesMachine
On March 8, 1917, Russia'due south February Revolution (and then chosen because of the Old Style agenda used by Russians at the time) began with rioting and strikes in Saint petersburg.
"Bolsheviki Seize State Buildings, Defying Kerensky" (November. eight, 1917) — view in TimesMachine
On Nov. 7, 1917, Russia'southward Bolshevik Revolution took place equally forces led by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin overthrew the provisional government of Alexander Kerensky.
"Ex-Czar of Russian federation Killed by Order of Ural Soviet" (July 21, 1918) — view in TimesMachine
On July 16, 1918, Russia's Czar Nicholas 2, his wife and their v children were executed past the Bolsheviks.
"Lenin Dies of Cognitive Hemorrhage; Moscow Throngs Overcome With Grief; Trotsky Departs Ill, Radek in Disfavor" (Jan. 23, 1924) — view in TimesMachine
On January. 21, 1924, the Russian revolutionary Vladimir Ilyich Lenin died at age 53.
iii. Write an obituary or evangelize a eulogy for the Soviet Union.
Take students read the first few paragraphs of the article "End of the Soviet Union; The Soviet State, Born of a Dream, Dies," an obituary of sorts by Serge Schmemann, published in Dec 1991 at the time of the autumn of the Soviet Union. It begins:
The Soviet state, marked throughout its brief but tumultuous history past cracking accomplishment and terrible suffering, died today after a long and painful decline. It was 74 years old.
Conceived in utopian promise and built-in in the violent upheavals of the "Swell October Revolution of 1917," the wedlock heaved its last in the dreary darkness of late December 1991, stripped of credo, dismembered, bankrupt and hungry — but awe-inspiring even in its fall.
So, assign students to write their ain obituary or eulogy. Consider: How should the stop of the Soviet Marriage exist seen, especially on this centennial of its nascency?
Prototype
4. Write a historical analysis essay in the spirit of the essays included in The Times'southward Red Century collection.
Mark the centennial of the Russian Revolution, The Times Stance section is running a cavalcade of essays exploring the history and legacy of Communism. The topics of these Opinion pieces range from punk rock and science fiction to propaganda and parenting.
Accept students choose one of the essays published in "Red Century" to read and briefly nowadays to the class. Then, ask them to choose a new topic related to Soviet history to enquiry and write up in an essay of ane,500 words or fewer. The class could even publish its own version of a "Red Century" anthology of essays.
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How have you taught the Russian Revolution? Let united states of america know in the comments.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/01/learning/lesson-plans/teaching-the-russian-revolution-with-the-new-york-times.html
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