HTAV
October 2011
EXAM SECTION A
Revolutions
Richard Malone
Crane Brinton –
“Anatomy of Revolution” (1938)
Radical
Stage
Moderate
Stage
Old
Regime
Recovery
Stage
Interpreting Revolutions
Or is a revolution a brilliant act of health?
General tips
to writing good history
• Be specific. Avoid generalisations such as
‘everyone lost confidence in the Tsar.’
• Provide precise evidence to support your ideas.
• Know dates of events so that you can
understand the context of events, and discuss
events before and after specific events in the
questions.
Make timelines.
Learn dates.
• Practice whole exam papers
Practice using Reading Time well
Practice timing of each section and
exam as a whole
Remember not to answer every question
in the paper – one revolution per section
Decide which revolution to do in each section
Ways to organise your notes
• Area of Study
Area of Study 1
1905-1917
Content – main events
• 1905 Revolution –
• World War One –
• February Revolution –
• Dual Government –
• October Revolution –
Content – main leaders
•
•
•
•
•
Tsar Nicholas II
Witte & Stolyin
Alexandra & Rasputin
Kerensky
Lenin
• Trotsky
Content – main ideas
• C
• R
• A
• P
Content – main themes
• Economic crisis –
small landholdings, poor conditions, failed harvests meant business
struggle & hardship in towns. Made worse by food and fuel shortages, high
inflation & unemployment of WW1
• Political tension –
long term economic & social struggles lessened traditional supporters of
tsarism. Plus growth in industrial working class created an increased
attraction of Marxism. Tsar did not recognise his isolation.
• Unwillingness to reform –
Tsar perceived any political reform to be an attack on precious autocratic
rule
• Rising & unmet expectations –
psychological damage of conditions from Witte’s reforms, failure of Dumas
and demoralisation of war
Sir G Buchanan
“The Emperor Nicholas II is one of the most
pathetic figures in history. He loved his
country. He had its welfare and greatness
at heart. Yet it was he who was to cause
the catastrophe which has brought it to
utter ruin and misery.”
My Mission to Russia and Other Diplomatic memories (1923)
Exam Tips for each Section
Tips taken from
 Assessors Report at
www.vcaa.vic.edu.au
(for 2010 exam)
 VCE Exam Guide
in The Age, 2011.
Section A Part 1 Qu 1 and 2
“Paragraph Answers”
• Average in 2010 exam was 5/10 for Question 1
and 4.1/10 for Question 2
• Learn facts about each event in Area of Study 1
• Show a range of knowledge – 3-4 different
points
• Only use knowledge from the time frame in the
question
• Link knowledge to the contribution to a
‘revolutionary situation’ or the ‘development of
the revolution’.
• Learn about the outcome or significance of
each event – crucial to be able to make
connections between events and to show
the sequence of events
• Use linking phrases like ‘furthermore’
• Limit your response to the lines provided.
• Write answer in a clear logical order – use
signposting such as firstly, secondly,
thirdly.
Direct Extract from VCAA
Assessors’ Report
“The best answers showed an excellent
range of knowledge and responded well to
the cue ‘how did’. They showed a clear
understanding of the contribution of events
to the revolutionary situation and
explained the steps in a logical sequence.
Excellent responses used correct and
specific historical terms and included
dates, places and names.”
The following is a high-level
response to Question 1 on Russia.
• Question 2
Using
three
or
four
points,
explain
how
• Using three or four points, explain how
defeat
in the
Russo–Japanese
War
Lenin’s
‘April
Theses’
contributed to
theof
1904
contributed
to
a
revolutionary
development of the October
situation by 1905.
• Revolution of 1917.
Provide evidence to support your answer.
• Provide evidence to support your answer.
• The unexpected defeat of Russia in the Russo–Japanese War was
highly significant in contributing to a revolutionary situation by1905.
Firstly, soldiers who were angered by the harsh conditions they had
endured during the war and their humiliating defeat, began to revolt in
certain instances like the mutiny of the Battleship Potemkin in 1905. This
allowed the Tsar to understand the seriousness of the possible threat to
his power. What is more, this same dissatisfaction with the defeat and
disillusionment with the Tsar was re-echoed amongst urban population
as people were shocked that Tsarist Russia had succumbed so easily to
an Asian nation which had been held in contempt as inherently inferior.
The fact that nearly half the Russian fleet had been sunk in the Battle of
Tsushima Straits (May 1905) shocked the Russian people and led them
to question the supposed infallibility and omnipotence of their aristocratic
leader, Nicholas II. Furthermore, the cost of engagement in the war had
compounded the already serious economic problems, causing a decline
in living standards and consequently simmering dissatisfaction that
threatened to overboil. eg. In Russian cities there were an average 16
people to an apartment and factory workers endured 60 hour working
weeks. Thus the ‘spark’ of the January Bloody Sunday massacre caused
the flames of revolution to arise. Finally the fact that angry sailors and
soldiers were returning to St. Petersburg in October 1905 as a massive
general strike was raging, forced the Tsar to take action because he
knew they could otherwise add to the growing unrest and lead to a full
blown revolution. Thus the Tsar introduced the October Manifesto which
promised reform in October 17 1905.
• The unexpected defeat of Russia in the Russo–Japanese War was
highly significant in contributing to a revolutionary situation by1905.
Firstly, soldiers who were angered by the harsh conditions they had
endured during the war and their humiliating defeat, began to revolt in
certain instances like the mutiny of the Battleship Potemkin in 1905. This
allowed the Tsar to understand the seriousness of the possible threat to
his power. What is more, this same dissatisfaction with the defeat and
disillusionment with the Tsar was re-echoed amongst urban population
as people were shocked that Tsarist Russia had succumbed so easily to
an Asian nation which had been held in contempt as inherently inferior.
The fact that nearly half the Russian fleet had been sunk in the Battle of
Tsushima Straits (May 1905) shocked the Russian people and led them
to question the supposed infallibility and omnipotence of their aristocratic
leader, Nicholas II. Furthermore, the cost of engagement in the war had
compounded the already serious economic problems, causing a decline
in living standards and consequently simmering dissatisfaction that
threatened to overboil. eg. In Russian cities there were an average 16
people to an apartment and factory workers endured 60 hour working
weeks. Thus the ‘spark’ of the January Bloody Sunday massacre caused
the flames of revolution to arise. Finally the fact that angry sailors and
soldiers were returning to St. Petersburg in October 1905 as a massive
general strike was raging, forced the Tsar to take action because he
knew they could otherwise add to the growing unrest and lead to a full
blown revolution. Thus the Tsar introduced the October Manifesto which
promised reform in October 17 1905.
• The unexpected defeat of Russia in the Russo–Japanese War was
highly significant in contributing to a revolutionary situation by1905.
Firstly, soldiers who were angered by the harsh conditions they had
endured during the war and their humiliating defeat, began to revolt in
certain instances like the mutiny of the Battleship Potemkin in 1905. This
allowed the Tsar to understand the seriousness of the possible threat to
his power. What is more, this same dissatisfaction with the defeat and
disillusionment with the Tsar was re-echoed amongst urban population
as people were shocked that Tsarist Russia had succumbed so easily to
an Asian nation which had been held in contempt as inherently inferior.
The fact that nearly half the Russian fleet had been sunk in the Battle of
Tsushima Straits (May 1905) shocked the Russian people and led them
to question the supposed infallibility and omnipotence of their aristocratic
leader, Nicholas II. Furthermore, the cost of engagement in the war had
compounded the already serious economic problems, causing a decline
in living standards and consequently simmering dissatisfaction that
threatened to overboil. eg. In Russian cities there were an average 16
people to an apartment and factory workers endured 60 hour working
weeks. Thus the ‘spark’ of the January Bloody Sunday massacre caused
the flames of revolution to arise. Finally the fact that angry sailors and
soldiers were returning to St. Petersburg in October 1905 as a massive
general strike was raging, forced the Tsar to take action because he
knew they could otherwise add to the growing unrest and lead to a full
blown revolution. Thus the Tsar introduced the October Manifesto which
promised reform in October 17 1905.
• The unexpected defeat of Russia in the Russo–Japanese War was
highly significant in contributing to a revolutionary situation by1905.
Firstly, soldiers who were angered by the harsh conditions they had
endured during the war and their humiliating defeat, began to revolt in
certain instances like the mutiny of the Battleship Potemkin in 1905. This
allowed the Tsar to understand the seriousness of the possible threat to
his power. What is more, this same dissatisfaction with the defeat and
disillusionment with the Tsar was re-echoed amongst urban population
as people were shocked that Tsarist Russia had succumbed so easily to
an Asian nation which had been held in contempt as inherently inferior.
The fact that nearly half the Russian fleet had been sunk in the Battle of
Tsushima Straits (May 1905) shocked the Russian people and led them
to question the supposed infallibility and omnipotence of their aristocratic
leader, Nicholas II. Furthermore, the cost of engagement in the war had
compounded the already serious economic problems, causing a decline
in living standards and consequently simmering dissatisfaction that
threatened to overboil. eg. In Russian cities there were an average 16
people to an apartment and factory workers endured 60 hour working
weeks. Thus the ‘spark’ of the January Bloody Sunday massacre caused
the flames of revolution to arise. Finally the fact that angry sailors and
soldiers were returning to St. Petersburg in October 1905 as a massive
general strike was raging, forced the Tsar to take action because he
knew they could otherwise add to the growing unrest and lead to a full
blown revolution. Thus the Tsar introduced the October Manifesto which
promised reform in October 17 1905.
• The unexpected defeat of Russia in the Russo–Japanese War was
highly significant in contributing to a revolutionary situation by1905.
Firstly, soldiers who were angered by the harsh conditions they had
endured during the war and their humiliating defeat, began to revolt in
certain instances like the mutiny of the Battleship Potemkin in 1905. This
allowed the Tsar to understand the seriousness of the possible threat to
his power. What is more, this same dissatisfaction with the defeat and
disillusionment with the Tsar was re-echoed amongst urban population
as people were shocked that Tsarist Russia had succumbed so easily to
an Asian nation which had been held in contempt as inherently inferior.
The fact that nearly half the Russian fleet had been sunk in the Battle of
Tsushima Straits (May 1905) shocked the Russian people and led them
to question the supposed infallibility and omnipotence of their aristocratic
leader, Nicholas II. Furthermore, the cost of engagement in the war had
compounded the already serious economic problems, causing a decline
in living standards and consequently simmering dissatisfaction that
threatened to overboil. eg. In Russian cities there were an average 16
people to an apartment and factory workers endured 60 hour working
weeks. Thus the ‘spark’ of the January Bloody Sunday massacre caused
the flames of revolution to arise. Finally the fact that angry sailors and
soldiers were returning to St. Petersburg in October 1905 as a massive
general strike was raging, forced the Tsar to take action because he
knew they could otherwise add to the growing unrest and lead to a full
blown revolution. Thus the Tsar introduced the October Manifesto which
promised reform in October 17 1905.
How do I know if I’ve
written a good answer?






Area of Study 2
1917-1924
Content – main events
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Land Decree
Social Reforms
Dismissal of Constituent Assembly
Treaty of Brest Litovsk
Murder of Royal Family
Civil War – Reds vs Whites vs Greens
International War
War Communism
Kronstadt Revolt
New Economic Policy
Lenin’s Death
Section A Part 2 Qu 3 “Visual or
document analysis”
• Average mark in 2010 exam was 1.9 for question 3 a)
and 1.8 for 3 b). 86% of students wrote a response that
received full marks
• Average mark in 2010 exam was 2.6/5 for 3 c). 15% of
students wrote a HIGH response ie 5-6 out of 6.
• Average mark in 2010 exam was 4.3/10 for 3d). 15% of
students wrote a HIGH response ie 8-10 out of 10.
• Analysis of these statistics is to therefore focus on
improving your writing of 3d), and 3c), responses as you
have the greatest opportunity to gaining more marks.
Question 3c
• Refer directly to parts of the graphic or
document
•
For example, directly mention specific
features or elements of the graphic.
•
For example, quote directly from the
document.
• use different information in 3c and 3d
• must quote from the extract
• do not use historians
• explain events in the context of the document or
graphic.
The following is a high-level
response to Question 3c on
Russia.
c. Using your own knowledge and the
extract, explain the consequences of
Lenin’s introduction of the New
Economic Policy from 1921–24.
• Lenin’s reference to the NEP being intended to ‘strengthen the
foundations of socialism’ speaks to the intended effect of the
NEP to consolidate the Communist Party’s rule. The NEP did
indeed lead to a decline in opposition to the Bolsheviks in
Russia’s urban population and peasants benefitted as electricity
production multiplied by 3 times between 1921 and 1924 and
the average workers wage increased by 150%. However, an
unfavourable result was the advent of criticism in the Bolshevik
Party itself as members like Kamanev labelled the NEP the
‘New Exploitation of the Proletariat’. Also Lenin’s idea that there
would be a revival of the ‘petty bourgeoisie’ was realised as
Nepmen, people who bought and sold manufactured goods at a
profit came to be rich. However, Lenin’s idea that
‘manufactured goods’ would become easily available was not
instantly realised as the Scissors Crisis 1923 resulted from the
NEP. As the trade of grain was made free but industry still kept
under state control, manufactured goods came to be 3 times as
expensive as agricultural products and were incredibly difficult
to obtain.
• Lenin’s reference to the NEP being intended to ‘strengthen the
foundations of socialism’ speaks to the intended effect of the
NEP to consolidate the Communist Party’s rule. The NEP did
indeed lead to a decline in opposition to the Bolsheviks in
Russia’s urban population and peasants benefitted as electricity
production multiplied by 3 times between 1921 and 1924 and
the average workers wage increased by 150%. However, an
unfavourable result was the advent of criticism in the Bolshevik
Party itself as members like Kamanev labelled the NEP the
‘New Exploitation of the Proletariat’. Also Lenin’s idea that there
would be a revival of the ‘petty bourgeoisie’ was realised as
Nepmen, people who bought and sold manufactured goods at a
profit came to be rich. However, Lenin’s idea that
‘manufactured goods’ would become easily available was not
instantly realised as the Scissors Crisis 1923 resulted from the
NEP. As the trade of grain was made free but industry still kept
under state control, manufactured goods came to be 3 times as
expensive as agricultural products and were incredibly difficult
to obtain.
Question 3d
• .
Historical Perspectives
Marxist
Western
Revisionist
Richard Pipes
“The tragic and sordid history
of the Russian Revolution…
teaches us that political authority
must never be employed for ideological
ends. It is best to let people be.”
Communism: a brief history (2001) page 512
How do I know if I’ve
written a good 3d answer?
 I summarised the perspective of the document or
graphic in my 1st sentence
 I commented on the strengths of this perspective
 I included historians and evidence that agreed with
the perspective of the document/graphic
 I commented on the problems of this perspective
 I included historians and evidence that disagreed
with the perspective of the document/graphic
 I focused directly on what the question was asking
Practice
Perspective 1
Practice
Perspective 2
Practice
Perspective 3
Practice
Perspective
4
Title
“Always
Ready”
Practice Perspective 5
Dominic Lieven
“In no circumstances would 20th century Russian
History have been pleasant or bloodless. But
Lenin made it far worse than it needed to be. In
1917 he combine fanaticism, ruthlessness and
absolute self-confidence with a terrifying naivety
about government, economics and Russian
society…To impose such immense sacrifices in
the name of so naïve and flawed a vision makes
Lenin one of the greatest criminals of the 20th
Century.” (2000)
Practice Perspective 6
Orlando Figes
“If there was one lesson to be drawn from the
Russian Revolution it was that the people had
failed to emancipate themselves. They had
failed to become their own political masters, to
free themselves from emperors and become
citizens.”
Practice Perspective 7
Christopher Hill
• Lenin represented the oppressed
• Lenin represented the pure qualities of
communism
• Lenin was a true Russian patriot
• “The revolutionary process abolished a
regime of despair and created a new world of
hope.”