Seeds of Revolution

Curriculum Area and Level

Curriculum Area: Social Studies - US History
Grade Level: Year 11 (11th Grade)
Standards Addressed:

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.2: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.6: Evaluate authors’ differing points of view on the same historical event or issue by assessing the authors’ claims, reasoning, and evidence.
• D2.His.5.9-12: Analyze how historical contexts shaped and continue to shape people’s perspectives.

---

Objective

By the end of this lesson, students will:

1. Understand the causes, major events, and consequences of the Russian Revolution (1917) as they pertain to global contexts.
2. Analyze connections between the Russian Revolution and potential fears or concerns in the US during the early 20th century (e.g., the Red Scare).
3. Develop critical thinking skills by examining primary and secondary sources.

---

Lesson Outline (45 minutes)

1. Introduction – Setting the Scene (5 minutes)

Objective: Immerse students in the global climate leading up to the Russian Revolution.

• Begin by projecting an image of workers protesting in St. Petersburg (1905) and playing a short classical piece by Russian composer Rachmaninoff from the early 20th century.
• Engage students with a brief “Think-Pair-Share”:
  • Prompt: "How do economic, political, and social unrest lead to change?"
  • Have students jot down their thoughts in 1 minute, share with a partner, and then discuss as a whole class for 2 minutes.
• Clarify the goals of the lesson, emphasizing that the Russian Revolution reveals broader lessons about the causes and consequences of large-scale societal change.

---

2. Core Content – The Russian Revolution in Depth (20 minutes)

Objective: Explore key events, figures, ideas, and causes.

Presentation (10 minutes)

Utilize a highly visual PowerPoint or handout to break the revolution into digestible segments. Include:

• Stage 1: Causes of the Revolution
  • Autocracy under Tsar Nicholas II.
  • Economic disparity and the plight of peasants.
  • Failure of reforms post-1905 Revolution.
  • The impact of WWI: resource shortages and military losses.
• Stage 2: Key Events in 1917
  • February/March Revolution: Abdication of Nicholas II and establishment of the Provisional Government.
  • Rise of Bolsheviks led by Lenin.
  • October/November Revolution: Overthrow of the Provisional Government and establishment of Soviet control.
• Stage 3: Consequences
  • End of the Romanov dynasty.
  • Civil War between Red and White Armies.
  • Establishment of the USSR in 1922.
  • Ideological ripple effects worldwide, including fears of communism in the US.

Interactive Group Task (10 minutes)

Objective: Students analyze multiple perspectives on the revolution.

1. Divide the class into 5 groups, assigning each group one of the following perspectives:
   • A Bolshevik revolutionary.
   • A factory worker.
   • A Tsarist loyalist.
   • A member of the US government concerned about socialism.
   • A soldier in WWI witnessing the events unfold.
2. Distribute short primary or secondary excerpts relevant to each perspective. Examples could include:
   • Lenin’s "April Theses."
   • A letter from a soldier in the trenches.
   • A US newspaper editorial on the spread of communism.
3. Task: Each group answers:
   • What does this person think about the revolution?
   • How might their experience influence their view?
   • How does their perspective compare to life in the US at the same time?

---

3. Application – Connecting the Dots (15 minutes)

Objective: Relate the revolution’s impact to the US and encourage deep historical thinking.

Discussion

1. Display a political cartoon from the Red Scare (e.g., a depiction of the "Red Menace").
2. Facilitate a class discussion with guiding questions:
   • How might the Russian Revolution have influenced fears in the US during the 1910s and 1920s?
   • What similarities and differences existed between US and Russian societies at the time?
   • What lessons can we learn from this period about societal change?

Creative Extension Activity

Optionally, have students pretend to be journalists writing a front-page article for a major US newspaper in 1918. They will:

• Write a short headline and paragraph summarizing the impact of the Russian Revolution on US concerns about socialism.

---

4. Closure – Reflect and Review (5 minutes)

Objective: Reinforce key points and leave students thinking critically.

• Pose a reflective question: “If similar conditions of unrest and inequality arose in a nation today, how might people respond differently with the benefit of hindsight?”
• Collect 1-minute student exit tickets answering:
  • What was the most surprising or impactful thing you learned today?
  • How does studying the Russian Revolution help us better understand current events?

---

Materials Needed

1. Projector and PowerPoint/Images on slide deck.
2. Handouts with primary and secondary source excerpts.
3. Whiteboard and markers for discussion prompts.
4. Optional: Classical music to play during the introduction.

---

Assessment

• Informal: Evaluate participation in group tasks and discussions for critical thinking and engagement.
• Formal: Exit tickets to gauge individual understanding and reflection.

---

Teacher’s Note
This lesson uses multi-sensory and collaborative strategies to help students explore a transformative global event through varied perspectives. Feel free to adapt the material to your students’ specific needs and interests while encouraging historical empathy and analysis!