Lenin's Russia, 1918-1924

This unit can be taught in one of two ways, both of which I provide here. In addition, students can make use of the following interactive simulation:

Lenin and the USSR: A Decision-Making Adventure

Take on the role of a Politburo heavyweight and see how successfully you help Lenin to rule the USSR between 1917-24. A great simulation for approaching what can be a very complicated topic!

A. Lenin's Russia as a Roleplay-based unit (less detailed, but highly interactive - recommended!)

This unit is taught completely through roleplay! Each student takes on the role of a different Politburo member and researches 'their' perspective on the key issues facing the new Soviet state. The teacher takes the role of President Kalinin, acting as Chair. Each lesson then works through issues "as they arise" between 1918-24, with plentiful use made of primary sources and round-table discussions. As Lenin's decisions on each issue are outlined, students can then make notes not just on 'what happened' but on how controversial these decisions were and how far Lenin was abandoning his communist ideology in favour of pragmatism; they will also get a very thorough understanding of the different splits in the party which Stalin is later able to exploit to such devastating effect.

Student Resources (Lenin's Russia, 1918-1924)

Research Grid	PDF File	0.21MB	Preview Page 1
Politburo Image	PowerPoint	0.19MB
1917 Decrees 1918 Constitution	PDF File	0.19MB	Preview Page 1
1918 Cons Assembly	PDF File	0.19MB	Preview Page 1
Cartoon-Starter	Image File	1.71MB
1918 Brest Litovsk	PDF File	0.21MB	Preview Page 1
1918 WarCom-Aims	PDF File	0.2MB	Preview Page 1
Propaganda	PowerPoint	0.14MB
1918 Red Terror	PDF File	0.2MB	Preview Page 1
Dzerzhisky Image	PowerPoint	0.09MB
1919-20 Civil War	PDF File	0.21MB	Preview Page 1
Propaganda Posters	PowerPoint	21.7MB
1921 Revolts	PDF File	0.28MB	Preview Page 1
1921 Politburo Briefing	PowerPoint	0.21MB
1921 NEP	PDF File	0.19MB	Preview Page 1
1922 National Minorities	PDF File	0.41MB	Preview Page 1
Stalin and Friends	PowerPoint	0.33MB
1922 Lenins Testament	PDF File	0.72MB	Preview Page 1
Historiography	PDF File	0.21MB	Preview Page 1
Historiography 2	PDF File	0.19MB	Preview Page 1
Essay Task	PDF File	0.22MB	Preview Page 1
Homework Lenin Article by Russel Tarr-make notes	PDF File	1.65MB	Preview Page 1
Revision Activity-Game Worksheet	PDF File	0.2MB	Preview Page 1

B. Lenin's Russia as a worksheet-based unit (more detailed, but less interactive)

1.	Political Oppression: From the Constituent Assembly to the Red Terror
2.	Political Concession: The 1918 Constitution
3.	Peace and War: From Brest-Litovsk to Civil War
4.	The issue of National Minorities
5.	War Communism
6.	The Crisis Year: 1921
7.	The New Economic Policy
8.	Divisions within the Party by 1924
9.	Conclusion on Lenin
10.	Summary: Lecture Notes / Student Worksheet
11.	Lenin's Russia: Historiography

C. Interactive Simulations to use at appropriate points in the unit

Decision-making Game

The USSR under Lenin
How can you help Lenin rule Russia after seizing power in 1917? A comprehensive decision-making game complete with a worksheet which will give students a thorough grounding in the main events and issues of the period. This interactive simulation is particularly useful as a revision exercise in the lead-up to the final exams, which is when I use it.

Interactive Running Dictation Exercise

The Crisis Year: 1921
Students are provided with an interactive news "feed" that throws out events "as they happen" like a ticker-tape. They have to jot down as much as they can in the time have available and then produce a biased newspaper report about the events of the year.

Interactive Arcade Games

Interactive quizzes: Lenin's USSR [tips]

Manic Miner: Lenin's USSR	Wordshoot: Lenin's USSR	CannonBall Fun: Lenin's USSR	Matching Pairs: Lenin's USSR

1.	Fling the Teacher Quiz - USSR under Lenin
2.	KeyWord Challenge: Lenin's Russia [Interactive] If you are unfamiliar with the format of the game, click here for instructions.

History in the News for Lenin's Russia, 1918-1924

1. Kim Jong-il: North Korean tyrant is to be embalmed and displayed like Lenin KIM JONG-IL has won the ultimate communist honour – being embalmed and displayed for public worship. The former North Korean despot is getting the same formaldehyde-and-fawning treatment as his dictator dad Kim Il-sung after he died in 1994. Visitors paying their respects at Pyongyang’s Kumsusan Memorial Palace will have to bow three times...
2. Barack Obama compared to Hitler and Lenin in Tea Party billboard A roadside billboard created by a branch of the Tea Party in Iowa comparing President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin has been condemned by other groups in the movement.
3. Vladimir Lenin died from syphilis, new research claims
4. Lenin's nose put out of joint in Kiev
5. China plans a Karl Marx musical
6. CNBC claims "Comrade" Obama is a "Bolshevik" who is "taking cues from Lenin"
7. Georgia fails to escape its past (BBC)
8. Russia and Georgia move to brink of war
9. Tens of Thousands March 90 Years After Tsar's Death
10. Lenin statue vandalised by Ukrainian Nationalists
11. The London haunts of VI Lenin
12. Russian heir demands Tsar Nicholas II murder investigation
13. Vatican thumbs up for Karl Marx after Galileo, Darwin and Oscar Wilde
14. Romanov grand duchess's hidden jewellery found
15. DNA testing ends mystery surrounding Czar Nicholas II children
16. Bury Lenin's body, says Gorbachev
17. Huge tribute to Lenin visible on Google Earth
18. Crisis in Georgia: History repeating itself
19. Stalin and Last Tsar in Neck-and-Neck Race
20. Relics of the Soviet era remain in Russia #historyteacher
21. Did Britain try to assassinate Lenin?

History weblinks for Lenin's Russia, 1918-1924

1. Lenin’s view of Trotsky
2. Ebook: Rasputin and the Russian Revolution (1918) Highly biased account by a Russian Princess.
3. Ebook: The Russian Revolution 1917 Eyewitness Account Volume I (1962)
4. Ebook: The Bolshevik Revolution 1917-1923 (EH Carr) Volume I
5. "Say it with jewellery: Hitler bad, Lenin good" - interesting argument #historyteacher #sschat Say it with jewellery: Hitler bad, Lenin good
6. Seventeen Moments
7. Foreign Policy: Thoroughly Modern Marx
8. Ebook: The Russian diary of an Englishman, Petrograd, 1915-1917
9. Ebook: The Bolshevik Revolution 1917-1923 (EH Carr) Volume 2
10. Lenin's Russia, 1918-1924
11.