Guided reading delves into the intertwined fates of WWI and Russia, examining how global conflicts and domestic issues fueled revolutionary upheaval by 2025.

Analyzing primary sources reveals perspectives on this pivotal era, highlighting the dramatic shifts in power and ideology witnessed across the globe.

Historical Context: Early 20th Century Europe

Early 20th-century Europe was a complex tapestry of imperial ambitions, intricate alliances, and burgeoning nationalism – a fertile ground for conflict. Guided reading explores how these pre-war tensions, coupled with rapid industrialization and demographic shifts, created a volatile atmosphere.

The rise of competing economic powers, like Germany challenging British dominance, alongside internal pressures within empires, set the stage for the cataclysm of WWI and its ripple effects on Russia. Examining this context is crucial for understanding the subsequent revolutions.

Causes of World War I

Guided reading uncovers the multifaceted origins of WWI, from long-term systemic factors to the immediate spark – the assassination – and their impact on Russia.

Analyzing geopolitical dynamics and nationalistic fervor reveals the complex web of events leading to global conflict by 2025.

Long-Term Factors: Imperialism, Alliances, Militarism

Guided reading explores how intense imperialism fueled rivalries, creating tensions across Europe and beyond, impacting Russia’s sphere of influence by 2025.

The intricate system of alliances, designed for security, paradoxically escalated localized conflicts into a continental war, while rampant militarism fostered an arms race and aggressive posturing.

Analyzing these interconnected factors reveals a pre-war landscape primed for explosion, setting the stage for widespread devastation and political transformation.

Short-Term Trigger: The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Guided reading focuses on the assassination in Sarajevo, examining its role as the catalyst that ignited the powder keg of pre-existing tensions by 2025.

Students will analyze how Austria-Hungary’s response, backed by Germany, triggered a chain reaction of declarations of war, drawing major powers into conflict.

The event’s impact is explored through primary sources, revealing the swift escalation and the failure of diplomatic efforts to prevent a large-scale European war.

The Impact of WWI on Russia

Guided reading explores how WWI exacerbated Russia’s internal weaknesses, fueling economic hardship and widespread discontent by 2025, setting the stage for revolution.

Military Weakness & Economic Strain

Guided reading reveals Russia’s military inadequacies during WWI, leading to devastating losses and logistical failures by 2025. This strain crippled the economy, causing food shortages and inflation.

Analyzing primary sources demonstrates the impact on civilian life, highlighting widespread suffering and eroding public trust in the Tsarist regime. The war exposed deep-seated systemic problems, accelerating the path towards revolution and societal collapse.

Social Unrest & Dissatisfaction with the Tsarist Regime

Guided reading illuminates the growing social unrest in Russia, fueled by war-related hardships and long-standing grievances by 2025. Widespread dissatisfaction with Tsar Nicholas II’s autocratic rule intensified.

Primary source analysis reveals worker strikes, peasant uprisings, and military mutinies, demonstrating a breakdown in social order. These factors, combined with economic woes, created a volatile environment ripe for revolutionary change and regime overthrow.

The February Revolution (1917)

Guided reading explores the February Revolution’s impact, detailing Tsar Nicholas II’s abdication and the subsequent establishment of a Provisional Government by 2025.

Analyzing sources reveals the initial hopes for democratic reform, alongside the continuing challenges of war and social unrest.

Abdication of Tsar Nicholas II

Guided reading focuses on the mounting pressures that led to Tsar Nicholas II’s abdication in March 1917, a pivotal moment fueled by WWI’s failures and domestic unrest by 2025.

Primary source analysis reveals the military’s loss of faith, widespread strikes, and the Duma’s demands for change. Examining accounts from the period illustrates the Tsar’s diminishing authority and the growing calls for a new government, ultimately ending centuries of Romanov rule.

Establishment of the Provisional Government

Guided reading explores the formation of the Provisional Government following the Tsar’s abdication, analyzing its initial goals and challenges amidst ongoing WWI turmoil by 2025.

Primary sources reveal the government’s attempts to establish democratic reforms while grappling with war continuation debates. Examining perspectives from various political factions highlights the inherent instability and the dual power structure emerging with the Petrograd Soviet, setting the stage for further revolution.

The Rise of the Bolsheviks

Guided reading focuses on Lenin’s return and the April Theses, analyzing Bolshevik propaganda’s impact and growing support amidst widespread dissatisfaction by 2025.

Interpreting historical accounts reveals the strategic maneuvering that propelled the Bolsheviks to prominence.

Lenin’s Return & The April Theses

Guided reading explores Lenin’s pivotal 1917 return, examining how his leadership reshaped the revolutionary landscape. Analysis of the April Theses reveals a radical shift, demanding “Peace, Land, and Bread” – resonating with war-weary citizens.

Primary source interpretation highlights Lenin’s strategic brilliance in capitalizing on societal unrest and challenging the Provisional Government’s authority. Students will dissect the theses’ impact on Bolshevik ideology and popular support, understanding its role in the coming October Revolution by 2025.

Bolshevik Propaganda & Growing Support

Guided reading focuses on the Bolsheviks’ masterful use of propaganda, analyzing how slogans like “Peace, Land, and Bread” effectively mobilized popular discontent amidst WWI’s hardships. Examining primary sources – pamphlets, speeches – reveals targeted messaging appealing to soldiers, peasants, and workers.

Students will assess how this propaganda skillfully exploited Provisional Government weaknesses, fostering growing support for a radical regime change by 2025, ultimately paving the way for the October Revolution.

The October Revolution (1917)

Guided reading explores the Bolshevik-led overthrow of the Provisional Government, analyzing the swift seizure of power and the establishment of Soviet rule by 2025.

Overthrow of the Provisional Government

Guided reading focuses on the strategic planning and execution of the Bolshevik takeover, examining the weaknesses of the Provisional Government and the growing discontent among soldiers and workers by 2025.

Analyzing primary sources reveals the key events of October 1917, including the storming of the Winter Palace and the swift consolidation of Bolshevik control. Students will interpret differing historical perspectives on the legitimacy and impact of this pivotal moment, understanding its connection to WWI’s strains.

Establishment of Soviet Rule

Guided reading explores the initial decrees and policies enacted by the Bolsheviks following their seizure of power, focusing on land redistribution, worker control, and the pursuit of peace by 2025.

Students will analyze primary source documents – like early Soviet legislation – to understand the ideological foundations of the new regime. Examining diverse historical interpretations reveals the complexities of establishing a communist state amidst ongoing civil war and the lingering effects of WWI.

Russia’s Withdrawal from World War I

Guided analysis centers on the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, examining its harsh terms and the strategic rationale behind Russia’s exit from the conflict by 2025.

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Guided reading focuses on dissecting the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, a pivotal agreement ending Russia’s participation in WWI. Students will analyze the significant territorial losses imposed upon Russia, including Ukraine, Poland, and the Baltic states.

Primary source examination will reveal the Bolsheviks’ motivations for accepting such unfavorable terms – prioritizing domestic consolidation over continued warfare. Discussions will explore the treaty’s long-term consequences, contributing to future geopolitical tensions and shaping the post-war landscape by 2025.

Territorial Losses & Consequences

Guided reading investigates the extensive territorial concessions Russia endured following the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Students will map and analyze the lost lands – Ukraine, Poland, Baltic states – and their economic significance.

Analysis centers on the consequences: fueling resentment, contributing to the Russian Civil War, and impacting future Soviet foreign policy. Examining primary sources reveals diverse perspectives on these losses, highlighting the treaty’s lasting impact on the geopolitical landscape leading up to 2025.

The Russian Civil War (1917-1922)

Guided reading explores the brutal conflict between the Red and White armies, analyzing foreign intervention and its impact on Russia’s tumultuous path by 2025.

Red Army vs. White Army

Guided reading focuses on the ideological and strategic clashes between the Bolshevik Red Army and the anti-Bolshevik White Army factions from 1917-1922.

Students will analyze primary sources detailing the Red Army’s organizational strengths under Trotsky, contrasted with the Whites’ fragmented leadership and reliance on foreign support. Examining troop movements and key battles reveals the brutal realities of this civil war, shaping Russia’s future by 2025.

Foreign Intervention & Support

Guided reading explores the complex role of international powers in the Russian Civil War, analyzing motivations behind interventions from nations like Britain, France, and the United States.

Students will examine primary sources revealing the extent of material aid and military support provided to the White Army, alongside the Bolsheviks’ accusations of foreign interference. This analysis illuminates how external factors prolonged the conflict and impacted Russia’s trajectory by 2025.

The Consolidation of Bolshevik Power

Guided reading investigates War Communism and nationalization policies, analyzing their impact on consolidating Bolshevik control amidst economic hardship and political opposition by 2025.

War Communism & Nationalization

Guided reading explores the drastic measures of War Communism – state control of industry, requisitioned grain, and centralized distribution – implemented by the Bolsheviks during the Civil War.

Analysis focuses on how nationalization aimed to secure resources for the Red Army and dismantle capitalist structures, but also sparked widespread resistance and economic collapse by 2025.

Primary sources reveal the human cost and ideological justifications behind these policies, prompting critical evaluation of their effectiveness and long-term consequences.

The Creation of the Soviet Union (1922)

Guided reading examines the formal establishment of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1922, consolidating Bolshevik power after years of war and revolution.

Analysis centers on the political maneuvering and ideological underpinnings of this new state, formed from various republics with differing levels of autonomy by 2025.

Primary sources illuminate the debates surrounding federalism, national identity, and the future direction of the Soviet project, fostering a deeper understanding of its origins.

Comparing & Contrasting WWI & The Russian Revolution

Guided reading explores shared themes of upheaval, yet divergent outcomes—a war’s end versus regime change—analyzing their impact on global politics by 2025.

Shared Themes: Social Upheaval & Political Transformation

Guided reading reveals both WWI and the Russian Revolution ignited widespread social unrest, fueled by economic hardship and disillusionment with existing power structures by 2025.

Both events dramatically reshaped political landscapes, challenging traditional hierarchies and fostering new ideologies. Examining primary sources illuminates the shared experiences of populations grappling with immense change, questioning established norms, and demanding a voice in their future. This period witnessed a fundamental transformation of societal values and political systems.

Divergent Outcomes: War’s End vs. Regime Change

Guided reading highlights a key distinction: WWI ultimately concluded with an armistice and a reshaped, though still recognizable, European order by 2025.

Conversely, the Russian Revolution resulted in the complete overthrow of the Tsarist regime and the establishment of a fundamentally new political system – Soviet rule. Analyzing sources reveals how Russia’s internal struggles led to systemic change, unlike the war’s impact on other nations, demonstrating vastly different outcomes.

Long-Term Consequences

Guided reading reveals WWI and the Russian Revolution spurred communism’s global rise and dramatically reshaped Europe’s geopolitical landscape by 2026, impacting trade.

The Rise of Communism as a Global Ideology

Guided reading demonstrates how the Russian Revolution, born from WWI’s chaos, propelled communism onto the world stage. Analysis of historical documents reveals the appeal of Bolshevik ideals – economic equality and worker empowerment – resonated globally.

This ideological shift, by 2025, fueled movements across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, challenging existing power structures and sparking decades of geopolitical tension, influencing global events.

Reshaping the Geopolitical Landscape of Europe

Guided reading illustrates how WWI and the Russian Revolution fundamentally altered Europe’s political map. The collapse of empires – Russian, Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman – created a power vacuum and fostered nationalistic aspirations by 2025.

New nations emerged, borders were redrawn, and the balance of power shifted, setting the stage for future conflicts and the rise of new geopolitical alliances, impacting global trade.

Guided Reading Activity Focus: Key Questions & Analysis

Guided analysis centers on interpreting primary sources, exploring perspectives on WWI and the Russian Revolution, and assessing their lasting impact on global affairs by 2025.

Analyzing Primary Source Documents from the Period

Guided reading necessitates a critical examination of firsthand accounts – letters, diaries, official reports – from WWI and revolutionary Russia. Students will dissect these documents, considering authorial bias and historical context.

Focusing on perspectives from soldiers, civilians, and political figures, the activity aims to understand the lived experiences of those impacted by these monumental events. This analysis, informed by 2025 insights, reveals nuanced understandings of the era’s complexities.

Interpreting Historical Perspectives on the Events

Guided reading encourages students to compare and contrast interpretations of WWI and the Russian Revolution, acknowledging evolving historical understandings up to 2025.

Analyzing differing viewpoints – from contemporary analyses to modern scholarship – fosters critical thinking. Examining the impact of technological change and geoeconomic shifts on these events provides a richer, more comprehensive historical narrative.