Russian
Revolution Simulation
The
Russian Revolution simulation begins on 24th July, 1914. Serbia
has asked Russia for help against Austria-Hungary.
If Nicholas II agrees it will almost certainly
mean war between Russia and members of the Triple
Alliance.
All
the students are given a character that was living in Russia at
the time. There is a shortage of women characters and so I have
included Rosa Luxemburg and
Louise Bryant. These two women should
only be used if there are not enough female characters for the class
(16). Luxemburg was in prison during 1917 and Bryant was an American
who only arrived in Russia in 1917.
The
characters are in four discussion groups: Group A (supporters of
Nicholas II and the autocracy); Group B (liberals and moderate socialists);
Group C (Mensheviks and Socialist Revolutionaries) and Group D (Bolsheviks).
The biographies only go up to 1914 and also include a summary of
the character's views towards the Russian autocracy and the First
World War.
The
students should have studied Russia: 1860-1900
and
1905 Russian Revolution before starting
the simulation.
The
student's first task is to read their biography and write a brief
summary of their character's life up until 1914. They should also
read Russia in 1914 and the Serbian
Crisis.
At
the beginning of Russia, July, 1914, the
students need to be told that Groups A and B meet in Russia and
Groups C and D meet in exile in Switzerland.
At
the end of this session the students are told what actually happened
in Russia during the autumn of 1914. The students then read about
the problems faced by the Russian government during the first two
years of the war: Russia: 1914-1916.
When
you reach Russia, January, 1917 the
class is told that Alexander Protopopov
has moved from Group B to Group A. It is worth telling the students
that there are rumours that there might be Okhrana
spies in Groups B, C and D and revolutionary spies in Groups A and
B. In fact, none of the characters are spies (although Alexander
Protopopov probably
was), but this was a genuine fear at the time. Later you might want
your students to take a look at Evno Azef
and
Roman Malinovsky who
worked as Okhrana spies
during this period. There were also spies in the Provisional
Government and this enabled Vladimir
Lenin to avoid arrest during 1917.
Before
starting the final stage of the simulation the students need to
read about the July Offensive and the
Kornilov Revolt.
At
the beginning of Russia, October, 1917
you
need to tell the students that Vera Figner,
Vera Zasulich, Catherine
Breshkovskaya, Irakli Tsereteli,
Fedor Dan, Victor
Chernov, of Group 3 have joined Group 2 and Alexandra
Kollontai, Maria Spirdonova,
Leon Trotsky and Vladimir
Antonov-Ovseenko of
Group 3 have joined Group 4.
At
the end of the simulation the students go to Russian
Revolution and read about what happened to their character during
1917. They then write a brief summary of what happened, comparing
their decisions with those of their character.
The
final task is for the students to write about what happened to their
character after the Russian Revolution. A session could then be
organized where the students tell the rest of the class about their
fate.
Russia,
July, 1914
Task
1: Read you biography and write a brief summary of your character's
life up until 1914.
Task
2: It is August, 1914. Read about Russia
in 1914 and the outbreak of the First
World War. Write a brief speech about whether the Russian government
should join the war against the Central Powers.
Task
3: You meet in your group. Groups A and B meet in Russia and Groups
C and D meet in exile in Switzerland. In your group discuss whether
the Russian government should join the war against the Central Powers.
You should also try to decide what action the group take in order
to achieve its objectives.
Russia,
January, 1917
Task
1: It is January, 1917. Read about the problems faced by Russia
during the first two years of the war at Russia:
1914-1916. Write a brief speech about what action the people
in your group should take.
Task
2 : Meet in your groups. Discuss what the group should do at this
stage.
Russia,
October, 1917
Task
1: Read about the July Offensive and the
Kornilov Revolt. It is October, 1917.
Write a brief speech about what action the people in your group
should take.
Task
2 : Meet in your groups. Discuss what the group should do at this
stage.
Task
3: Go to Russian Revolution and read about
what happened to your character during 1917. Write a brief summary
of what happened comparing your decisions with those of your character.
Task
4: Write down what happened to your character after the Russian
Revolution.
Group
A: Nicholas II and the Autocracy
Men
Nicholas
II
Alexander
Sazonov
Ivan
Goremykin
Nikolai
Maklakov
Peter
Wrangel
Anton
Denikin
Alexander
Kolchak
Lavr
Kornilov
Nikolai
Yudenich
Felix
Yusupov
Sergei
Zubatov
Women
Alexandra
Romanov
Irina
Yusupov
Group
B: Liberals and Moderate Socialists
Men
Alexander
Kerensky
Alexander
Protopopov
Alexander
Guchkov
Paul
Milyukov
Michael
Rodzianko
Peter
Struve
Women
Maria
Bochkareva
Anna
Shabanova
Ariadna
Tyrkova
Group
C: Mensheviks and Socialist Revolutionaries
Vladimir
Antonov-Ovseenko
Victor
Chernov
Julius
Martov
Fedor
Dan
Leon
Trotsky
Irakli
Tsereteli
Nikolai
Sukhanov
Women
Alexandra
Kollontai
Catherine
Breshkovskaya
Maria
Spirdonova
Vera
Zasulich
Vera
Figner
Elizabeth
Kovalskaia
Praskovia
Ivanovskia
Olga
Liubatovich
Group
D: Bolsheviks
Men
Vladimir
Lenin
Nickolai
Bukharin
Alexander
Shlyapnikov
Mikhail
Frunze
Lev
Kamenev
Gregory
Zinoviev
Women
Inessa
Armand
Nadezhda
Krupskaya
Elena
Stasova
Rosa
Luxemburg
Louise
Bryant
Available
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