GCSE EdExcel Russia and the Soviet Union, 1917-41

The 1917 Revolutions and Lenin’s Rule, Stalin’s Rise to Power and The Creation of the Totalitarian State

What you'll learn
- Analyze the Causes of Revolution
- Evaluate Stalin's Rise to Power
- Explain Economic Transformation and Social Change
- Assess the Nature of Stalin's Dictatorship

Requirements
- Basic English reading and writing skills – to understand content and complete written tasks.
- An interest in history or historical change.
- Access to a notebook or digital device – for taking notes and completing short tasks or quizzes.
- A quiet space with internet access – to watch video lessons and engage with interactive content.

Description
This course contains the use of artificial intelligence.

This in-depth e-learning course provides a critical examination of the pivotal 24 years that saw Russia transformed from a fractured Tsarist autocracy into the unified, monolithic Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin. Designed for students requiring a deep modern depth study, the course is structured to build chronological knowledge alongside essential analytical skills.

We begin by establishing the context of the1917 Revolutions, analyzing the fundamental weaknesses of the Tsarist regime and the impact of the First World War. You will track the dramatic events of the February and October upheavals, understanding how the Provisional Government failed and how Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks  successfully seized and consolidated power. This includes a detailed study of the Russian Civil War (1918–1921), the policies of War Communism, and the subsequent introduction of the New Economic Policy (NEP).

The second major thematic area focuses on thestruggle for successionfollowing Lenin's death. You will analyze the political rivalries and ideological debates that defined the leadership contest, assessing the specific strategies used by Joseph Stalin to outmaneuver and ultimately defeat his rivals, such as Leon Trotsky, thereby establishing himself as the undisputed dictator of the USSR by 1929.

The final, and perhaps most intense, section of the course investigates the creation of Stalin’s totalitarian state. This includes a thorough analysis of the radicaleconomic revolutions—the forcedCollectivisationof agriculture and the ambitious, though brutal,Five-Year Plansfor industrialization. Crucially, you will study the methods of control: the systematic use ofThe Terror, the function of the NKVD, the role of the extensiveGulagprison system, and the power of propaganda and the Cult of Personality in maintaining a state of fear and absolute obedience up to 1941.

By the course's conclusion, you will be able to evaluate the true extent of change across political, economic, and social life in the Soviet Union and articulate critical judgments about the legacy of both Lenin and Stalin.

This course is a comprehensive study guide designed for students preparing for theGCSE EdExcelexamination. Per Udemy policy, the course is intended forpurchase by adults (18+)who will supervise the learning and account usage of the enrolled student.Enrollment must be handled by a parent or legal guardian.

Who this course is for:
- The course is intended for purchase by adults (18+) who will supervise the learning and account usage of the enrolled student. Enrollment must be handled by a parent or legal guardian.
- Parents of Home-schooled learners looking for a complete, curriculum-aligned resource.
- Teachers or tutors seeking high-quality video content to supplement their teaching.
- Parents supporting their child’s GCSE History learning at home.
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