How did Russia move from the collapse of Tsarism to Bolshevik rule in just eight months? This Unit 3.3 resource for Cambridge International AS Level History (9489), 2027–2029 takes students through the dramatic events of 1917, examining the impact of World War I, military defeat, the February Revolution, abdication of the Tsar, Dual Power and the growing weaknesses of the Provisional Government.

Students then explore why the political balance shifted towards the Bolsheviks, including the continuing problems of war, land and food, the July Days, Kornilov Affair, Lenin’s leadership, Trotsky and the Military Revolutionary Committee. The slides bring these developments together to help students assess how and why the Bolsheviks were able to seize power in October 1917, rather than simply memorising the revolutionary timeline.

With a strong balance of historical narrative, precise evidence and analytical thinking, this presentation helps students tackle questions of causation, leadership and government failure with greater confidence. Ideal for classroom lessons, revision, independent learning and exam preparation, it provides teachers with a substantial, flexible resource for one of the most important turning points in modern Russian history.