Russian Revolution Screen Play – Individual Work –

Due 2/28 (A Day) or 3/1 (B Day)

Objective:

Demonstrate an understanding of important events and leaders in the Russian Revolution.

You should pick one of the following events and write a 2-4 page dialogue based screenplay describing the event.

Activity:

Your will create a script for a role-play (roughly 2-4 pages in length) that explains and portrays some of the major events and leaders of the Russian Revolution. Follow these steps:

1) Read the list of events. Choose which act you would like to write (Act 1, 2, or 3).

2) Add THREE key facts to your role-play using the text/notes as support. (The key facts are the bullet points below).

3) Be sure to reach 2-4 pages in length.

ACT 1: March Revolution:

  • Czar Nicholas II is absolute ruler, despite the Duma being an elected legislature.
  • Secret societies assassinate government officials.
  • Most Russians are living in poverty. Spontaneous food/bread riots break out due to the poverty.
  • Rasputin is murdered in Russian Palace.
  • Russian soldiers in WWI are poorly equipped due to poor transportation and production levels.
  • Millions of Russian soldiers are killed or taken prisoner.
  • March revolution (1917): Peasants and workers strike and riot in Petrograd (St. Petersburg).
  • The Duma demands government reforms. Czar Nicholas II orders the Duma to disband, but it refuses.
  • Soldiers join the rioters, and many soldiers desert from the army.
  • March 1917: Czar Nicholas II abdicates. He and his family are arrested and killed.

ACT II: October Revolution / Bolshevik Revolution

  • A provisional government is set up in to rule Russia until a permanent system can be set up. Alexander Kerensky is leader of a liberal democratic government.
  • April 16, 1917: Lenin, a revolutionary in exile, returns to Russia with help from the Germans.
  • Lenin becomes the leader of the Bolsheviks, and rallies people behind the slogan “Peace, land, and bread.”
  • The “Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies” is unhappy with the provisional government and works for radical change.
  • Mensheviks (socialists) and Bolsheviks (radical socialists) organize other Soviets throughout Russia. They call for immediate peace, land reforms, and turning factories over to the workers.
  • The provisional government pledges to continue the war, and calls for lesser reforms than the soviets.
  • Popular councils called “Soviets” (socialist councils) seize control of local governments.
  • October Revolution (Nov 1917): Bolsheviks overthrow the provisional government.

ACT III: Civil War

  • March 1918: Russia withdraws from the war. Lenin signs the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with the Central Powers, giving up much Russian territory to the Germans.
  • Spring 1918: The Bolsheviks rename themselves the “Communist Party”
  • Civil war begins. Communists fight with liberals, Mensheviks, and reactionaries for power.
  • November 11, 1918: The Allies and Central Powers organize an armistice to stop the fighting in WWI.
  • The Red Army (Communists) battles the White Army (reactionaries), causing further devastation in Russia.
  • The Allies (not wanting Communism to spread) send money, weapons, and troops to the White forces.
  • 1921: The Communists defeat all rivals, and rename Russia the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).