How significant were economic problems in causing the outbreak of the revolution in Russia in February 1917?

What is the question is asking you to do?

In this case you must:

Firstly, analyse all the factors that lead to the February Revolution in Russia.

• Political
• Social
• Military
• Cultural
• Economic

You must look at these from the point of view of long- term factors of revolution and immediate short reasons.

Secondly, evaluate and reach a decision on the significance (importance) of the economic factors. What does this mean?

• Were the economic factors the driving force to revolution without which it would not have occurred?
• Were economic factors on a par with other reasons with other reasons, for example political reasons, prior to the revolution?
• Were economic factors less important or significant than others prior to the revolution?

You must decide and be prepared to follow this line of argument from your introduction, through your essay to your conclusion.

How should you structure your essay?

You can discuss all the factors of the revolution first and then evaluate the strength of the economic factors and their significance.

OR

Discuss the significance of the economic factors and evaluate their importance whilst discussing the remainder.

Remember!

You do not have to use the suggested structure. If you have your own method that you feel comfortable with, use it. There are many ways that the question could be answered.

The only consideration that you must bear in mind when setting your structure is that it allows you to argue a strong case throughout your essay and bring to a valid and logical conclusion.

What information should be contained in your essay?

With the structure decided, consider how your are going to deliver the content of the essay.

In the McColgan book "Russia 1881-1921", the author suggests that for the revolution to occur the following must have happened:

• The authority of the Tsar had to collapse or disintegrate.
• The population had to be prepared to assert their desire for a new identity and to be governed differently.

For each factor of the revolution previously identified, you must discuss what happened in terms of McColgan’s identified points.

You cannot rely on the notes that you have in your folder already. You will have to research the question more thoroughly. Take notes specifically related to the question and find useful quotes that you could include. Once you have taken you notes, file them into your folder as they are still relevant to your future study.

Here is a suggested way to collect your notes for this topic.

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