THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

Opening Scenario:

Picture this: You’re a 16–17-year-old factory worker.

You live in a cramped, tiny room – think mouldy walls, no heating or hot water, sharing one bathroom with 15+ people, sleeping on a mattress on the floor, no WiFi, constant arguments over bills. Your “kitchen” is a cupboard and a kettle in the corner. In winter, it’s freezing; in summer, boiling. Bugs, damp smells, zero privacy, with your whole family and maybe 10 other workers. No running water, no toilet inside, one stove for heat and cooking, dirt floor, bugs everywhere. Everyone sleeps on wooden benches or the floor. The air smells of smoke, sweat, and wet clothes. In winter, it’s so cold your breath freezes on the walls.

You drag yourself to a warehouse/fast-food/gig job and pull 19-hour shifts (back-to-back doubles, no real breaks, maybe 6–7 days a week because you need the money). The boss yells, customers are rude, heavy lifting or standing all day until your feet bleed. Pay? A pathetic £5 an hour after tax – that’s like £95 for a full brutal week. Barely covers food, bus fare, and phone top-up. No savings, no fun, always stressed about the next bill. Your mates are posting holiday pics while you’re counting pennies for a McDonald’s.

Meanwhile, your boss (or the super-rich owner/CEO equivalent to the old Tsar) chills in a massive luxury mansion: infinity pool, home cinema with massive TV, speedboat docked outside, private gym, helicopter pad, endless parties with influencers, designer everything, never worries about money or cold. They post yacht selfies while you’re exhausted on the night bus home.

Complain online, ask for a raise, or try to unionise… you might get fired instantly, or worse – imagine security dragging protesters away (like Bloody Sunday vibes).

What would YOU do in this situation right now? Circle one (or write your own):

A) Take it quietly – keep grinding, hope for a better job one day. (Scared of losing what little you have.)

B) Go on strike – stop working with your coworkers to demand fair pay (£15+ min wage), shorter shifts, and breaks. (Risky – could get sacked, but might force change.)

C) Join a peaceful protest/march to the company HQ or government – hold signs, post on TikTok, ask nicely for help. (Like Father Gapon’s march.)

D) Revolt fully – try to change the whole system, maybe push for big reforms or even overthrow unfair bosses/rich elites. (Super dangerous, but ends the inequality?)

E) Something else? (Write about it ___________________________

Why did you choose that? (Quick 30-second pair-share: tell your partner)

Main Characters: Meet the Key Players (Amusing but True!)

1. Tsar Nicholas II – The “big boss” of Russia from 1894.
   He was chosen by God (he believed), but wasn’t great at the job. Timid, loved family time more than ruling, and kept making bad decisions.
   Think: A king who prefers playing with kids than fixing problems. Weak ruler, but stubborn about keeping ALL power. 👑😔
   Quick question: Why might a “timid” leader be bad for a huge, unhappy country?

2. Father Gapon – Handsome Orthodox priest who organised a peaceful march.
   Not a wild revolutionary – just wanted better lives for workers. Led thousands to ask the Tsar nicely… it didn’t end well. 🙏😢
   Quick question: Do you think peaceful protests usually work? Why/why not?

3. Vladimir Lenin – Super angry, super smart guy in exile (kicked out of Russia).
   Read Karl Marx’s ideas about workers rising up against bosses. Wanted full communism (no rich people, everyone equal, workers control factories/land).
   Called people rude names if they disagreed with him. Future big player, but watching from abroad in 1905. 🔥🧠
   Quick question: What does “proletariat” mean again? (workers) Why did Lenin love them?

4. Grigori Rasputin (sneak peek for later) – Wild, smelly mystic/healer who got close to the royal family because he could (maybe) stop the Tsar’s son bleeding.
   Partied hard, scared everyone. Made the Tsar look even worse. 🧙‍♂️🐐
   Quick question: How could a random peasant guy influence the Tsar? Weird or dangerous?

Timeline of Trouble: 1894–1906 (Fill in the Blanks & Draw Reactions!)

• 1894: Nicholas II becomes Tsar.

He’s not ready and says: “I know nothing of ruling.”

Emoji reaction: 😬

Question: What problems might an unprepared leader cause? ___________________________

• Late 1890s–1900s: Sergei Witte builds factories (industrialisation).

Workers get jobs but terrible conditions: long hours, low pay, dangerous machines.

Emoji reaction: 😩

Question: Why did more factories make people angrier, not happier? ___________________________

• 1904–1905: Russia fights Japan in war.

Everyone expects easy win… Russia loses badly. Humiliation!

Emoji reaction: 😳

Question: How did losing to Japan make the Tsar look weak? ___________________________

• January 1905 – Bloody Sunday:

Father Gapon leads peaceful march to Winter Palace with petition (better pay, end war, parliament).

Soldiers open fire → ~200 dead, hundreds wounded.

Emoji reaction: 😡💥

Question: Why was this called “Bloody Sunday”? How did it change people’s view of the Tsar?

• 1905 (throughout): Revolution spreads!

Massive strikes, peasants grab land, sailors mutiny on battleships, workers set up Soviets (councils).

Emoji reaction: 🔥🚩

Question: Name two groups who joined the unrest (e.g., workers, peasants). Why? ___________________________

• October 1905: October Manifesto!

Tsar promises Duma (elected parliament) and some freedoms to calm liberals.

But he later takes most power back with new laws.

Emoji reaction: 🤔

Question: Did the Tsar really share power? Explain. ___________________________

• 1906: Revolution crushed.

Army loyal, leaders arrested, things quiet… for now.

Emoji reaction: 😴

Question: Why do you think the 1905 Revolution failed? What might happen next time?

One thing that surprised you about 1905:

Questions

• What similarities exist between the opening scenario and life for Russian workers in 1905?

• Why might workers begin to blame the government rather than just their employers?

• Which event most damaged trust in Tsar Nicholas II? Explain your answer.

• Why did industrialisation create anger even though it created jobs?

• How did the war with Japan weaken the Tsar’s authority?

• Why did Bloody Sunday change how people viewed the Tsar permanently?

• Which groups became involved in revolutionary unrest and what did they want?

• Why did the October Manifesto calm some people but not others?

• Give one reason the 1905 Revolution failed.

• Based on everything above, do you think revolution in Russia was becoming unavoidable by 1906? Explain.