Advanced Higher History

Cults Academy

Russia: From Tsarism to Stalinism, 1914-1945

This course is composed of the following areas of study:

Bolshevik rise to power, including:

• the condition of society in the years immediately before the Revolution;
• the February Revolution and Bolshevik reactions to it;
• the causes, nature and immediate consequences of the October Revolution.

Lenin and the consolidation of power, including:

• the withdrawal from the First World War;
• the Civil War and the reasons for the Bolshevik victory;
• changing economic policy from War Communism to the New Economic Policy;
• the political development of the Soviet state; foreign policy under Lenin

• Stalin’s struggle for power with his rivals;
• the policies of industrialisation and collectivisation;
• the Purges.

The spread of Stalinist authority,including:

• political, social and cultural aspects of the Stalinist state;
• Russia and the Great Patriotic War

Throughout the course, learners must:

• draw on, extend and apply the skills, knowledge and understanding acquired during the course
• demonstrate the depth of knowledge and understanding and application of skills
• demonstrate challenge and application through independent research related to an appropriate
  historical issue

To gain the award of the Course, the learner must pass all Units as well as the Course assessment. Course assessment will provide the basis for grading attainment in the Course award at level A-D.

The Course assessment is externally assessed and composed of the following two components:

• Component 1 — Question Paper 90 marks. Part A – Historical Issues (50 marks), Part B – Historical
  Sources (40 marks)
• Component 2 — Project-dissertation 50 marks.

SQA Course Specification