Year 9 - History
Karl Marx and communism
The Russian Revolution: did communism completely transform Russian society?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn about Karl Marx's theories regarding communism and the conduct and impact of the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917. They examine the Russian Civil War and Russian society in the 1920s and 30s, allowing them to judge the extent to which communism changed Russia.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the political thought of the philosopher Karl Marx and explain its influence on European politics.
Key Notes
- The philosopher Karl Marx developed an influential theory about communism.
- Marx concluded that the working classes were exploited by those who owned property.
- Marx described the workers as the proletariat and the property-owners as the bourgeoisie.
- Marx envisioned this class conflict would end in revolution.
- Marxist thought inspired socialist movements throughout the world, including in Russia.
Vocabulary To Learn
- communist: something is communist if it relates to the belief that wealth should be shared equally and people should be treated as equals
- capitalist: something is capitalist if it relates to a system where some people own industry privately and make profit for themselves
- bourgeoisie: the bourgeoisie are members of the middle classes
- proletariat: the proletariat are members of the industrial working classes
- aristocracy: the aristocracy are the highest social class, usually in countries that have a royal family
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Students assume all communists and socialists shared the same ideas.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
The philosopher Karl Marx developed an influential theory about communism. Marx concluded that the working classes were exploited by those who owned property.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'communist'
something is communist if it relates to the belief that wealth should be shared equally and people should be treated as equals.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Students assume all communists and socialists shared the same ideas. Correction: Marx's ideas were interpreted differently by different groups of socialists. In Russia, this led to the split of the Social Democratic Party.
More Lessons In This Unit
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