The Most Important Events

in 100 years

Russia – Soviet Union – Russia

1905      -       1900    -        2005

  Pictures from: http://www.worldsocialist-cwi.org/index2.html?/eng/2002/11/03review.html  

Introduction:

A well-known late night talk show host is famous for his nightly “Top 10 List”.  After having studied Russian/Soviet history, you will now create your own Top 10 List.

Instructions:

Working individually, create a PowerPoint slide show on which you count down your own top ten choices of important events in Russian/Soviet history.  List the event starting with your number ten choice, counting down to number one. 

For each event, you must

ð     Describe the event (what happened?)

®     What happened?

®     Who was involved?

®     Where did this event take place?

®     When (give the date),

®     Why did this event happen?

ð     Provide a brief explanation of why this event deserves to be among the top ten 

®     How did this event affect the quality of life for the people?

®     How did this event “change” society? (political change, social change, economic change?)

®     How did this event affect the success of the planned economy in the USSR ?

®     Why have you ranked it in its position (1^st? 5^th? 10^th?)

Your PowerPoint slideshow must be a minimum of 11 slides.  Provide a title slide, and ten event slides; one for each event (count down from #10, to the most important, #1).  You may make each slide as “flashy” as you wish!

You may use your textbook to research the events, as well as appropriate internet websites.  You may submit a printed bibliography, rather than creating a bibliography slide.

Some questions to help you determine importance:

ð     Did this event trigger other events?

ð     Did this event affect other events to come? In what way?

ð     Did this event mark a “turning point” in Russian-Soviet history?

Evaluation:

You will be evaluated using the attached rubric.

Possible Events:

This list (in no particular order) of 25 events took place in Russia/Soviet Union over the last 100 years.  Choose the ten that you think were the most important (they do not have to be in chronological order!)  Remember, you must be able to explain WHY you have chosen these events!

1.      Tsar Nicholas II placed under arrest

2.      Vladimir Lenin introduces his New Economic Policy

3.      Attempted coup d’etat to overthrow Gorbachev’s government, August 1991

4.      Alexander Kerensky takes control of Russia via provisional government

5.      Vladimir Lenin introduces policy of “War Communism”

6.      Nikita Khrushchev takes office as General Secretary, replacing Stalin

7.      Leonid Brezhnev becomes General Secretary, replacing Khrushchev

8.      Joseph Stalin orders forced collectivization of agricultural lands

9.      Soviet Union officially ends its existence on January 1, 1992

10. Karl Marx writes “The Communist Manifesto” with Frederich Engels

11. Joseph Stalin implements the “Five Year Plans”

12. perestroika and glasnost

13. The U.S.S.R. participates in World War II

14. Soviets launch Sputnik into space.

15. Russia participates in World War I

16. Bloody Sunday

17. Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster

18. Yuri Gagarin first human to orbit Earth

19. Leon Trotsky organizes Soviets (councils) in shops and factories

20. Joseph Stalin becomes General Secretary; the leader of the USSR

21. Mikhail Gorbachev becomes General Secretary

22. Warsaw Pact, 1953

23. Boris Yeltsin elected as President of Russian Federation, 1991

24. Team Canada defeats Team Soviet in eight games in The Summit Series, 1972

25. Soviet Union hosts the 1980 Olympic games in Moscow.  The USA and 61 other countries boycott these games.

There are many other events that took place in Russian-Soviet History.  You may think that an event that is not listed here is more important than the choices given.  With sufficient justification, you can include events in your top ten list that are not already given here.  Please check with your teacher before you change the list (just in case!)

Have fun!

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©Prairie Land Regional Division #25. Permission granted to duplicate information found on this website for educational purposes only.   This site updated March 2006.