Imperial Russia, Revolutions and the Emergence of the Soviet State 1853–1924
Summary By the time you have worked through this book, you should be able to:
r explain why – and with what results – Alexander II undertook a series of reforms
r understand the extent to which the tsarist government changed
r
r r r r r
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between 1855 and 1917, and the forces promoting that change as well as those holding it back explain how and why Russia undertook a drive towards economic modernisation and agricultural improvement, and describe the results of that drive by 1917 identify the reasons for – and the impact of – opposition to tsardom until 1917 assess the extent of change brought about by the revolution of 1905, and explain why change was limited understand the impact of the First World War on the Russian state analyse the reasons for the two Russian revolutions of 1917, and assess their outcomes explain why the Soviet state evolved as it did under Lenin, and assess the legacy that Lenin left behind.