Teach any Tsarist Russia, 1855-1917 topic, no prep needed!
Do you want to save dozens of hours in time? Get your evenings and weekends back? Be fully prepared to teach any Tsarist Russia, 1855-1917 A Level topic?
Every Tsarist Russia, 1855-1917 topic is covered, and each module comes complete with:
A Level Tsarist Russia, 1855-1917 Resources
The lesson explores the political and social landscape of Imperial Russia in the 19th century, with a focus on how the country attempted to modernise while maintaining a deeply autocratic system. Students will begin by understanding the concept of Official Nationality, the ideological foundation of Tsarist rule under Nicholas I, which promoted Orthodoxy, Autocracy, and Nationality as the pillars of Russian identity and governance.
The lesson then turns to the Great Reforms of Alexander II, most notably the emancipation of the serfs in 1861, as well as changes to the legal system, military, and education. Students will discuss the aims, successes, and limitations of these reforms and how they reflected an attempt to modernise while preserving the Tsar’s authority.
A key part of the lesson is analysing how autocracy continued to dominate Russian political life, with power remaining heavily centralised in the hands of the Tsar. Students will examine the mechanisms used to control the population, suppress dissent, and maintain order in a vast and diverse empire.
Finally, the unit evaluates the broader development of Russia—how it began to move from a state of economic and technological backwardness towards early industrialisation and modernisation by the end of the 19th century. Students will consider whether these changes marked genuine progress or merely papered over deep social and political divisions.
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
- Understand the nature of Official Nationality;
- Discuss the Great Reforms introduced by Alexander II;
- Analyse how autocracy ruled Russia;
- Evaluate the development of Russia from its backwardness to the beginning of modernisation.
Resource Examples
Lesson Presentation:
Student Assessment:
