...just for future reference, could someone provide me a few quotes from historians that indicate that perhaps keeping Tsarism could've been beneficial or Marxism as an idea was detrimental to society? I just wanna make sure that I don't make the same stupid conscious mistake as I did today. Thanks!
Don't stress too much about the sac! It's a learning experience which is going to help ensure that you're super prepared with quotes by your exam! The main way to find more quotes is to read more about the Russian revolution. In your reading throughout the year, you'll find quotes that will help you out. Definitely look on Alpha History, and also check out the "notes" section on ATAR Notes, because a lot of people upload historian quotes here too!
As for a historian who is opposed to Marxism, your best bet is probably Richard Pipes. He takes a very negative view of communism, Lenin, the Bolsheviks, and he blames them for the violence that occurred post-revolution. For a sample of some of his quotations:
"Marxism and Bolshevism … were products of an era in European intellectual life that was obsessed with violence. No-one embraced this philosophy more enthusiastically than the Bolsheviks: “merciless” violence, violence that strove for the destruction of every actual and potential opponent, was … the only way of dealing with problems"He describes Lenin's April Theses as being
“Totally out of touch with reality, if not positively mad”“Bolshevik victory was attributed not to their popular support but to their superior organisation and greater ruthlessness.” These are just a few quotes that might help you get an idea of Pipes' views. Also, know that you don't need exact quotes - if you know the perspective of particular historians, that can be enough. For example, if I wanted a quote that was talking about how violent the Bolsheviks were, but I didn't know an exact quote, I would just think to myself "which historian do I know that thinks the Bolsheviks were violent?" Answer: Richard Pipes! And even know I can't think of an exact quote from him, I could just write something along the lines of "Richard Pipes would argue that it was only through the use of violence that the Bolsheviks were able to attain power", and then discuss that in relation to whatever point i'm trying to make! So don't stress super much about needing to memorise exact quotes. You still need to read a lot of historian views in order to understand different perspectives they all hold. And while direct quotes are amazing, you can still do well without them!!!!
I just cannot stress enough how important it is to read a wide variety of historian opinions, and how beneficial it is to go beyond your textbook and beyond what your teacher tells you to read in class (even though this is a lot of extra work for you). Ask your teacher for more resources, go to your library and try to find books on the Russian Revolution, watch Youtube documentaries! Try to find anything on revs that you can, because the more you broaden your understanding of the Russian revolution, the easier easier easier the whole subject becomes !!!
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