2023 Oct/Nov 11

13 There were many challenges to Tsarist authority in the early 1900s.

(a) Describe revolutionary activity in Russia during 1905. [4]

(b) Why had discontent with the Tsarist regime grown by 1905? [6]

(c) ‘Hatred of the Tsarina was the main reason the Tsar fell from power in 1917.’ How far do you
agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

14 Stalin used many methods to punish and destroy the opposition.

(a) Describe life in the gulags. [4]

(b) Why was the NKVD a feared organisation? [6]

(c) How far do you agree that Stalin’s main target in the purges was those who had supported
Trotsky? Explain your answer. [10]

2023 Oct/Nov 12

13 The Bolsheviks seized power in 1917.

(a) Who were the Mensheviks? [4]

(b) Why did the Provisional Government lack popular support? [6]

(c) ‘Lenin was more important than Trotsky in the Bolshevik victory in the Civil War.’ How far do you
agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

14 Stalin’s regime brought about far-reaching economic and social change.

(a) What was the impact of the first Five-Year Plan on industry? [4]

(b) Why were women important to Stalin’s plans for the Soviet Union? [6]

(c) ‘Collectivisation was a disaster.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
[10]

2023 Oct/Nov 13

The Tsarist regime attempted to strengthen its position in the years up to 1914.

(a) What changes did Stolypin make to Russian agriculture? [4]

(b) Why was the October Manifesto issued in 1905? [6]

(c) ‘Rasputin was more important than the impact of the First World War in causing the overthrow of
Nicholas II.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

14 Stalin used terror to maintain his position.

(a) How did Stalin deal with Trotsky after defeating him in the power struggle? [4]

(b) Why was the murder of Kirov in 1934 important? [6]

(c) ‘The use of terror was the most important factor in giving Stalin control over the Soviet Union.’
How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]
2023 May/June 11

13 Much changed in Russia during the years 1917 to 1921. (a) What were the main features of the
New Economic Policy (NEP)? [4] (b) Why was the Petrograd Soviet important in 1917? [6] (c) ‘The
Whites were to blame for their defeat in the Civil War.’ How far do you agree with this statement?
Explain your answer. [10] 14 Stalin introduced big changes to Soviet agriculture and industry. (a)
Describe the Stakhanovite movement. [4] (b) Why was it important to Stalin to modernise Soviet
agriculture? [6] (c) ‘The impact of industrialisation on the Russian people was disastrous.’ How far do
you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

2023 May/June 12

13 Russia faced many problems in the years 1905 to 1917. (a) Describe Russia’s economic problems
at the beginning of the twentieth century. [4] (b) Why was the revolution of March 1917 successful?
[6] (c) ‘Stolypin’s policies between 1906 and 1911 depended on repression.’ How far do you agree
with this statement? Explain your answer. [10] 14 After 1929 Stalin dominated the USSR. (a) What
was Lenin’s Political Testament? [4] (b) Why did Trotsky lose the leadership struggle with Stalin? [6]
(c) ‘Stalin controlled the USSR through the use of show trials.’ How far do you agree with this
statement? Explain your answer. [10]

2023 May/June 13

13 In the period 1905 to 1917 attempts at reform achieved little. (a) Describe the agricultural reforms
introduced by Stolypin. [4] (b) Why was the October Manifesto important? [6] (c) ‘The rioting in St
Petersburg was the main reason for the abdication of the Tsar in March 1917.’ How far do you agree
with this statement? Explain your answer. [10] 14 From 1917 the Bolsheviks dominated Russia. (a)
What were the terms of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk? [4] (b) Why was Kornilov important in 1917? [6]
(c) Which was more important for the Bolsheviks, War Communism or the New Economic Policy
(NEP)? Explain your answer. [10]

2023 Feb 13

3 The years 1905 to 1917 were critical for Russia. (a) Describe the main events of the 1905
Revolution. [4] (b) Why was the revolution of March 1917 important? [6] (c) ‘Tsarist rule was
repressive and autocratic in the period 1906–14.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain
your answer. [10] 14 From the moment they seized power, the Bolsheviks faced many problems. (a)
Describe the decrees issued by the Bolshevik government in late 1917. [4] (b) Why did Lenin agree to
the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918? [6] (c) Are you surprised Lenin introduced the New
Economic Policy (NEP)? Explain your answer. [10]

2023 Oct/Nov 11

13 Revolution brought many changes to Russia. (a) What were the main features of the New
Economic Policy? [4] (b) Why was the Kronstadt Rising important? [6] (c) ‘Failure to end the war was
the main reason the Provisional Government lost power.’ How far do you agree with this statement?
Explain your answer. [10] 14 Stalin used a range of methods to achieve and maintain power. (a) What
were the Purges? [4] (b) Why was it important to Stalin to control culture? [6] (c) ‘Stalin’s rise to
power was the result of good fortune rather than political ability.’ How far do you agree with this
statement? Explain your answer. [10]
2023 Oct/Nov 12

13 The Tsarist regime was under threat in the early twentieth century.

(a) Describe the impact of the Russo-Japanese War on the Tsar’s regime. [4]

(b) Why did the Tsarist regime survive the 1905 revolution? [6]

(c) ‘The most important reason why the Tsar fell from power was that he had taken personal control
of the army.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

14 Stalin’s changes to the economy had far-reaching social consequences. (a) Describe the work of
GOSPLAN. [4]

(b) Why was there a famine in the Soviet Union in 1932–33? [6]

(c) How far do you agree that industrial workers benefited from Stalin’s rule? Explain your answer.
[10]

2023 Oct/Nov 13

The Tsar faced many problems between 1905 and 1917. (a) What was the October Manifesto? [4]

(b) Why did the Russian government become increasingly unpopular from 1914? [6]

(c) How far do you agree that the 1905 revolution was caused by Russia’s defeat by Japan? Explain
your answer. [10]

14 Society and economy changed dramatically under Stalin.

(a) Describe Stalin’s policy of ‘Russification’. [4]

(b) Why did heavy industry develop rapidly in the 1930s? [6]

(c) ‘For the Soviet people, the gains made by collectivisation were worth the cost.’ How far do you
agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

2022 Oct/Nov 11

13 Revolution brought many changes to Russia. (a) What were the main features of the New
Economic Policy? [4] (b) Why was the Kronstadt Rising important? [6] (c) ‘Failure to end the war was
the main reason the Provisional Government lost power.’ How far do you agree with this statement?
Explain your answer. [10] 14 Stalin used a range of methods to achieve and maintain power. (a) What
were the Purges? [4] (b) Why was it important to Stalin to control culture? [6] (c) ‘Stalin’s rise to
power was the result of good fortune rather than political ability.’ How far do you agree with this
statement? Explain your answer. [10]

2022 Oct/Nov 12

The Tsarist regime was under threat in the early twentieth century. (a) Describe the impact of the
Russo-Japanese War on the Tsar’s regime. [4] (b) Why did the Tsarist regime survive the 1905
revolution? [6] (c) ‘The most important reason why the Tsar fell from power was that he had taken
personal control of the army.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10] 14
Stalin’s changes to the economy had far-reaching social consequences. (a) Describe the work of
GOSPLAN. [4] (b) Why was there a famine in the Soviet Union in 1932–33? [6] (c) How far do you
agree that industrial workers benefited from Stalin’s rule? Explain your answer. [10]
2022 Oct/Nov 13

3 The Tsar faced many problems between 1905 and 1917. (a) What was the October Manifesto? [4]
(b) Why did the Russian government become increasingly unpopular from 1914? [6] (c) How far do
you agree that the 1905 revolution was caused by Russia’s defeat by Japan? Explain your answer. [10]
14 Society and economy changed dramatically under Stalin. (a) Describe Stalin’s policy of
‘Russification’. [4] (b) Why did heavy industry develop rapidly in the 1930s? [6] (c) ‘For the Soviet
people, the gains made by collectivisation were worth the cost.’ How far do you agree with this
statement? Explain your answer. [10]

2022 May/June 11

The years after 1905 were crucial ones for the Tsar and for Russia. (a) What was Bloody Sunday? [4]
(b) Why was the Tsar’s decision in 1915 to take personal command of the Russian army important?
[6] (c) ‘The 1905 Revolution led to a period of significant reform.’ How far do you agree with this
statement? Explain your answer. [10] 14 Stalin was determined to achieve power, and then to hold
on to it. (a) What were the ‘gulags’? [4] (b) Why did Stalin introduce the Great Purges in the mid-
1930s? [6] (c) ‘Stalin’s policy ideas explain why he, and not Trotsky, emerged as leader of the USSR in
the mid-1920s.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

2022 May/June 12

From 1917 there were rapid changes in Russia. (a) Describe how Trotsky contributed to the
Communist victory in the Civil War. [4] (b) Why was the New Economic Policy (NEP) important? [6] (c)
‘The Provisional Government failed because of the Petrograd Soviet.’ How far do you agree with this
statement? Explain your answer. [10] 14 Stalin was ruthless in achieving and keeping power. (a) What
weaknesses of Trotsky helped Stalin become the leader of the USSR? [4] (b) Why was Stalin’s ‘cult of
personality’ important? [6] (c) ‘The Purges were a disaster for Stalin and the Soviet Union.’ How far
do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

2022 May/June 13

3 After the abdication of the Tsar, the future of Russia hung in the balance. (a) Who was Kerensky?
[4] (b) Why was the mutiny at the Kronstadt Naval Base in 1921 important? [6] (c) ‘Trotsky was the
main reason the Bolsheviks won the Civil War.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain
your answer. [10] 14 Stalin’s ideas and policies were different from Lenin’s. (a) What did Stalin mean
by ‘Socialism in one country’? [4] (b) Why was Lenin’s Political Testament not published in the Soviet
Union at the time of his death? [6] (c) ‘It was the Purges that gave Stalin control of the USSR.’ How far
do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

2022 Feb 12

Tsar Nicholas II was not a popular ruler. (a) What were the features of the Tsar’s Russification policy?
[4] (b) Why was the 1905 Revolution important? [6] (c) ‘By 1916 the main reason for the Tsar’s
unpopularity was Rasputin.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10] 14
When he came to power Stalin was determined to make important changes. (a) Describe what
replaced the New Economic Policy (NEP) in the late 1920s. [4] (b) Why did Stalin’s policies bring
about changes in the lives of Soviet women? [6] (c) ‘Stalin changed Soviet agriculture for political
rather than economic reasons.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]
2021 May/June 11

The Bolsheviks seized power in 1917 but then faced a civil war. (a) What were the main features of
War Communism? [4] (b) Why did the attempted uprising by Kornilov fail? [6] (c) ‘Trotsky was the
most important factor in the Bolshevik seizure of power in November 1917.’ How far do you agree
with this statement? Explain your answer. [10] 14 Stalin’s policies affected everybody in the Soviet
Union. (a) Describe how women’s lives were changed under Stalin. [4] (b) Why was the campaign
against the kulaks important to Stalin? [6] (c) ‘Stalin’s industrial policies did more harm than good.’
How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

2021 May/June 12

Nicholas II survived as Tsar in 1905, but not in 1917. (a) What problems faced the Tsar’s government
at the beginning of the twentieth century? [4] (b) Why did the Tsar abdicate in March 1917? [6] (c)
‘The Tsar survived the 1905 Revolution because of his repressive policies.’ How far do you agree with
this statement? Explain your answer. [10] 14 Stalin was determined to modernise Russia. (a) Describe
the experiences of ethnic minorities under Stalin. [4] (b) Why was developing heavy industry
important for Stalin’s plans? [6] (c) ‘The kulaks suffered the most from Stalin’s economic policies.’
How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

2021 May/June 13

Tsar Nicholas II faced many problems. (a) What were the consequences for Russia of the Russo-
Japanese War? [4] (b) Why was Bloody Sunday important? [6] (c) Are you surprised that the Tsar
managed to remain in power until 1917? Explain your answer. [10] 14 Stalin attempted to change the
Soviet Union in many ways. (a) Describe the impact of Stalin’s rule on ethnic minorities in the Soviet
Union. [4] (b) Why did Stalin think it was necessary to reform Soviet industry? [6] (c) ‘Collectivisation
did more harm than good.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

2021 Oct/Nov 11

The Tsar faced many challenges. (a) Describe the work of Stolypin. [4] (b) Why was there discontent
with the Russian government by 1905? [6] (c) How surprising is it that the Tsar fell from power in
1917? Explain your answer. [10] 14 Life in the Soviet Union changed under Stalin’s rule. (a) How did
life in the countryside change under Stalin? [4] (b) Why was industry brought under government
control? [6] (c) How far do you agree that women benefited from Stalin’s rule? Explain your answer.
[10]

2021 Oct/Nov 12

1917 brought great changes to Russia. (a) Describe the activities of the Petrograd Soviet in 1917. [4]
(b) Why was there a mutiny at Kronstadt in 1921? [6] (c) ‘White weakness rather than Bolshevik
strength determined the outcome of the Civil War.’ How far do you agree with this statement?
Explain your answer. [10] 14 Stalin was determined to consolidate and maintain power. (a) What was
Stalin’s ‘cult of personality’? [4] (b) Why was Trotsky a leading candidate to succeed Lenin? [6] (c)
How far do you agree that Stalin carried out the Purges to remove Trotsky’s supporters? Explain your
answer. [10]
2021 Oct/Nov 13

The Bolsheviks faced challenges after the Revolution. (a) Describe Lenin’s actions on his return to
Russia in April 1917. [4] (b) Why was Trotsky important to the outcome of the Civil War? [6] (c) ‘War
Communism was a failure.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10] 14
Stalin was determined to achieve and maintain power. (a) Describe the different political ideas of
Stalin and Trotsky. [4] (b) Why did Stalin survive Lenin’s criticism in his political testament? [6] (c)
‘Stalin was more loved than feared in the USSR up to 1941.’ How far do you agree with this
statement? Explain your answer. [10]

2021 March 12

The Bolsheviks faced problems after they had taken power. (a) Describe how the Bolsheviks took
power on 6–8 November 1917. [4] (b) Why was the New Economic Policy important to Lenin? [6] (c)
Are you surprised that the Whites lost the Civil War? Explain your answer. [10] 14 Stalin
demonstrated his ruthlessness in gaining and keeping power. (a) Describe how Stalin used his control
over art and culture. [4] (b) Why was the ‘Great Terror’ of 1936–38 important to Stalin? [6] (c) Are
you surprised that Stalin, not Trotsky, emerged as a leader by 1928? Explain your answer. [10]

2020 May/June 11

Errors by the Tsarist regime helped bring about the events of 1917. (a) Describe what happened in
Russia in March 1917. [4] (b) Why was Rasputin able to become a powerful figure in the Tsarist
regime? [6] (c) ‘The reaction of the Tsarist regime to the 1905 Revolution was repression.’ How far do
you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10] 14 After coming to power Stalin ruled the
Soviet Union ruthlessly. (a) What were the aims of the Stakhanovite movement? [4] (b) Why did the
Purges damage the Soviet Union? [6] (c) ‘Trotsky’s personality, rather than Stalin’s abilities, decided
the leadership contest after Lenin’s death.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your
answer. [10]

2020 May/June 12

Events moved quickly in the period 1917 to 1921. (a) Describe the actions of the Bolsheviks in
Petrograd during 7–8 November 1917. [4] (b) Why were there disagreements between the
Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet? [6] (c) ‘The introduction of the New Economic
Policy by Lenin was surprising.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]
14 Stalin was determined to have no rivals. (a) Describe what happened at Stalin’s ‘show trials’. [4]
(b) Why did it surprise many people when Stalin emerged as the new leader of the Soviet Union? [6]
(c) ‘The main reason that Stalin was able to control the Soviet Union was his use of the cult of
personality.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

2020 May/June 13

The Bolsheviks faced much opposition. (a) Describe Kornilov’s actions in September 1917. [4] (b)
Why was Trotsky important in the November Revolution of 1917? [6] (c) ‘It was surprising that the
Bolsheviks won the Civil War.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]
14 Stalin attempted to change the Soviet Union in many ways. (a) Describe the impact of
‘Russification’ on ethnic minorities in the Soviet Union. [4] (b) Why did Stalin think it was necessary
to reform Soviet industry? [6] (c) Was the introduction of collectivisation an error? Explain your
answer. [10]
2020 Oct/Nov 11

The Bolsheviks faced challenges in the aftermath of the revolution. (a) What was the Constituent
Assembly? [4] (b) Why was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk bad for Russia? [6] (c) ‘The Red Army won the
Civil War because of War Communism.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your
answer. [10] 14 Stalin’s rule had a strong impact on different groups. (a) What was the Young Pioneer
movement? [4] (b) Why did life get worse for the national minorities under Stalin’s rule? [6] (c)
‘Destroying the kulaks was the main purpose of Stalin’s agricultural policy.’ How far do you agree with
this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

2020 Oct/Nov 12

The Tsar ruled by autocratic means. (a) What was life like for Russian peasants by 1905? [4] (b) Why
was the October Manifesto introduced? [6] (c) How far would you agree that the Tsar was firmly in
control of Russia at the start of 1914? Explain your answer. [10] 14 Stalin was determined to gain and
keep control over the USSR. (a) What did Lenin say about Stalin and Trotsky in his Political
Testament? [4] (b) Why was Lenin’s funeral important in the power struggle? [6] (c) ‘Stalin’s
personality cult was his most effective means of control.’ How far do you agree with this statement?
Explain your answer. [10]

2020 Oct/Nov 13

The Tsarist regime was not popular with all Russians at the start of the twentieth century. (a) What
was the policy of Russification? [4] (b) Why was defeat in the war against Japan important for Russia
in 1905? [6] (c) How secure was the Tsarist regime at the start of 1914? Explain your answer. [10] 14
Stalin was ruthless in enforcing his control. (a) What happened to the national minorities under
Stalin? [4] (b) Why was there a new constitution in 1936? [6] (c) ‘The main target of the purges was
opposition within the Communist Party.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your
answer. [10]

2020 March 12

The Tsarist regime faced many difficulties between 1905 and 1914. (a) Describe the structure of
Russian society in the countryside in the early twentieth century. [4] (b) Why did revolution break out
in Russia in 1905? [6] (c) How well did the Tsarist regime govern Russia between 1906 and 1914?
Explain your answer. [10] 14 Stalin’s reforms affected all parts of Soviet society. (a) Describe how the
Soviet authorities enforced collectivisation. [4] (b) Why were Stalin’s reforms important for Soviet
women? [6] (c) ‘By 1941 Stalin had modernised the Soviet Union.’ How far do you agree with this
statement? Explain your answer. [10]