A LEVEL HISTORY A: PAST PAPER 1:
RUSSIA AND ITS RULERS 1855–1964. ALL
ASSESSMENT & MARK SCHEME
CERTIFICATION SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ The Role of Ideology.
Answer: Influence of Marxism-Leninism on revolutionary movements and
the Soviet state.
◍ Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 1918).
Answer: Harsh peace treaty with Germany, Russia lost significant territory,
caused divisions within the Bolshevik party but Lenin argued it was
necessary for survival.
◍ - Members often did not consult with each other - They often pursued
policies that often conflicted with each other e.g. when the Minister of
Finance wanted tighter budgetary control while other ministries wanted to
spend large amounts on reform.
Answer: Weaknesses of the Committee of Ministers:
◍ Fundamental Laws (1906).
Answer: Legislation that reasserted the Tsar's autocratic power while
limiting the Duma's authority.
◍ The Nature of Leadership.
Answer: Impact of individual leaders on the course of Russian history.
◍ Restrictions on religion.
Answer: Policies aimed at limiting religious practices and institutions in the
, Soviet Union.
◍ Populists (Narodniks).
Answer: "Going to the people," aimed to incite peasant revolution, but
largely unsuccessful.
◍ Repression and Control.
Answer: Use of state power to suppress opposition under both Tsarist and
Communist regimes.
◍ - Handling of the decline of the Ottoman Empire- Russia's concern to
protect Orthodox Christians.
Answer: How did the Crimean War originate?
◍ Impact of Stalin's regime.
Answer: Millions killed or imprisoned, decimated the party and military
leadership, created a climate of fear and conformity.
◍ - No incentive to innovate as landowners took profits- Contrasted European
enlightenment (a sense that all human life was of worth and that slavery was
morally wrong)- Reflective of the Middle Ages- In the run up to the
Crimean War there were 300 peasant uprisings- reform from above rather
than forced change from below.
Answer: Reasons for the abolition of serfdom:
◍ Social Democrats (SDs).
Answer: Marxist ideology group split into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks,
differing in approach to revolution.
◍ - Poor roads, no railways and unfavourable climate; messengers in the 17th
century could expect to travel a maximum of 50 miles in 24 hours-
Remoteness meant that Russia did not go through a European-style
renaissance - Humans could not live in areas of permafrost.
Answer: Problems with Russia's geography:
◍ - Divisions between those in favour of Russification and those in favour of
westernisation.
RUSSIA AND ITS RULERS 1855–1964. ALL
ASSESSMENT & MARK SCHEME
CERTIFICATION SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ The Role of Ideology.
Answer: Influence of Marxism-Leninism on revolutionary movements and
the Soviet state.
◍ Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 1918).
Answer: Harsh peace treaty with Germany, Russia lost significant territory,
caused divisions within the Bolshevik party but Lenin argued it was
necessary for survival.
◍ - Members often did not consult with each other - They often pursued
policies that often conflicted with each other e.g. when the Minister of
Finance wanted tighter budgetary control while other ministries wanted to
spend large amounts on reform.
Answer: Weaknesses of the Committee of Ministers:
◍ Fundamental Laws (1906).
Answer: Legislation that reasserted the Tsar's autocratic power while
limiting the Duma's authority.
◍ The Nature of Leadership.
Answer: Impact of individual leaders on the course of Russian history.
◍ Restrictions on religion.
Answer: Policies aimed at limiting religious practices and institutions in the
, Soviet Union.
◍ Populists (Narodniks).
Answer: "Going to the people," aimed to incite peasant revolution, but
largely unsuccessful.
◍ Repression and Control.
Answer: Use of state power to suppress opposition under both Tsarist and
Communist regimes.
◍ - Handling of the decline of the Ottoman Empire- Russia's concern to
protect Orthodox Christians.
Answer: How did the Crimean War originate?
◍ Impact of Stalin's regime.
Answer: Millions killed or imprisoned, decimated the party and military
leadership, created a climate of fear and conformity.
◍ - No incentive to innovate as landowners took profits- Contrasted European
enlightenment (a sense that all human life was of worth and that slavery was
morally wrong)- Reflective of the Middle Ages- In the run up to the
Crimean War there were 300 peasant uprisings- reform from above rather
than forced change from below.
Answer: Reasons for the abolition of serfdom:
◍ Social Democrats (SDs).
Answer: Marxist ideology group split into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks,
differing in approach to revolution.
◍ - Poor roads, no railways and unfavourable climate; messengers in the 17th
century could expect to travel a maximum of 50 miles in 24 hours-
Remoteness meant that Russia did not go through a European-style
renaissance - Humans could not live in areas of permafrost.
Answer: Problems with Russia's geography:
◍ - Divisions between those in favour of Russification and those in favour of
westernisation.
