A-level
HISTORY
AQA A-level History Component 2N Revolution anddictatorship:
Russia, 1917–195 3 (7042/2N) Study Guide 2026
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 16-page answer book.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is
7042/2N.
• Answer three questions.
In Section A answer Question 01.
In Section B answer two questions.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
Advice
• You are advised to spend about:
– 1 hour on Question 01 from Section A
– 45 minutes on each of the two questions answered from Section B.
7042/2N
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From a report to the Tsar’s government written by the Okhrana, the Tsarist secret police,
October 1916.
Source A cannot be reproduced here due to third-party copyright restrictions
Source A argues that it was restrictions on the liberties of the working classes
which have caused greater hostility to the government.
Source B
From a speech to the Duma by Pavel Milyukov, November 1916. Milyukov was a leader
of the ‘Progressive Bloc’ in the Duma, which wanted a constitutional monarchy.
The Tsar’s Government has neither the knowledge nor the ability which are necessary at
this moment of war, and now the gulf between the Duma and the Government has grown
wider and impassable. Today we see and understand that with this Government we
cannot lead Russia to victory. The Duma keeps insisting that the country must be
organised for a successful war effort. However, the Tsarist regime persists in claiming 5
that organising the country would lead to revolution and, therefore, it deliberately allows
chaos and disorganisation. Is this stupidity or treason? You may ask, “How can we, the
Duma, start a confrontation while the war is on?” But, gentlemen, the Tsar’s Government
is a menace to the war effort, and it is precisely for this reason that we are now
confronting them. And, therefore, gentlemen, for the sake of the millions of victims and 10
the torrents of blood poured out, for the sake of our national interests, we shall fight on
until we achieve that genuine responsibility of government.
, 3
Source C
From the memoirs of Sir George Buchanan, 1923. Buchanan was the British
Ambassador to Russia from 1910 to 1917.
Nicholas II loved his country. He had its welfare and greatness at heart. Yet it was he
who was to cause the catastrophe, which has brought Russia to utter ruin and misery.
The Emperor’s marriage with Princess Alexandra of Hesse was an unfortunate one. She
was a good woman, determined to help her husband’s interests, but she was to prove the
instrument of his ruin. The shy and indecisive Emperor was bound to fall under the 5
influence of a will stronger than his. Nicholas had not inherited his father’s commanding
personality, nor the strong character and prompt decision making, which are so essential
to an autocratic ruler. The burden of his inheritance grew heavier as his reign
progressed. Russia was a vast Empire in which the Church was rapidly losing its hold on
the people owing to the scandalous appointments made through Rasputin’s influence. 10
Nearly every branch of the administration was as incompetent as it was corrupt; and
then, on the top of all this, a world war!
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context,
assess the value of these three sources to an historian studying the collapse of
Nicholas II’s political authority.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
Turn over ►
HISTORY
AQA A-level History Component 2N Revolution anddictatorship:
Russia, 1917–195 3 (7042/2N) Study Guide 2026
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 16-page answer book.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is
7042/2N.
• Answer three questions.
In Section A answer Question 01.
In Section B answer two questions.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
Advice
• You are advised to spend about:
– 1 hour on Question 01 from Section A
– 45 minutes on each of the two questions answered from Section B.
7042/2N
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From a report to the Tsar’s government written by the Okhrana, the Tsarist secret police,
October 1916.
Source A cannot be reproduced here due to third-party copyright restrictions
Source A argues that it was restrictions on the liberties of the working classes
which have caused greater hostility to the government.
Source B
From a speech to the Duma by Pavel Milyukov, November 1916. Milyukov was a leader
of the ‘Progressive Bloc’ in the Duma, which wanted a constitutional monarchy.
The Tsar’s Government has neither the knowledge nor the ability which are necessary at
this moment of war, and now the gulf between the Duma and the Government has grown
wider and impassable. Today we see and understand that with this Government we
cannot lead Russia to victory. The Duma keeps insisting that the country must be
organised for a successful war effort. However, the Tsarist regime persists in claiming 5
that organising the country would lead to revolution and, therefore, it deliberately allows
chaos and disorganisation. Is this stupidity or treason? You may ask, “How can we, the
Duma, start a confrontation while the war is on?” But, gentlemen, the Tsar’s Government
is a menace to the war effort, and it is precisely for this reason that we are now
confronting them. And, therefore, gentlemen, for the sake of the millions of victims and 10
the torrents of blood poured out, for the sake of our national interests, we shall fight on
until we achieve that genuine responsibility of government.
, 3
Source C
From the memoirs of Sir George Buchanan, 1923. Buchanan was the British
Ambassador to Russia from 1910 to 1917.
Nicholas II loved his country. He had its welfare and greatness at heart. Yet it was he
who was to cause the catastrophe, which has brought Russia to utter ruin and misery.
The Emperor’s marriage with Princess Alexandra of Hesse was an unfortunate one. She
was a good woman, determined to help her husband’s interests, but she was to prove the
instrument of his ruin. The shy and indecisive Emperor was bound to fall under the 5
influence of a will stronger than his. Nicholas had not inherited his father’s commanding
personality, nor the strong character and prompt decision making, which are so essential
to an autocratic ruler. The burden of his inheritance grew heavier as his reign
progressed. Russia was a vast Empire in which the Church was rapidly losing its hold on
the people owing to the scandalous appointments made through Rasputin’s influence. 10
Nearly every branch of the administration was as incompetent as it was corrupt; and
then, on the top of all this, a world war!
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context,
assess the value of these three sources to an historian studying the collapse of
Nicholas II’s political authority.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
Turn over ►
