Notes
History Themes
Content of the notes (1)
Page 1
Theme 1 - Russian Rulers
Similarities and differences in the main domestic policies of Alexander II, Alexander III, Nicholas II, the Provisional Government, Lenin, Stalin and Khrushchev.
1. ‘There was little difference in the aims of the domestic policies of the Tsars and the Bolshevik rulers.’ How far do you agree with this view of Russian rulers in the period from 1855 to 1964?
2. ‘The main domestic policies of the Russian rulers remained the same throughout the period from 1855 to 1964’. How far do you agree with this view?
3. ‘The greatest change in Russian domestic policies was during the rule of Stalin’. How far do you agree with this view?
4. ‘Little more than Red Tsars’. How accurate is this view of the rulers of Russia in the period from 1855 to 1964?
5. To what extent did the Revolutions of 1917 mark a turning pointin the domestic policies of the rulers of Russia in the period from 1855 to 1964?
Theme 2 - Nature of Government
Autocracy, dictatorship and totalitarianism; change and continuity in central administration; methods of repression and enforcement; the extent and impact of reform; the extent and effectiveness of opposition both before and after 1917.
Alexander II’s government was the most liberal of Russian governments’. How far do you agree with this view of Russian governments in the period from 1855 to 1964?
‘The assassination of Alexander II was the most important turning point in the development of repressive policies in the period from 1855 to 1964’. How far do you agree with this view?
How far did central government in Russia change in the period from 1855 to 1964?
To what extent was the rule of Alexander III the most repressive in the period from 1855 to 1964?
How far did the methods of repression stay the same in the period from 1855 to 1964?
How similar was autocracy under the Tsars to communism under Bolshevik rule?
‘There was little change in the nature of government of Russia in the period from 1855 to 1964’. How far do you agree with this view?
Theme 3 - The impact of the dictatorial regimes on the economy and society of the Russian Empire and the USSR
Changes to living and working conditions of urban and rural people; limitations on personal, political and religious freedom; extent of economic and social changes.
‘The condition of the peasantry changed very little in the period from 1855 to 1964’. How far do you agree with this assessment?
‘The Emancipation of the Serfs had the more impact upon the lives of the Russian peasantry than any other event in the period from 1855 to 1964’. How far do you agree with this view?
To what extent did the lives of the workers deteriorate under the Bolsheviks compared with the Tsars?
‘The work of Witte was the most important turning point in the development of the Russian economy’. How far do you agree with this view?
‘Russian agriculture witnessed little improvement in the period from 1855 to 1964.’ How far do you agree with this view?
‘The Russian people have never been free.’ How far do you agree with this view of the Russian people in the period from 1855 to 1964?
Assess the reasons why Russian rulers have limited the political and religious freedoms of its people in the period from 1855 to 1964.
Theme 4 - Impact of war and revolution on the development of Russian government
The effects of the Crimean War, the Japanese War, 1905 Revolution, 1917 Revolutions, World War One, World War Two, the Cold War.
‘The Second World War had the greatest impact of all the wars on the people of Russia’. How far do you agree with this view of wars in the period from 1855 to 1964?
How accurate is the view that the Crimean War brought the Russian people more benefit than any other war in the period from 1855 to 1964?
‘The First World War had more impact on the development of Russian government than any other war in the period from 1855 to 1964’. How far do you agree with this view?
Assess the view that the Revolutions of 1905 and 1917 had a greater impact on the development of Russian governmentthan war in the period from 1855 to 1964.
‘War changed very little in Russia.’ How far do you agree with this view of the period from 1855 to 1964?
HOW TO ANSWER A QUESTION ON THE ECONOMY
The markscheme refer to the following for an A grade answer:
understanding of the period as demonstrated by the use of key specific details
understanding of the correct terminology for the theme
ability to write synoptically - ie show knowledge of the whole period and make judgements
ability to write synthetically - ie being able to draw points together
show an understanding of key concepts such as change and continuity
structure - note there is not a specific structure suggested by the exam board, but you must have included references to the above.
introduction - show an understanding of the question. There may be definition needed or an explanation of the importance of a time period. However make sure you also give consideration to the whole time period. Take account of the wording of the question - how far, to what extent ... [100-150 words]
identify the feature of turning point in the question - this maybe the importance of the period/issue referred to, for example the Witte era, working conditions. You may want to identify strands withing this issue, for example for working lives you may want to deal with living conditions and working conditions seperately. Make sure you are constantly referring back to the question. This may be in a couple of paragraphs. This is a synoptic approach - providing an overview of a time. [250 words]
comparison to other turning points/periods - after dealing with the time period mentioned in the question, make comparisons to the other periods. Make sure you consider all of the periods in the 100 years history. You could refer to the strands identified in the first section. Here you can make direct comparisons to the different periods to the one identified in the question. This is a synoptic approach and synthesis - providing an overview of a time. [250 words]
synthesising your argument - after extensive debate of the different periods you must now draw it all togteher to form a judgement. This is like an extended conclusion, here you are drawing out all the turning points and points of comparison between the different eras. [200 words]
conclusion and judgement - your final and definitive statement where the fundamentals of the question are addressed. [100-150 words]
word lengths are based on an estimate of what you will be able to do in an exam - 15 mins planning and 45 minutes writing (for the 2 questions).