Paper 1 Section A/C: Russia, 1894–1945: Tsardom and communism

June 2023

Q1: How does Interpretation B differ from Interpretation A about Lenin?

Explain your answer based on what it says in Interpretations A and B.

Answer:

For example, Interpretation A admires Lenin for achieving the Revolution and says that he brought freedom to the working classes. Trotsky believes that Lenin had good motives. Whereas, Interpretation B is critical of Lenin; Berkman says that Lenin’s methods denied people any personal or political freedom. For example, Interpretation A says that Lenin was a great leader whereas Interpretation B says he wasn’t.

Q2: Why might the authors of Interpretations A and B have a different interpretation

about Lenin? Explain your answer using Interpretations A and B and your contextual knowledge.

Answer:

For example, Trotsky was a co-leader during the Bolshevik uprising and subsequent Civil War so, in Interpretation A, his motive is to justify his own role by praising the actions of Lenin in front of a worldwide audience. Whereas Interpretation B is written by someone who had high expectations of how the revolution would improve life in Russia and is disillusioned by the methods Lenin has used to stay in power. For example, Interpretation A is written by someone who was a close colleague of Lenin’s and worked with him to achieve a revolution in Russia in 1917. Whereas Berkman is someone who dislikes all forms of government, so he is bound to be critical of the way Lenin tried to govern the USSR after the

Q3: Which interpretation gives the more convincing opinion about Lenin?

Explain your answer based on your contextual knowledge and what it says in Interpretations A and B.

Answer:

For example, both have elements of truth. Interpretation A is correct to say that Lenin devoted himself to the Revolution but it is not wholly convincing because it implies that Lenin was perfect. Interpretation B is convincing about the use of terror as a method but it is exaggerating when it says he destroyed the revolution. Lenin stayed in power and the Soviet Revolution was consolidated. For example, Interpretation B is more convincing about Lenin’s treatment of opposition because it’s true that the Kronstadt Rising was brutally crushed by the Red Army in 1921. Sailors refused to obey orders in protest at the Bolshevik government’s policy of seizing food from peasants. Thousands were killed during the uprising and rebels were executed or imprisoned. Interpretation A ignores the human price that was paid by ordinary people in achieving the revolution in Russia. For example, Interpretation B is convincing because Lenin did create a secret police force called the Cheka to spy on people in factories and villages. They would execute anyone who did not support Lenin. For example, Interpretation A is convincing because Lenin was the main leader of the Russian Revolution that gave land to the peasants and gave control of factories to the workers.

Q4: Describe two problems faced by people living in Russia before 1905.

Answer:

One problem was that people in cities lived in squalid conditions due to overcrowding. People came from the countryside to look for work as industry grew rapidly before 1905. Another problem was that the factories had no safety regulations, so people worked long hours in dangerous conditions. Workers were not allowed to join trade unions and so they were exploited by the factory owners. For example, most people lived in very bad conditions. There was not enough food to support the huge population.

Q5: In what ways were the lives of Russian people affected by the First World War?

Explain your answer.

Answer:

For example, all levels of society were affected by the war. Even though the aristocratic class did not suffer the physical hardships of the peasants or workers they were affected by the political crisis that developed once the Tsar took command of the army in 1915. When the Tsar was away at war, leading aristocrats were so concerned about the influence of Rasputin over the Tsarina that they arranged his murder. For example, people’s lives were affected by the huge death tolls from the battles. Families in the countryside were left impoverished once men were killed in the war and war pensions were not paid. For example, people’s lives were affected as war contracts created more jobs and cities suffered from overcrowding because this created food shortages. The frontline soldiers were given priority for supplies of food and fuel but the city workers had to cope with rising prices and no wage increases. For example, people lost confidence in the Tsar’s leadership because Russia suffered major military defeats. The army was badly led by its officers and soldiers were poorly equipped. For example, many people died.

Q6: Which of the following saw more important changes during Stalin’s modernisation of

the USSR: • agriculture • industry? Explain your answer with reference to both bullet points. and AQA will be happy to rectify any omissions of acknowledgements. If you have any queries please contactthe Copyright Team.

Answer:

For example, Stalin knew that agricultural change was needed to produce more food in order to feed industrial workers. Without collectivisation the USSR would not have been able to achieve industrial success in the Five Year Plans. Furthermore, collectivisation generated surplus grain that could be sold abroad to raise funds to support industrialisation. On the other hand, industrial change enabled the electrification of cities which was a vital part of the modernisation of the USSR because it improved communication, transport and domestic life. For example, agriculture was changed by introducing a policy called collectivisation. Stalin wanted to improve efficiency by merging small farms into larger ‘kolkhoz’ that would be run by a committee. They were given targets along with modern equipment such as tractors to help increase production. At first grain production fell because the peasants and Kulaks refused to hand over their land, but after 1933 collectives became more efficient. Industry was modernised by the Five Year Plans. New cities developed such as Magnitogorsk to produce steel. A hydroelectric dam was built to produce huge amounts of electricity. For example, industry was changed using a series of Five Year Plans. The state set targets that factories had to meet. Individual workers were punished if they did not meet their targets. The USSR became a major industrial power. For example, The USSR produced more grain. More coal and steel were