AQA GCSE Tsardom and Communism
Cossaks - correct answerCommanded by the Tsar to handle strikes, protests and riots with violence and
brutality. This insinuated fear.
Describe what agriculture was like in the early 1900s - correct answer-Most peasants were illiterate,
poor and resistant to change
-Agriculture was backwards with little to no use of modern technology. Most peasants used traditional
methods of farming as they had no education or opportunity to modernise.
-Small strips of land were allocated to village peasants which was a very ineffective and unproductive
way to farm.
How did Nicholas II fail? - correct answer-He failed to improve agriculture so there was not enough food
for the growing population
-Living and working conditions for workers and peasants did not improve, wages stayed low but cost of
living rose
-He was a poor military leader, failed to defend Russia. Russia was defeated in the Russo-Japanese war
and when they joined WWI many soldiers were left without rifles and food. Caused his abdication.
How did peasants support the 1905 revolution? - correct answerPeasant rebellions started in the
countryside, refusal to work. Burned land.
How did Rasputin affect the Romanov reputation? - correct answer-Rumours of an affair started as the
Tsarina developed a close relationship with Rasputin.
-Rasputin did not match the Romanov image or faith in the Orthodox church, he was seen as an
outrageous drunk and he had a bad reputation
-His supposed 'healing' powers did not align with the teachings of the Russian orthodox church.
-People lost faith in the Tsarina as she replaced members of the Duma with
-There was a lack of free speech and articles about Rasputin and the Tsarina were censored. This
angered people
How did Stolypin oppress the peasants? - correct answerHe used the military field courts to control
peasant revolutionaries. Revolutionaries could be charged and executed on the day.
, How did Stolypin reform? - correct answer-Enforced land reforms, he created peasant land owners
called Kulaks. These were wealthy peasants, this was done in order to make them feel involved in
society and therefore stay loyal to the Tsar. Only loyal peasants could become Kulaks.
-Communal agriculture was destroyed, this left some peasants and landless labourers who couldn't
provide for their families.
-He created a peasant bank which gave peasants an opportunity to buy land.
How did the aristocrats/nobility live in 1894? - correct answerThey owned 25% of land, some were very
rich owning multiple homes, lived a lavish lifestyle attending social events like the ballet.
How did the middle class live in 1894? - correct answerThey lived a good life with disposable income and
they ate good food. They had big houses that were nicely decorated and typically owned industrial
works.
How did the military workers show support in the 1905 revolution? - correct answerThe crew of the
battleship Potemkin mutinied in support of striking workers.
How did the peasants live in 1894? - correct answerLife was very difficult peasants had no rights and had
to work the land. They relied on their own harvest, and if it failed, they would starve
How did the Russian orthodox church support the Tsar's authority? - correct answerThe church
reinforced his authority by teaching that the Tsar was appointed by God and referring to him as 'Little
Father'. This made people believe he had divine rule and insulting him would also be insulting God and
his decisions.
How did the Tsar deal with opposition and revolutionaries? - correct answer-Censorship of books and
newspapers was enforced in order to stop the spread of radical ideas which could undermine the Tsarist
government.
-He brought in reforms like the October manifesto in 1905 to make some concession to groups which
were angry
-When there were uprising like Bloody Sunday on October 27th 1905, he used the army to fire on and
crush them
Cossaks - correct answerCommanded by the Tsar to handle strikes, protests and riots with violence and
brutality. This insinuated fear.
Describe what agriculture was like in the early 1900s - correct answer-Most peasants were illiterate,
poor and resistant to change
-Agriculture was backwards with little to no use of modern technology. Most peasants used traditional
methods of farming as they had no education or opportunity to modernise.
-Small strips of land were allocated to village peasants which was a very ineffective and unproductive
way to farm.
How did Nicholas II fail? - correct answer-He failed to improve agriculture so there was not enough food
for the growing population
-Living and working conditions for workers and peasants did not improve, wages stayed low but cost of
living rose
-He was a poor military leader, failed to defend Russia. Russia was defeated in the Russo-Japanese war
and when they joined WWI many soldiers were left without rifles and food. Caused his abdication.
How did peasants support the 1905 revolution? - correct answerPeasant rebellions started in the
countryside, refusal to work. Burned land.
How did Rasputin affect the Romanov reputation? - correct answer-Rumours of an affair started as the
Tsarina developed a close relationship with Rasputin.
-Rasputin did not match the Romanov image or faith in the Orthodox church, he was seen as an
outrageous drunk and he had a bad reputation
-His supposed 'healing' powers did not align with the teachings of the Russian orthodox church.
-People lost faith in the Tsarina as she replaced members of the Duma with
-There was a lack of free speech and articles about Rasputin and the Tsarina were censored. This
angered people
How did Stolypin oppress the peasants? - correct answerHe used the military field courts to control
peasant revolutionaries. Revolutionaries could be charged and executed on the day.
, How did Stolypin reform? - correct answer-Enforced land reforms, he created peasant land owners
called Kulaks. These were wealthy peasants, this was done in order to make them feel involved in
society and therefore stay loyal to the Tsar. Only loyal peasants could become Kulaks.
-Communal agriculture was destroyed, this left some peasants and landless labourers who couldn't
provide for their families.
-He created a peasant bank which gave peasants an opportunity to buy land.
How did the aristocrats/nobility live in 1894? - correct answerThey owned 25% of land, some were very
rich owning multiple homes, lived a lavish lifestyle attending social events like the ballet.
How did the middle class live in 1894? - correct answerThey lived a good life with disposable income and
they ate good food. They had big houses that were nicely decorated and typically owned industrial
works.
How did the military workers show support in the 1905 revolution? - correct answerThe crew of the
battleship Potemkin mutinied in support of striking workers.
How did the peasants live in 1894? - correct answerLife was very difficult peasants had no rights and had
to work the land. They relied on their own harvest, and if it failed, they would starve
How did the Russian orthodox church support the Tsar's authority? - correct answerThe church
reinforced his authority by teaching that the Tsar was appointed by God and referring to him as 'Little
Father'. This made people believe he had divine rule and insulting him would also be insulting God and
his decisions.
How did the Tsar deal with opposition and revolutionaries? - correct answer-Censorship of books and
newspapers was enforced in order to stop the spread of radical ideas which could undermine the Tsarist
government.
-He brought in reforms like the October manifesto in 1905 to make some concession to groups which
were angry
-When there were uprising like Bloody Sunday on October 27th 1905, he used the army to fire on and
crush them
