In the period 1905 to 1917 attempts at reform achieved little.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] Wealthier peasants were allowed to buy land.
2. [1] Peasants were encouraged to leave the mir communes and farm for themselves.
3. [1] The reforms increased agricultural production.
4. [1] New farming methods were used on the larger farms.
5. [1] They set up a peasants' land bank.
6. [1] They began to create a middle-class peasantry who owned their own farms.
7. [1] It helped the Tsar end the revolution.
8. [1] Nicholas produced the October Manifesto, which was a move towards democracy.
9. [1] Nicholas offered the people a Duma.
10. [1] It divided the Tsar's opponents.
11. [1] It won the Tsar the support of the middle classes.
12. [1] It offered people reforms such as free speech and political parties.
13. [4-5] Explanation: The October Manifesto was issued during the 1905 Revolution to prevent the Tsar's overthrow. It offered reforms like a Duma and civil liberties, which appeased middle-class liberals, securing their support in suppressing the revolution.
14. [1] The rioting led to an alternative government being set up.
15. [1] The rioting brought St Petersburg to a standstill.
16. [1] The army refused to put the demonstrations down.
17. [1] The Tsar was very unpopular because the war was going badly.
18. [1] The Fundamental Laws meant the early Dumas achieved very little.
19. [1] He upset many liberals by his repressive policies.
20. [1] Rasputin was very unpopular and this rubbed off onto the Tsar.
21. [1] The Petrograd Soviet meant he lost control of the city.
22. [4-6] Argument for rioting as main reason: Severe rioting and strikes brought St Petersburg to a standstill. Crucially, the army refused to suppress demonstrators and joined them, empowering the Duma and Petrograd Soviet, indicating a complete loss of imperial control.
23. [4-6] Argument against rioting as main reason: The First World War was the underlying cause. The Tsar's poor military leadership from 1915 led to millions of casualties and widespread desertion, making him personally blamed and deeply unpopular, eroding loyalty well before the March 1917 riots.