Tsar Nicholas II often responded to threats to his rule with violence.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2025). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] It was the hangman's noose because under Stolypin executions rapidly increased.
2. [1] After the 1905 Revolution he had supporters of the revolution arrested and executed.
3. [1] He crushed the St Petersburg Soviet.
4. [1] He forced many revolutionaries into exile, including Lenin.
5. [1] The Okhrana arrested thousands of Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.
6. [6] Level 4: Explains two reasons.
7. [4-5] Level 3: Explains one reason.
8. [5] The war weakened the Tsar because he took personal command of the war. This meant that when the war went badly in 1916, he was seen to be personally responsible. This made him more and more unpopular. It also meant that he had to leave his unpopular wife in charge of the government.
9. [2-3] Level 2: Identifies or describes valid reason(s); addresses the question but does not explain.
10. [1] The Tsar took personal control of the army.
11. [1] The Tsar was not an able commander.
12. [1] There were huge numbers of casualties running into millions.
13. [1] The Tsar was blamed for Russia's defeats in the war.
14. [1] The Tsar left his wife in control of the country.
15. [1] There were fuel and food shortages in the cities.
16. [1] There were strikes because of low wages and little food.
17. [1] The Russian army was facing defeat after defeat and there were many desertions.
18. [1] Level 1: Writes about the topic but does not address the question.
19. [1] The war was a terrible event where many people died. The Tsar was involved in the war.
20. [10] Level 5: Explains both sides and supports a valid judgement on 'how far'.
21. [10] Although the October Manifesto did promise reforms, it only impressed the middle classes; it did not impress the revolutionaries and working classes. They continued to riot, and the only way the Tsar could deal with them was by using the army to repress them.
22. [7-9] Level 4: Explains both sides.
23. [4-6] Level 3: Explains one side.
24. [6] The Tsar was able to stay in power through repression. He brought the army back from the war with Japan. He then used the soldiers to attack the revolutionaries. Leaders like Trotsky were rounded up and arrested. In cities across the country the army repressed the workers. This also happened in the countryside where troops were sent out to crush the peasants.
25. [6] OR I do not agree with this. The main reason he was able to survive was the October Manifesto. This offered the people some reforms an elected Parliament, free speech and political parties. This pleased the middle classes who wanted this kind of reform. They did not like the violence and disorder and gave the Tsar their support.
26. [2-3] Level 2: Identifies or describes valid points; addresses the question but does not explain.
27. [1] The army was brought back from Japan.
28. [1] The army arrested the revolutionary leaders.
29. [1] The army repressed the workers in the big cities and in the countryside.
30. [1] The October Manifesto offered some reforms.
31. [1] In November 1905 he made concessions and gave financial help to the peasants.
32. [1] The middle classes liked the reforms the Tsar promised.
33. [1] The St Petersburg Soviet rejected the October Manifesto.
34. [1] Level 1: Writes about the topic but does not address the question.
35. [1] There was a revolution in 1905, and the Tsar was lucky to survive it. He used all his power to survive.