The Tsar ruled by autocratic means.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] Famine and starvation were common.
2. [1] Russian peasants were still using ancient farming techniques.
3. [1] Land was divided into large fields and each family was allocated strips of land in the fields.
4. [1] It was often not possible to grow enough food.
5. [1] The movement of the peasants was restricted.
6. [1] The peasants could not leave the village to find work elsewhere without permission from the Commune.
7. [6] Level 4 Explains TWO reasons
8. [5] Level 3 Explains ONE reason (e.g. In the weeks before the Manifesto was issued, there was serious disorder which could have led to a revolution. Striking workers put up barricades in the streets, revolutionaries like Lenin and Trotsky returned from exile to organise workers' councils, while in the countryside peasants murdered their landlords. The Tsar needed to respond in order to calm the situation and did this by issuing the October Manifesto to give in to some of the demands for reform.)
9. [1] There was a demand for reform.
10. [1] There was a need for reform.
11. [1] The Tsar needed to react to the events of Bloody Sunday.
12. [1] He feared that Russia was close to a revolution.
13. [1] A need to react to the defeat in the war against Japan.
14. [1] There was mutiny on the Potemkin.
15. [1] There was a general strike which paralysed industry.
16. [1] The Tsar's uncle and some landlords were assassinated.
17. [10] Level 5 Explains with evaluation of 'how far' (As Level 4 plus evaluation.)
18. [9] Level 4 Explanation of both sides
19. [6] Level 3 One-sided explanation OR one explanation of both sides (More detailed explanation of one issue to be given two marks.)
20. [3] In some ways, the Tsar was firmly in control of Russia at the start of 1914. He had maintained his own power through the Fundamental Laws which meant the Duma had little power. The Okhrana imprisoned and monitored those who were thought to be opponents of the Tsar's regime.
21. [3] Although it appeared as though the Tsar was in control, there were serious problems facing Russia. Although life for some of the peasants had improved, there was discontent in industrial regions. There was a great deal of industrial unrest. A strike in the Lena goldfields was broken up by troops in 1912 and a wave of industrial unrest followed.
22. [3] Level 2 Identifies AND/OR describes (One mark for each point)
23. [1] Life improved for some peasants.
24. [1] The Tsar retained his power.
25. [1] The Duma had little real power.
26. [1] The Fundamental Laws helped the Tsar keep control.
27. [1] The opposition was divided.
28. [1] The Okhrana dealt with opponents harshly.
29. [1] The economy was developing.
30. [1] There was industrial unrest.
31. [1] There was unrest from some nationalities.