From 1917 there were rapid changes in Russia.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2022). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] Trotsky organised the Communist forces very well.
2. [1] Trotsky was good at boosting morale and often visited the soldiers at the front.
3. [1] He introduced discipline into the Communist army.
4. [1] He promoted men because they were good soldiers not because of their social class.
5. [1] He used Tsarist officers if they were good and had something to offer.
6. [1] His political Commissars made sure the men stayed loyal.
7. [1] His army chiefs were left to make military decisions.
8. [1] It was important because it helped Russia a lot at a very difficult time.
9. [1] It was important because it stopped trouble like the Kronstadt mutiny.
10. [1] It was important because it reduced dissatisfaction with Communist rule.
11. [1] It was important because it improved people's standard of living.
12. [1] It was important because it increased production and helped the Russian economy to recover.
13. [Explanation L3] The NEP was important because it helped the Communists solve the problems caused by War Communism. This had helped the Communists win the war but it restricted people's freedoms and led to a lot of hardship with industrial production falling and people returning to the countryside. The NEP allowed some private ownership and peasants were allowed to sell some of their grain for profit. This was important because it led to the economy recovering and people being better off.
14. [1] The Provisional Government was a complete failure. It made many mistakes and came to an end quickly.
15. [1] It failed because the Petrograd Soviet had too much power.
16. [1] The Petrograd Soviet shared power with the Provisional Government.
17. [1] The loyalties of many workers and soldiers were to the Petrograd Soviet rather than the Provisional Government.
18. [1] It failed because of the Kornilov affair.
19. [1] Kerensky made the mistake of arming the communists.
20. [1] Failures in the war made the Provisional Government very unpopular.
21. [1] It failed because people were starving with no jobs.
22. [1] The Provisional Government did not help the peasants in their attempt to gain more land.
23. [1] The Provisional Government failed because it did not hold elections.
24. [Explanation L3 (Petrograd Soviet)] The main reason why it failed was the Petrograd Soviet. This was a very powerful body made up of socialists and the representatives of workers and soldiers. It was probably more powerful than the Provisional Government, but it refused to take over the running of the country. It had a lot of power over the factories, the railways and power supplies. This meant that Russia was really being run by two competing bodies and this undermined the Provisional Government because it was never in complete control and many people listened to and obeyed the Petrograd Soviet instead.
25. [Explanation L3 (Other reasons)] I think the Provisional Government failed because of its decision to continue with the war and its failure in the war. This was a major mistake and led to the government being blamed for the failures in the war. It launched the Kerensky offensive, which was a terrible failure. Millions of soldiers deserted.