‘Russia and its Rulers’ 1855-1964 specification

Nature of Government

• Autocracy, dictatorship and totalitarianism

• Developments in central administration

• Changes in local government

• The extent and impact of reform

• Methods of repression and enforcement

• The nature, extent and effectiveness of opposition both before and after 1917

• Attitudes of the Tsars, Provisional Government and Communists to political change

• The extent of political change

The impact of dictatorial regimes on the economy and society of the Russian Empire and USSR

• Changes to living and working conditions of urban and rural people including the impact on the peasants of:

  • Emancipation

  • Land Banks

  • Famines

  • NEP

  • Collectivisation

  • Virgin Lands scheme

• Impact on industrial workers of:

  • Growth under the Tsars

  • War communism

  • NEP

  • Five Year Plans

• Limitations on personal, political and religious freedom

• Reasons for and extent of economic and social changes

Impact of war and revolution on the development of the Russian Empire and the USSR

• The effects of the following wars on government, society, nationalities and the economy:

  • Crimean War

  • Russo-Japanese War

  • 1905 Revolution

  • 1917 Revolutions

  • First World…