O Level History 2147 · Topic 7

Depth study C: Russia, 1905–41: past paper questions

79 real questionsasked in 10 of the last 10 exam series2020–2026usually: Explain, Describe, Use

Real questions on depth study c: russia, 1905–41

The newest 20 of 79 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

2147/12 · May/June 2026 · Q13a[4]
Describe the Bolshevik takeover in Petrograd in November 1917.
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2147/12 · May/June 2026 · Q13b[6]
Why did the Provisional Government fail?
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2147/12 · May/June 2026 · Q13c[10]
‘Trotsky was the main reason why the Bolsheviks won the Civil War.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
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2147/12 · May/June 2026 · Q14a[4]
Describe Stalin’s treatment of the different nationalities within the Soviet Union.
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2147/12 · May/June 2026 · Q14b[6]
Why did Stalin introduce collectivisation?
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2147/12 · May/June 2026 · Q14c[10]
‘The Russian people benefited from Stalin’s industrial policies.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. Depth study D: The United States, 1919–41
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2147/13 · May/June 2026 · Q8b[6]
Why was there opposition to Soviet control in Czechoslovakia in 1968?
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2147/13 · May/June 2026 · Q8c[10]
‘Events in Hungary in 1956 were more serious for the USSR than events in Poland in 1980–81.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. Section B: Depth studies Answer one question from this section. Depth study A: The First World War, 1914–18
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2147/13 · May/June 2026 · Q13a[4]
Who was Stolypin?
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2147/13 · May/June 2026 · Q13b[6]
Why did the Tsar issue the October Manifesto in 1905?
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2147/13 · May/June 2026 · Q13c[10]
How far was the Tsarina Alexandra to blame for the March Revolution? Explain your answer.
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2147/13 · May/June 2026 · Q14a[4]
Describe Soviet propaganda in the period 1928 to 1941.
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2147/13 · May/June 2026 · Q14b[6]
Why did Stalin use the Purges?
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2147/13 · May/June 2026 · Q14c[10]
‘Stalin became leader because he was more cunning than Trotsky.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. Depth study D: The United States, 1919–41
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2147/12 · May/June 2025 · Q13a[4]
What was Stolypin’s ‘necktie’?
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2147/12 · May/June 2025 · Q13b[6]
Why did the First World War weaken the Tsar?
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2147/12 · May/June 2025 · Q13c[10]
‘The main reason why the Tsar survived the 1905 Revolution was the use of brutal repression by the army.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
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2147/12 · May/June 2025 · Q14a[4]
Describe the actions by Stalin that led to him becoming leader of the Soviet Union.
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2147/12 · May/June 2025 · Q14b[6]
Why did Stalin establish a cult of personality?
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2147/12 · May/June 2025 · Q14c[10]
How far did the Purges benefit Stalin and the Soviet Union? Explain your answer. Depth study D: The United States, 1919–41
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Practise this topic

Answer these questions online and get each one marked against the official mark scheme, with what you missed and how to fix it.

Practise depth study c: russia, 1905–41

In the syllabus

7.1 Why did the Tsarist regime collapse in 1917?

How well did the Tsarist regime deal with the difficulties of ruling Russia up to 1914?.
How did the Tsar survive the 1905 Revolution?.
How far was the Tsar weakened by the First World War?.
Why was the revolution of March 1917 successful?.

7.2 How did the Bolsheviks gain power, and how did they consolidate their rule?

How effectively did the Provisional Government rule Russia in 1917?.
Why were the Bolsheviks able to seize power in November 1917?.
Why did the Bolsheviks win the Civil War?.
How far was the New Economic Policy a success?.

7.3 How did Stalin gain and hold on to power?

Why did Stalin, and not Trotsky, emerge as Lenin’s successor?.
Why did Stalin launch the Purges?.
What methods did Stalin use to control the Soviet Union?.
How complete was Stalin’s control over the Soviet Union by 1941?.

7.4 What was the impact of Stalin’s economic policies?

Why did Stalin introduce the Five-Year Plans?.
Why did Stalin introduce collectivisation?.
How successful were Stalin’s economic changes?.
How were the Soviet people affected by these changes?.
The main features of Tsarist rule and Russian society before the First World War:; the 1905 Revolution and its aftermath; attempts at reform.
The First World War and its impact on the Russian people.
The March Revolution of 1917.
The Provisional Government and the Soviets, the growing power of revolutionary groups.
Reasons for the failure of the Provisional Government.
The Bolshevik seizure of power, the role of Lenin.
The main features of Bolshevik rule, the Civil War and War Communism, and reasons for the Bolshevik victory.
The Kronstadt Rising and the establishment of the New Economic Policy.

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