Assess the view that Russia’s communist leaders did less than the Tsars to improve the lives of the people in the period from 1855 to 1964. June 2010

For Reference – the Examiner Guidance Candidates should focus on the living and working conditions of Russia’s industrial and urban working class. Candidates should compare the experience of the working class under the tsars with their experience under the communists. Candidates may treat Russia’s peasants as part of their discussions as the growing proletariat consisted largely of urbanised peasants, but the main focus should involve a consideration of the experience of Russia’s industrial working class or proletariat and candidates who fail to discuss the industrial and urban workers should not be put into Levels (i) or (ii) or (iii) .

And the Examiner’s report Candidates frequently turned this question into one about the treatment of the Russian peasantry . Others made perfunctory references to the industrial workers, relying on assertions and generalisations. The best answers examined living and working conditions, personal freedom, civil rights and electoral opportunities, social and cultural changes, especially in health and educational opportunities, how the lives of women improved over the period, and made effective contrasts between the Tsarist and Communist periods. Such answers were often detailed, using good illustrative knowledge about living and working conditions, prices and wages, working hours and practices, trade unions, factories and the demands of the state.

If you are suddenly feeling lightweight... Use Oxley and sheets for examples. Use the Website Quote bank Top up notes And especially the timeline But make sure that you have specific examples and data about exploitation and support for proletariat before you go into the exam hall.

How not to do it... A chronological approach 1 A discussion of workers (peasants) under the Tsars 2 A discussion of workers (peasants) under the Communists. 3 An attempt to compare.

How to do it. A themed approach 1 - Indentify the key terms and demands of the question Assess the view that Russia’s communist leaders did less than the Tsars to improve the lives of the people in the period from 1855 to 1964

This is a comparative essay but what is the key term to attack here ? Assess the view that Russia’s communist leaders did less than the Tsars to improve the lives of the people in the period from 1855 to 1964 What is the other opening for higher order analysis ?

How to do it. 2 - A themed approach Introduction Defining terms ? Why is the question surprising ? Comparison How life got worse for the Industrial workers Tsars V Communists The problem of the generalisation of the question Why the Peasants should be considered exploited working classes and judgement How life got better for Industrial Workers

Order ? 2 1 3 4 Introduction Defining terms ? Why is the question surprising ? Comparison How life got worse for the Industrial workers Tsars V Communists The problem of the generalisation of the question Why the Peasants should be considered exploited working classes and judgement How life got better for Industrial Workers 2 1 3 4

What tips students into the highest grades ? The strength of the conclusion. The quality of the evidence deployed. The ability to interact with that evidence. Confidence – for example in the use of the historical language.