Evaluate the economic and political impact of the domestic policies of Nicholas II between 1894 and 1914.

Candidates are required to appraise the impact of Nicholas II’s policies on the Russian economy and on the political situation in Russia. Where appropriate, candidates may identify whether there was little or no impact. The end date makes it clear that policies during the First World War are not relevant to this question, although, some candidates may wish to consider the relative stability of
the regime by 1914.

Indicative content

Political policies

• Nicholas’s key political goal was to maintain autocracy. He resisted suggestions from the Congress of Zemstva presidents for a national assembly and banned the Congress in 1897. Between his accession and 1905 Nicholas made no changes to the political structure in Russia.
• Post-1905 policies could include the suppression of opposition during and after the 1905 revolution, crushing the Petrograd Soviet and, in the next couple of years, reasserting autocratic control (Stolypin’s Necktie) throughout Russia.
• Other policies could include the issuing of the October Manifesto, the reiteration of the Fundamental Law, as well as the establishment of the Duma and subsequent adjustments to the franchise.

Economic policies

• Witte’s drive for industrialization from 1893—the great spurt—contributed to the development of railways and heavy industry, which attracted foreign capital. Appraisal of the impact might infer that there was significant growth by 1914 with Russia being the fifth largest industrial power. As a consequence, however, there were poor living and working conditions and considerable
  unrest (Lena Gold Fields Strike, 1912).
• Agriculture was a key contributor to the Russian economy but had not modernized since Emancipation in 1861. Famines were frequent (1891 to 1892 and 1898) and land hunger was a major problem. Witte established a Land Bank in 1896 to encourage the growth of larger farms and the exploitation of “virgin lands”, but this had limited impact since out of 97 million peasants, only 750,000 migrated to Siberia.
• Stolypin ended the control of the Mir over peasants, cancelled Redemption Dues and extended the Land Bank. By 1914 only about 10 per cent of agricultural land was owned by the “Kulaks” (independent peasant farmers).

The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, the list is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.

Examiners are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.

[20 marks]