Tsarist and Communist Russia, 1855–1964

Section A Extract A (interpretation written for this paper in the style of a historian; not a real quotation): Alexander II's emancipation of the serfs in 1861 was a genuine attempt to modernise Russia. It freed more than twenty million people from personal bondage and opened the way for reforms of the courts, the army and local government. Extract B (interpretation written for this paper in the style of a historian; not a real quotation): Emancipation left the peasants poorer and angrier than before. They received too little land, paid redemption dues for decades and remained tied to the mir. The reform preserved the power of the nobility and the autocracy rather than transforming Russia. Extract C (interpretation written for this paper in the style of a historian; not a real quotation): The Tsar's reforms created expectations that the autocracy could never meet. By opening the door to change but refusing to share power, Alexander II encouraged the radical opposition that would eventually kill him. Using your understanding of the historical context, assess how convincing the arguments in these three extracts are in relation to the impact of Alexander II's reforms.

Section B 'The main reason for the collapse of the Tsarist regime in 1917 was the impact of the First World War.' Assess the validity of this view.

Section B To what extent did Stalin's economic policies transform the Soviet Union in the years 1928 to 1941?