January 2009, AQA History AS Unit 1N
Level Description Marks
You will provide a small amount descriptive material that is only loosely
linked to the question.
You may make a statement related to the question, but it will not be backed
1 up with any specific or relevant material. 1-6
You will probably only address one aspect of the question.
Your writing will be very general without much in the way of clear evidence.
You are likely to show no real understanding on different interpretations.
Your answer will show some understanding about the focus of the question.
Your writing will be almost entirely descriptive and won’t really clearly link
to the question.
2 You may make a clear reference to the question with a tiny amount of 7-11
relevant evidence supporting it.
You don’t really show much of an understanding of different
interpretations.
You will show a developed understanding of what the question is asking.
You will assess different factors and will back this with relevant selected
3 evidence BUT there will be some areas lacking depth or balance.
12-16
You will show some understanding of any different interpretations.
You will show an explicit understanding of what the question is asking you
to consider.
Your writing will provide a balanced argument, backed with relevant
4 evidence.
17-21
There will be a range of appropriately selected evidence.
You will show a good understanding of historical interpretations.
Your answer will be well focussed and argued, constantly linking to the
question.
Your arguments will be supported by precisely selected evidence, which
5 leads onto a clear conclusion/judgement.
22-24
You will include in your answer a developed understanding of different
historical interpretations.
Areas of possible content
Fear of Trotsky:
Trotsky was feared as an ambitious man with the backing of the Red Army of 5 million
Trotsky was also disliked as an ex-Menshevik, Jewish, intellectual
Zinoviev, Kamenev and Stalin therefore formed the Troika to defeat Trotsky in 1924, which was the first stage in
Stalin’s victory in the power struggle
It was fear of Trotsky that led Zinoviev and Kamenev to argue that Stalin should not be removed as General
Secretary, which had been Lenin’s directive to his Political Testament.
However, there were other factors responsible for Stalin’s victory:
Stalin was the beneficiary of the Lenin Legacy: benefited from Lenin’s 1921 Ban on Factionalism – no criticism
once the Party Congress had voted for something or the leadership decreed it; this allowed Stalin to attack the
United Opposition and the Right Opposition as acting contrary to the will of Lenin; Lenin Enrolment, funeral speech
and ‘Foundations of Leninism’ all tied Stalin to Lenin
powers as General Secretary: Linkman between politburo and government, access to party files, recorded and
conveyed information, most crucially by ensuring Trotsky failed to attend Lenin’s funeral, right to appoint, remove and
transfer top 5 500 officials in USSR, including the regional secretaries meaning Stalin could make sure delegates to
the Party Congress backed him. Stalin ensured the appointment of six Stalinists to the 1926 Politburo
rivals errors and mistakes: Trotsky was an ex-Menshevik, Jew, feared as the ‘Red Napoleon’. World Revolution
made him appear to be a traitor, too intellectual and arrogant, failed to publish the Political Testament: Zinoviev and
Kamenev were Jews and ‘October’, whilst their attack on Trotsky made them appear indecisive – a former ally;
Bukharin fought in the party, though his strength lay with the peasants and the Trade Unions, commitment to NEP
meant he lacked credibility as a Marxist.
Higher level answers will demonstrate judgement, perhaps arguing that Stalin was able to take advantage of the fear
of Trotsky, or that Stalin’s strengths made the fear of Trotsky irrelevant.
January 2009, AQA History AS Unit 1N
(b) How important was the fear of Trotsky becoming leader in explaining Stalin’s
victory in the power struggle in the years 1924 to 1929? (24 marks)
What are the 1.
three main
features that you 2.
will examine in 3.
your answer?
Focus of Para 1: Evidence to use:
Link to the question:
Focus of Para 2: Evidence to use:
Link to the question:
Focus of Para 3: Evidence to use:
Link to the question:
Conclusion Conclusion
This is important!
Make sure that you
sum up your
findings AND link
back to the
question!