How consistent was Russia's treatment of the peoples in its Empire throughout the period in 1855 to 1964? (25 mark A2 style question)

Students may be tempted to answer this question in chronological order or by country or ethnicity. Don’t! Always sort your points thematically, no matter how broad the question might seem. It is important to bring in the whole period into your answer and write about a wide range of countries or ethnicities when answering. While it is advisable to mention a broad range of countries and ethnicities into this essay, students should not feel pressured to mention them all in each point.

I chose to use three themes to make three points in this essay;

The extent of Russification.

I would mention Central Asia in particular to highlight the inconsistency of Russification. I would also mention the Baltics and Eastern Europe to show the success of Russification.

The suppression of unrest

I would mention the 1863 Polish Revolt, the repression of Ukrainians under Alexander II, the expulsion of Yugoslavia from the Cominform in 1948 and the Hungarian uprising of 1956.

The political autonomy of states

I would mention Finland in particular to show the inconsistencies of the extent of political autonomy granted under different leaders. It is important to mention also the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk of 1918. However students could also mention how the Red Army reclaimed some recently made independent states such as Georgia. The 1936 Constitution could also be brought in, which theoretically gave member stats the right to succeed from the Union, however students should show awareness of the lack of real autonomy most states had under Stalin and Khrushchev.