Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution (class IX)

A. Very Short Answer Questions:
Q 1. Who conspired in Italy to bring about a revolution?
Ans : Giuseppe Mazzini.
Q 2. When was the Socialist Revolutionary Party formed in Russia?
Ans: 1900
Q 3. Why did the Tsar dismiss the first Duma within 75 days of its election?
Ans :Because the Tsar did not want anyone to question his authority.
Q 4. Russia fought against _______ in the World War I that started in 1914.

And : Central Power ( Italy ,Germany, Austria-Hungry).

Q 5. Why did a lockout take place at a factory on the right bank of the River Neva on 22 

February, 1917?

Ans : It was extremely cold for the workers to work, because of frost and heavy snow and Food shortages were deeply felt in the workers’ quarters situated on the left bank of  theRiver Neva.

Q 6. On 27th February 1917, soldiers and striking workers gathered to form a council 

called …

Ans : Petrograd Soviet 

Q 7. When did the Tsar abdicate the throne?

Ans : 2 March, 1917 

Q 8.  Why was most of the Bolshevik Party members initially surprised by ‘April Thesis’?

Ans: They thought that time was not ripe for a socialist revolution

Q 9.  Who led the Bolshevik group in Russia during Russian Revolution? 

Ans: Vladimir Lenin 

Q 10. Who started ‘Collectivisation Programme’ in Russia? 

Ans : Stalin

Q 11.  After 1905, most committees and trade unions were …

Ans: Declared illegal

Q 12. In the Russian Civil War the Bolsheviks and the socialist revolutionaries were 

represented by which of the following colours? 

Ans: Reds and Greens

Q 13. The commune of farmers was known as …

Ans: Mir 

Q 14. Who led the procession of workers to the event ‘Bloody Sunday’ in Russia?

Ans: Father Gapon.

 Answer the following Questions : 

Q 1. What were the ideas of liberals?

Ans : Following were the ideas of the liberals:

i . Liberals wanted a nation which tolerated all religions. 

ii. They argued for an elected parliamentary government, subject to laws interpreted by a well trained judiciary that was independent of rulers and officials. 

iii. They were not democrats.

Q 2. What were the ideas of the radicals?

Ans : Following were the ideas of radicals:

i. They wanted a nation in which government was based on the majority of a country’s population. 

ii. They disliked concentration of property in hands of a few, not the existence of private property.

Q 3. What were the ideas of the Conservatives?

Ans : Following were the ideas of the Conservatives:

i . They resisted change.

ii. After the revolution they started accepting change provided it was slow and had links and respected the past.

Q 4. What were the changes brought by the industries in Russian Empire?

Ans: Following changes were brought in Russian Empire due to industries:

i.That was the time of economic and social change. 

ii. Men, women and children were pushed into factories for low wages.

iii. Liberals and radicals who were factory owners felt that workers’ efforts must be encouraged.

Q 5. What were the ideas of socialist in Europe?

Ans: 

i. Socialists were against private property. 

ii. They had different visions of the future. 

iii. Some believed in cooperatives, some demanded that governments must encourage cooperatives. 

iv. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels added that industrial society was capitalist. Marx believed that a socialist society would free the workers from capitalism. This would be a communist society.

Q 6. What were the political, social and Economic condition of Russia in 1914?

Ans; 

i. In 1914, Nicholas II ruled the Russian empire.

ii. Most of the Russian population were agriculturalist. 

iii. Industries were being set up which was mostly private property of industrialists. 

iv. Workers were divided into groups but they did unite to strike work when they were dissatisfied. 

v. Peasants had no respect for nobility, very unlike the French peasant. Russian peasants were the only peasant community which pooled their land and their commune divided it.

Q 6. What were the events preceding to the 1905 Revolution?

Ans: Following were the events preceding to the 1905 Revolution:

i. The 1905 Revolution : Russia was an autocracy. The Tsar was not subject to the parliament. 

ii. Liberals wanted to end this state of affairs. They worked towards demanding a constitution during the Revolution of 1905.

iii. Prices of essential goods rose so quickly by 1904 that the real wages declined by 20%. 

iv. During this time, four members of the Putilov Iron Works were dismissed. Action was called for. Over 110,000 workers in St. Petersburg went on strike demanding a reduction in working hours and increase in wages. This procession was attacked by the police and Cossacks. Over 100 workers were killed. 

v. Strikes took place as a reaction. People demanded a constituent assembly. 

vi. The Tsar allowed the creation of an elected consultative Parliament or Duma. The Tsar dismissed the first Duma within 75 days and announced the election of a second Duma.

Q 7. What were the effects of World War I on Russia Empire?

Ans: Following were the effects of First World War on the Russian Empire : 

i. In Russia, the war was initially very popular but later the support grew thin. Anti-German sentiments ran high. 

ii. Russian armies lost badly in Germany and Austria.

iii. There were 7 million casualties and 3 million refugees in Russia. 

iv. The war also affected the industry. There was labour shortage, railway lines were shut down and small workshops were closed down. 

V. There was shortage of grain and hence of bread.

Q8. Trace the events of the February Revolution in Petrograd.

Ans: i. In the winter of 1917, Petrograd was grim. There was food shortage in the workers’ quarters.

ii. In 22 February a lockout took place at a factory. Workers of 50 other factories joined in sympathy. Women also led and participated in the strikes. This came to be called the International Women’s Day.

iii.The government imposed a curfew as the quarters of the fashionable area and official buildings were surrounded by workers.

iv. On the 24th and 25th, the government called out the cavalry and police to keep an eye on them.

v. On 25th February, the government suspended the Duma and politicians spoke against this measure. The people were out with force once again.

vi. On 27th, the police headquarters were ransacked.

v. Cavalry was called out again.An officer was shot at the barracks of a regiment and other regiments mutinied, voting to join the striking workers gathered to form a soviet or council. 

vi. A delegation went to meet the Tsar, military commanders advised him to abdicate.

vii. The Tsar abdicated on 2nd March.A Provincial Government was formed by the Soviet and Duma leaders to run the country.

Q 9. What were the effects of February Revolution?

Ans : Effects of February Revolution: 

i. Restrictions on public meetings and associations were removed.

ii. Soviets were set up everywhere.

iii. In individual areas factory committees were formed which began questioning the way industrialists ran their factories.

iv. Soldiers’ committees were formed in the army.

v. The provisional government saw its power declining and Bolshevik influence grow. It decided to take stern measures against the spreading discontent.

vi. It  resisted attempts by workers to run factories and arrested leaders.

vii. Peasants and the socialist revolutionary leaders pressed for a redistribution of land. Land committees were formed and peasants seized land between July and September 1917.

Q 10. Trace the events of October Revolution.

Ans: Events of October Revolution:

i. On 6th October 1917 — Lenin persuaded the Petrograd Soviet and Bolshevik Party to agree to a socialist seizure of power. 

ii. A Military Revolutionary Committee was appointed by the Soviet to organise seizure.

iii. Uprising began on 24th October. Prime Minister Kerenskii left the city to summon troops.

iv. Military men loyal to the government seized the buildings of two Bolshevik newspapers. Progovernment troops were sent to take over telephone and telegraph offices and protect the Winter Palace.

v. In response Military Revolutionary Committee ordered to seize government offices and arrest the ministers.

vi. The ‘Aurora’ ship shelled the Winter Palace. Other ships took over strategic points.

vii. By night the city had been taken over and ministers had surrendered.

viii.All Russian Congress of Soviets in Petrograd approved the Bolshevik action.

ix. Heavy fighting in Moscow — by December, the Bolsheviks controlled the Moscow - Petrograd area.

x. The people involved were Lenin, the Bolsheviks, troops (pro-government).

Effects

i. Most industry and banks were nationalised in November 1917.

ii. Land was declared social property and peasants were allowed to seize the land of the nobility.

iii. Use of old titles was banned.

iv. New uniforms were designed for the army and officials.

v. Russia became a one party state.

vi. Trade unions were kept under party control.

vii. A process of centralised planning was introduced. This led to economic growth.

viii. Industrial production increased.

ix. An extended schooling system developed.

x.Collectivisation of farms started.

Q 10. Write a short note on the Civil War.

Ans: When the Bolsheviks ordered land redistribution, the Russian army began to break up. Non-Bolshevik socialists, liberals and supporters of autocracy condemned the Bolshevik uprising. They were supported by French, American, British and Japanese troops. All these fought a war with the Bolsheviks.

Q 11. What were the contribution of stalin in USSR?

Ans: 

i. Making of Socialism — The Bolsheviks kept industries and banks nationalised during the civil war.

iii. A process of centralised planning was introduced. 

iv. Rapid construction and industrialisation started. 

v. An extended schooling system developed.

vi. Collective Farming — Stalin believed that rich peasants and traders stocked supplies to create shortage of grains. Hence, collectivisation was the need of the hour. This system would also help to modernise farms. Those farmers who resisted collectivisation were punished, deported or exiled.

Q 12. What were the Global Influence of Russian Revolution and USSR?

Ans: GLOBAL INFLUENCE

By the 1950s, it was recognised in the country and outside that everything was not in keeping with the ideals of the Russian revolution. Though its industries and agriculture had developed and the poor were being fed, the essential freedom to its citizens was being denied. However, it was recognised that social ideals still enjoyed respect among the Russians. But in each country the ideas of socialism were rethought in a variety of different ways.