Don Bosco School of Excellence, Tirupattur

CBSE | Class 9 | Social Science

History Ch.2 | Socialism in Europe and The Russian Revolution
The February Revolution in Petrograd
Events: In the winter of 1917, Petrograd was grim. There was a food shortage in the
workers’ quarters.
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.
The government imposed curfew as the quarters of the fashionable area and official
buildings were surrounded by workers.
On the 24th and 25th, the government called out the cavalry and police to keep an eye
on them.
On 25th February, the government suspended the Duma and politicians spoke against
this measure. The people were out with force once again.
On 27th, the Police Headquarters were ransacked. People raised slogans and were out
in the streets.
Cavalry was called out again but they refused to fire on the demonstrators.
An officer was shot at the barracks of a regiment and other regiments mutinied, voting to
join the striking workers. They gathered in the evening to form a Soviet or council. This
was the Petrograd Soviet.
On 28th, a delegation went to meet the Tzar. The Military commanders advised him to
abdicate.
The Tzar abdicated on 2nd March.
A Provincial Government was formed by the Soviet and Duma leaders to run the
country.
The people involved were the parliamentarians, workers, women workers, soldiers, and
military commanders.

Effects: Restrictions on public meetings and associations were removed.

Soviets like the Petrograd Soviet were set up everywhere.
In individual areas, factory committees were formed which began questioning the way
industrialists ran their factories.
Soldiers’ committees were formed in the army.
The Provisional Government saw its power declining and Bolshevik influence grow. It
decided to take stern measures against the spreading discontent.
It resisted attempts by workers to run factories and arrested leaders.
Peasants and the Socialist Revolutionary leaders pressed for a redistribution of land.
Land committees were formed and the peasants seized land between July and
September 1917.

October Revolution
Events:
16th October 1917 - Lenin persuaded the Petrograd Soviet and the Bolshevik Party to
agree to a socialist seizure of power. A Military Revolutionary Committee was appointed
by the Soviet to organize the seizure.
The uprising began on 24th October. Prime Minister Kerenskii left the city to summon
troops.
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Early morning military men loyal to the government seized the buildings of two Bolshevik
newspapers. Pro-government troops were sent to take over telephone and telegraph
offices and protect the Winter Palace.
In response, the Military Revolutionary Committee ordered to seize government offices
and arrest the ministers.
The Aurora’ ship shelled the Winter Palace. Other ships took over strategic points.
By night, the city had been taken over and the ministers had surrendered.
All Russian Congress of Soviets in Petrograd approved the Bolshevik action.
Heavy fighting took place in Moscow and by December, the Bolsheviks controlled the
Moscow - Petrograd area.
The people involved were Lenin, the Bolsheviks, troops (pro-government).

Effects
The Bolsheviks were totally opposed to private property.
Most industries and banks were nationalized in November 1917.
The land was declared social property and peasants were allowed to seize the land of
the nobility.
Use of old titles of the aristocracy was banned.
New uniforms were designed for the army and officials.
In November 1917, the Bolsheviks conducted the election but failed to gain the majority
support.
Russia became a one-party state.
Trade unions were kept under party control.
A process of centralized planning was introduced. This led to economic growth.
Industrial production increased.
An extended schooling system developed.
The collectivization of farms started.

The Civil War - 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 of them fought a war with the Bolsheviks.

Making a Socialist Society - The Bolsheviks kept industries and banks nationalized
during the Civil War. A process of centralized planning was introduced. Rapid
construction and industrialization started. An extended schooling system developed.

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

Global Influence
By the 1950s, it was recognized 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 or were being fed, the essential freedom to its citizens was being
denied. However, it was recognized 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.

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Questions and Answers
Q1. Give one instance of high anti-German sentiments in Russia.
Ans.: Renaming of St Petersburg a German name, as Petrograd showed the high
anti-German sentiments.

Q2. What made autocracy unpopular in Russia?

Ans.: The German origin of the Tsarina Alexandra and advisers like the monk Rasputin
made the autocracy unpopular in Russia.

Q3. What were the divisions in the layout of the Petrograd city?
Ans.: Workers’ quarter and factories were located on the right bank of River Neva
whereas on the left bank fashionable area, the Winter Palace and official building were
located.

Q4. Which division faced the food shortages in February 1917?

Ans.: The workers’ quarters was affected deeply with the food shortages in February.

Q5. To which the Tsar’s desire of Parliamentarians were opposed? Why?

Ans.: Parliamentarians were opposed to Tsar’s desire to dissolve the Duma to preserve
the elected government.

Q6. Why did a lockout take place at a factory on the right bank of the River Neva
on 22 February, 1917?
Ans.: A lockout took place at a factory on the right bank of the River Neva on 22nd
February, 1917 in favour of the workers at the left bank of the river. They had a bad time
due to severe winter and food shortages.

Q7. Which events took place after the Tsar abdicated on 2nd March?
Ans.: The events that took place after the abdication of Tsar on 2nd March 1917 were:
(a) Forming of the Provisional Government.
(b) Decision to set up a constituent assembly.

Q8. Who formed the Provisional Government to run the country?

Ans.: Soviet and the Duma leaders formed a Provincial Government to run the country.

Q9. Who were influential in the Provisional Government?

Ans.: Army officials, landowners and industrialists were influential in the Provisional
Government.

Q10. What were Lenin’s ‘April Theses’?

Ans.: The three demands of Vladimir Lenin after his return to Russia in April 1917 were
called Lenin’s April Theses’.

Q11. Why were most of the Bolshevik Party members initially surprised by ‘April
Theses’?
Ans.: Most of the Bolshevik Party members were surprised by the April Thesis’ because
of the following reasons.
(a) They wanted the continuation of World War I.
(b) They thought that time was not ripe for a socialist revolution.
(c) The Government needed to be supported at this time.

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Q12. What do you mean by nationalisation of banks and industries?
Ans.: This meant that the ownership and management of banks and industries held by
the government.

Q13. Name the ship that protected the Winter Palace during the October
Revolution in 1917 in Russia.
Ans.: Aurora protected the Winter Palace during the October Revolution in 1917 in
Russia.

Q14. What was Budeonovka?

Ans.: Budeonovka was the Soviet hat that was chosen to assert change in army uniform.

Q15. What was the Bolshevik Party renamed after the October Revolution?
Ans.: Bolshevik Party was renamed the Russian Communist Party after the October
Revolution.

Q16. What was Cheka?

Ans.: Cheka was the secret police set up by the Bolsheviks to clamp down on its critics.

Q17. To whom did the ‘reds’, ‘greens’ and ‘whites’ refer to during the Civil War in
Russia?
Ans.: The ‘reds’ were the Bolsheviks
The ‘greens’ were the Socialist Revolutionaries
The ‘whites’ were the pro-Tsarists.

Q18. Name the countries that supported the Socialist Revolutionaries and the
pro-Tsarists in Russia.
Ans.: France, America, Britain and Japan supported the Socialist Revolutionaries and
pro-Tsarists in Russia.

Q19. What were Stalin’s views about rich peasants and traders?
Ans.: Stalin viewed that rich peasants and traders held stocks of foodgrains hoping for
higher prices in future.

Q20. Who were the ‘Kulaks’?

Ans.: Kulakas were the rich peasants who held most of the land in Russia.

Q21. What was the problem associated with small-sized farms in Russia? .
Ans.: Production in the small-sized farms declined as modern farming cannot be used.

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Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. What is the name April Theses associated with?
(a) Karl Marx
(b) Robert Owen
(c) Lenin
(d) Stalin
Q2. Who was the successor of Lenin?
(a) Stalin
(b) Kerensky
(c) Trotsky
(d) Robert Owen
Q3. Buduonovka was the name given to ______?
(a) Boots
(b) Coat
(c) Scarf
(d) Hat
Q4. What made aristocracy unpopular in Russia?
(a) The German origin of Tsarina
(b) Poor advisors like Monk Rasputin
(c) The huge cost of fighting world war 1
(d) A & B
Q5. Who conspired in Italy to bring about a revolution?
(a) Bismarck
(b) Karl Marx
(c) Giuseppe Mazzini
(d) Louis Blanc
Q7. Which of these are related to Lenin’s April Theses?
(a) World war 1 should be brought to an end
(b) Land should be transferred to the peasants
(c) Banks should be nationalised
(d) All the three
Q8. Who led the Bolshevik group during the Russian Revolution?
(a) Lenin
(b) Karl Marx
(c) Friedrich Angels
(d) Trotsky
Q9. When did the socialists take over the government in Russia?
(a) October Revolution in 1917
(b) November revolution in 1917
(c) December revolution in 1919
(d) February revolution in 1920
Q10. In the beginning of the 20th century, the majority of the Russian people worked in?
(a) Industrial sector
(b) Agriculture sector
(c) Mining sector
(d) Transport sector
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Q11. The Commune of farmers was known as ______?
(a) Duma
(b) Mir
(c) Tsar
(d) Cossacks
Q12. Industrialization did not lead to which of the following problems?
(a) Poor wages
(b) Long hours of work
(c) Liberalism
(d) Development of new industrialised regions
Q13. The majority reign in Russia was ______?
(a) Russian orthodox church grown out of Greek church
(b) Russian orthodox church
(c) Catholics Protestants, Muslims and Buddhists
(d) B & C
Q14. Anti-German sentiments ran high during the First World War and St. Petersburg
was renamed a ______.
(a) Petersburg
(b) Petrogard
(c) Petrograd
(d) Petergrad
Q15. What was the Imperial Russian army known as during the First World War?
(a) Russian Power Roller
(b) Deterrent Roller
(c) Tsarist Power Roller
(d) Russian Steam Roller
Q16. When did Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin return to Russia from his exile?
(a) April 1917
(b) March 1917
(c) February 1917
(d) May 1917
Q17. The Bolshevik Party renamed itself the ______ to indicate its new radical aims.
(a) Nevskii Prospekt
(b) Communist Party
(c) Marxist Party
(d) Opposition Party
Q18. Who was the Prime Minister of Russia at the time of the October Revolution?
(a) Kerenskii
(b) Lenin
(c) Trotskii
(d) Tsar Nicholas Il
Q19. Who wrote the History of a Soviet Collective Farm?
(a) Fedor Belov
(b) Trotskii
(c) Kerenskii
(d) Lenin
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Q20. The ‘Greens’ who controlled most of the Russian empire during 1918 and 1919
were known as ______.
(a) Menshevik Party
(b) Pro-Tsarists
(c) Socialist Revolutionaries
(d) Bolsheviks

Q21. Who nationalised the industries and banks during the civil war?
(a) Russian Steam Roller
(b) Mensheviks
(c) Bolsheviks
(d) Leon Trotskii

Q22.Who conspired in Italy to bring about a revolution?

(a) Bismarck
(b) Karl Marx
(c) Giuseppe Mazzini
(d) Trotskii

Q23.The Central powers during the First World War included countries like Germany,
Turkey and
(a) France
(b) Austria
(c) Britain
(d) Russia

Q24. Who introduced ‘firm emergency measures’ after the death of Lenin?
(a) Lenin
(b) Fedor Belov
(c) Rasputin
(d) Stalin

Q25.Tsarina Alexandra was of the

(a) German origin
(b) French origin
(c) Russian origin
(d) Dutch origin

Q26. Centralised planning led to increase the industrial production by 100 percent in the
case of oil, coal and steel during the period ______.
(a) between 1927 and 1932
(b) between 1915 and 1920
(c) between 1921 and 1926
(d) between 1929 and 1933

Q27. Under the leadership of _____, a Military Revolutionary Committee was appointed
by the Soviets to organise the seizure.
(a) Vladimir Lenin
(b) Leon Trotskii
(c) Kerenskii
(d) Rasputin

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Q28. The Jadidists of Russia aimed that:
(a) Socialist should rule Russia
(b) Democrats should rule Russia
(c) Modernised Muslims should rule Russia
(d) Liberal Christians should rule Russia
Q29. In the World War I, which started in 1914, Russia fought against
(a) Britain and France
(b) Germany and Austria
(c) America
(d) Japan and Italy
Q30. Russian peasants were different from other European peasants because:
(a) They had no respect for the nobility
(b) They pooled their land together
(c) They were not different
(d) both (a) and (b)
Q31.What was the slogan of the Bolshhvik Party which brought it into power in Russia ?
(a) All powers to the Soviets
(b) All powers to the Czar
(c) All powers to the Duma
(d) All powers enjoyed by middle class
Q32. In the context of Russia, what was ‘KULAK’?
(a) A collective Farm
(b) A Russian Church
(c) Well-to-do Peasants
(d) Landless Labourers
Q33. Which one of the following refers to the secret police of Russia?
(a) Cheka
(b) Gestapo
(c) Security Police
(d) F.B.I.
Q34. What was ‘Cheka First’ during the Bolshevik reign in Russia?
(a) It was the secret police
(b) It was a farmers' army
(c) It was a group of industrial workers
(d) It was a workers' union
Q35. Who started ‘Collectivisation Programme’ in Russia?
(a) Lenin
(b) Karl Marx
(c) Rasputin
(d) Stalin
Q36. In the context of Russia who launched the slogan-‘‘Peace, Land and Bread’’?
(a) Chernov
(b) Rasputin
(c) Lenin
(d) Trotsky

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Q37. Socialists took over the government in Russia through the?
(a) October Revolution in 1917
(b) November Revolution in 1918
(c) December Revolution in 1919
(d) February Revolution in 1920
Q38. On 27th February 1917, soldiers and striking workers gathered to form a council
called
(a) Soviet Council
(b) Petrograd Soviet
(c) Moscow Union
(d) Russian Council
Q39. In order to control the situation, the government called the cavalry. How did the
cavalry react?
(a) The cavalry killed a large number of workers
(b) Most of the cavalry did not turn up due to extreme cold
(c) The cavalry refused to fire on the demonstrators
(d) The cavalry fired on the demonstrators
Q40. Why did a lockout take place at a factory on the right bank of the River Neva on 22
February, 1917?
(a) It was extremely cold for the workers to work, because of frost and heavy snow
(b) The workers were being forced to join the army
(c) Food shortages were deeply felt in the workers’ quarters situated on the left bank of
the River Neva
(d) Both (a) and (c)
Q41. Kolkhoz were _____, where all peasants were forced to cultivate from 1929.
(a) Collective Farms
(b) People
(c) Military
(d) Ships
Q42. What was Aurora that bombed the Winter Palace in 1917, on River Neva and took
over various military positions?
(a) Russian Cruiser ship
(b) Russian fighter jet
(c) Russian tank
(d) Russian helicopter
Q43. Name the person who helped organize a committee of workers in St Petersburg
which was called the Soviet.
(a) Trotsky
(b) Lenin
(c) Stalin
(d) Rasputin
Q44. Who were called ‘whites’?
(a) Socialist Revolutionaries
(b) The pro-Tsarists
(c) Bolsheviks
(d) Mensheviks

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Q45. Who is known as the father of communism who was also a German philosopher,
critic of political economy, economist, historian, sociologist, political theorist, journalist
and socialist revolutionary?
(a) Karl Marx
(b) Friedrich Engels
(c) Louis Blanc
(d) Robert Owen
Q.46. The ‘Greens’ who controlled most of the Russian empire during 1918 and 1919
were known as ______.
(a) Menshevik Party
(b) Pro-Tsarists
(c) Socialist Revolutionaries
(d) Bolsheviks
Q.47. Which of the following events took place after the Tsar abdicated on 2nd March?
(a) Provisional government was formed
(b) It was decided to set up a Constituent Assembly
(c) Constituent Assembly was formed by revolutionaries only
(d) Both A and B
Q48. When did the government suspend the Duma?
(a) 25 February, 1917
(b) 26 February, 1917
(c) 27 February, 1917
(d) 28 February, 1917
Q49. Why did a lockout take place at a factory on the right bank of the River Neva on 22
February, 1917?
(a) It was extremely cold for the workers to work, because of frost and heavy snow
(b) The workers were being forced to join the army
(c) Food shortages were deeply felt in the workers’ quarters situated on the left bank of
the River Neva
(d) Both (a) and (c)
Q50. Why did the support of people to the Tsar for war gradually started decreasing?
(a) Because of rising prices
(b) Army was sick and tired of war
(c) Because Tsar Nicholas II refused to consult the main parties in Duma
(d) Because of First World War

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