DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL, AMRITSAR

CLASS 9TH
Chapter 2 SOCIALISM IN EUROPE AND THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION (HANDOUT)

Q1) What were the basic difference between liberals, conservatives and the radicals?
Ans-The liberals
1. Liberals wanted a nation which tolerated all religions.
2. Liberals also opposed the uncontrolled power of dynastic rulers.
3. They wanted to safeguard the rights of individuals against governments.
4. They argued for a representative, elected parliamentary government, subject to laws interpreted by a well-trained
judiciary that was independent of rulers and officials.
The radicals
1. Radicals wanted a nation in which government was based on the majority of a country’s population.
2. Many supported women’s suffragette movements.
3. Unlike liberals, they opposed the privileges of great landowners and wealthy factory owners.
4. They were not against the existence of private property but disliked concentration of property in the hands of a few.
The conservatives
1.Earlier, in the eighteenth century, conservatives had been generally opposed to the idea of change. They did not want any change in the
existing system.
2.By the nineteenth century, they accepted that some change was inevitable but believed that the past had to be respected and change had
to be brought about through a slow process.

2 Q How were liberals not democrats?

Ans- Liberals were not ‘democrats’. They did not believe in universal adult franchise. They felt men of property
mainly should have the vote.They also did not want the vote for women.

3) How did industrialization change the society?

1. 19th century was a time of profound social and economic changes. It was a time when new cities came up and new industrialized
regions developed, railways expanded and the Industrial Revolution occurred.
2. Industrialization brought men, women and children to factories. Work hours were often long and wages were very
low.
3. Unemployment was common, particularly during times of low demand for industrial goods Housing and
sanitation were problems since towns were growing rapidly.

4) Distinguish between socialism and capitalism.

a) Socialism:-1) under socialism, the means of production are controlled by the society or the government.
2) Social welfare is the main motive of the socialist society.
3) This system is against any private property.
b) Capitalism:- 1) under capitalism, the means of production are controlled by the private individuals.
2) To earn maximum profit is the main motive of the capitalist society.
3) This system is in favour of the private property.

5) Explain the views of Karl Marx on capitalism.

1) Karl Marx was of the opinion that an industrial society was a capitalist society.
2) Capitalists earn profits because of workers.
3) To increase his profits the capitalists uses 2 methods- i.e. either by reducing wages or increasing the working hours.
4. Marx believed that to free themselves from capitalist exploitation, workers had to construct a radically socialist society
where all property was socially controlled.

6) What were the political, economic and social conditions in Russia by year 1914?

1. Political Conditions: In 1914, Tsar Nicholas II ruled Russia and its empire. The Tsar believed in divine rights of
kings. As a ruler, he did not solve the problem of the people.
2. Social Conditions: The majority religion was Russian Orthodox Christianity - but the empire also included Catholics,
Protestants, Muslims and Buddhists. The non- Russian nationalities were not treated equal to that of Russian
nationalities. They were not given freedom to follow their culture and language.
 3. Economic conditions: a) Industry was found in pockets. Most of the industry was controlled was controlled by the
private individuals. The workers were exploited by capitalists as they were given less wages and made work even for 15
hours. which made their life miserable.

b) Russian Peasants About 85 per cent of the Russian empire’s population earned their living from
agriculture. Russian peasants were pooled their land together periodically and their commune (mir) divided
it according to the needs of individual families. Thus they became natural socialists.
c)Women made up 31 per cent of the factory labour force by 1914, but they were paid less than men.

7) Name any 2 socialist parties of Russia with their names.

1) The Socialist Revolutionary Party struggled for peasants’ rights and demanded that land belonging to nobles be
transferred to peasants. It was founded in 1900.
2) Social Democratic workers party founded in 1898 disagreed with Socialist Revolutionaries about peasants. Lenin felt
that peasants were not one united group. Some were poor and others rich, some worked as labourers while others were
capitalists who employed workers. Given this ‘differentiation’ within them, they could not all be part of a socialist
movement.
8) Explain the major events that were responsible for the Russian Revolution of 1905.
The events preceding the 1905 Revolution
1. Autocratic rule:- Tsar Nicholas II ruled Russia and its empire. The Tsar believed in divine rights of kings. As a ruler, he did not solve the
problem of the people.
2. Price rise:- The year 1904 was a particularly bad one for Russian workers. Prices of essential goods rose so quickly that real
wages declined by 20 per cent.
3) Worker unions:-The membership of workers associations rose dramatically. When four members of the
Assembly of Russian Workers, which had been formed in 1904, were dismissed at the Putilov Iron
Works, there was a call for industrial action.
4) Strike of the workers:-Over the next few days over 110,000 workers in St Petersburg went on strike
5) The Bloody Sunday:-When the procession of workers led by Father Gapon, demanding a reduction in the working day to eight hours, an
increase in wages and improvement in working conditions, reached the Winter Palace it was attacked by the police and the Cossacks.
Over 100 workers were killed and about 300 wounded. This incident is known as Bloody Sunday, which marked the 1905 revolution..
6) Demand of constituent assembly:-Strikes took place all over the country and universities closed down when student
bodies staged walkouts, complaining about the lack of civil liberties. Lawyers, doctors, engineers and other middle-class
workers established the Union of Unions and demanded a constituent assembly.

Q8.What were the reforms introduced by Czar Nicholas II after the 1905 Revolution?

Ans-The reforms introduced by Czar Nicholas II after the 1905 Revolution

1. During the 1905 Revolution, the Tsar allowed the creation of an elected consultative Parliament or Duma.
2. For a brief while during the revolution, there existed a large number of trade unions and factory committees made up
of factory workers.
3. The Tsar dismissed the first Duma within 75 days and the re-elected second Duma within three months. He did not
want any questioning of his authority or any reduction in his power. He changed the voting laws and packed the third
Duma with conservative politicians. Liberals and revolutionaries were kept out.

Q9. The First World War is considered one of the major factors responsible for the Russian Revolution of 1917. Justify it with giving
examples.
Ans-the conditions in Russia during the First World War
1) Rule of Tsar:-In Russia, the war was initially popular and people rallied around Tsar Nicholas II. As the war
continued, though, the Tsar refused to consult the main parties in the Duma. Support wore thin. Anti- German
sentiments ran high
2) Loss of soldiers:-Russia’s armies lost badly in Germany and Austria between 1914 and 1916. There were over 7 million
casualties by 1917.
3) Destruction of crops:-As they retreated, the Russian army destroyed crops and buildings to prevent the enemy from
being able to live off the land. People became refugees in their own country. The situation made the government and the
Tsar unpopular. Soldiers did not wish to fight such a war.
4) Impact on industries:- Russia’s own industries were few in number and the country was cut off from other suppliers
of industrial goods by German control of the Baltic Sea.
5) Shortage of workers:-. Able-bodied men were called up to the war. As a result, there were labour shortages and small
workshops producing essentials were shut down.
6) Shortage of food: - Large supplies of grain were sent to feed the army. For the people in the cities, bread
 and flour became scarce. By the winter of 1916, riots at bread shops were common.
7) Collapse of autocracy in 1917:- shortage of food became the immediate cause of the revolution.
a) It began with a demonstration by the working class women trying to purchase bread on March 7, 1917.
b) A general strike of workers followed, which was soon joined by soldiers and others. On March 12, the capital city of st. Petersburg fell
into the hands of the revolutionaries.

10) Write down the main events and the effects of the February Revolution and the October Revolution.
Ans- a) February revolution
Main events-
1. On 22nd February 1917 a lockout took place at a factory and women led the procession.
2. On 25th February government suspended the Duma.
3. On the 26th and 27th February, a general strike of workers, which was soon joined by soldiers.
4. 2nd march, tsar abdicated. Soviet leaders and Duma leaders formed a provisional government.
Effects- 1. The fall of the autocratic Tsar.
2.Restrictions on public meetings and associations were removed.
Leader- Kerensky
b) October Revolution-
Main events-
1. April 1917- Bolshevik leader Lenin returned to Russia.
2. July- Demonstrations by the Bolsheviks against the Provisional Government.
3. July- September- peasants seized land from the rich landlords.
4. 16th october1917- Lenin persuaded the Petrograd soviet and the Bolshevik Party to agree to a socialist seizure of power.
5. 24th October- the Bolshevik uprising in Petrograd.
Effects- 1) Fall of Provisional government.
2. Russia adopted socialism
3. Peace
Leader- Lenin

Q11) Differentiate between the ideas of the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.

Ans-The Bolsheviks were the majority group led by Vladimir Lenin who thought that in a repressive society like
Tsarist Russia the party should be disciplined and should control the number and quality of its members. They were
the group who conducted the Russian revolution.
b) Mensheviks were the minority group who thought that the party should be open to all (as in
Germany). They did not believe in Revolution but wanted to bring changes through democratic
means.

Q12) Who was Lenin? What was April Theses? Explain the role of Lenin in the Russian Revolution.
Ans-Lenin was one of the most important leaders of the Bolshevik party. It was he who led the Russian Revolution of 1917. He was
exiled for taking part in the 1905 revolution.
b) The ‘April Theses’:- Lenin the Bolshevik leader declared that
a) The war be brought to a close,
b) Land be transferred to the peasants,
c) And banks be nationalized.
These three demands were Lenin's "April Theses".
c) Provisional Government and Lenin:- the provisional Government which was established after the February
Revolution of 1917 was controlled by landlords, industrialists and army officials. So, Lenin was against the
Provisional Government led by Krenseky. He brought together different soviet and prepared them for the
Revolution. It was under the leadership of Lenin that the provisional Government was overthrown by the Soviets.

Q13) What were the effects of the October Revolution?

Ans- The effects of the October Revolution
1. Most industry and banks were nationalized in November 1917. This meant that the government took over ownership
and management.
2. Land was declared social property and peasants were allowed to seize the land of the nobility. In cities, Bolsheviks
enforced the partition of large houses according to family requirements.
3. They banned the use of the old titles of aristocracy.
4. The Bolshevik Party was renamed as the Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik).
5. In March 1918, despite opposition by their political allies, the Bolsheviks made peace with Germany and withdrew
 from the 1st World War.
6. In the years that followed, the Bolsheviks became the only party to participate in the elections.
7. A process of centralised planning was introduced. Officials assessed how the economy could work and set targets for a
five-year period. On this basis they made the Five Year Plans.
8. The government fixed all prices to promote industrial growth during the first two ‘Plans’. Thus they established a
socialist society.

Q14) What led the Civil War in Russia after the October Revolution.
i) Non-Bolshevik socialists, liberals and supporters of autocracy condemned the
Bolshevik uprising. Their leaders moved to south Russia and organized troops to fight
the Bolsheviks (the ‘reds’) to destroy socialism.
ii) During 1918 and 1919, the ‘greens’ (Socialist Revolutionaries) and ‘whites’ (pro-
Tsarists) controlled most of the Russian empire. They were backed by French,
American, British and Japanese troops - all those forces who were worried at the
growth of socialism in Russia. As these troops and the Bolsheviks fought a civil war,
looting, banditry and famine became common.

Q15) What were the major changes introduced in industrial and agricultural sector by Stalin?
Ans- The major changes introduced in industrial and agricultural sector by Stalin

1) Five year plan- Stalin came into power in 1924. A process of centralized planning was introduced. Officials assessed how the economy
could work and set targets for a five year period. On this basis they made five year plans.
2) The government fixed all prices to promote industrial growth during the first two ‘Plans’. Centralized planning led to economic
growth.
3) New factory cities came into being.
4) Stalin continued the policy of nationalization started by Lenin.
5) To promote industrial growth the government decided to fix prices of all industrial products.
6) As iron and steel industry was the basic industry so a special stress was laid for its growth.
7) Collectivization policy:- under collectivization , kulaks( well- to do farmers) were eliminated, and their land was taken away from them. It
was done to develop modern farms and run them along industrial lines with machinery. Farms were converted into state controlled large
farms. This was introduced to increase production.

Q16) Explain the impact of the Russian Revolution on Russia and the world.
Ans- socialism- the new government followed socialism. Government decided to develop the economy through Five- year plans.
2) With the growth of industrial and agricultural production, poverty started disappearing and the country moved on to the path of
prosperity.
3) Economic and social policies adopted by the government made Russia not only a major power of Europe but of the whole world.
4) The Russian revolution helped in the spread of socialism and communism in the world. Communist governments were established in
many countries like Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and China

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS-

1) Name the main occupation of the majority of Russia’s people.

2) Who ruled Russia and its empire in 1914?
3) Whose name was associated with cooperative community the New Harmony in Indiana?
4) In France, who encouraged cooperatives?
5) Who were known as Kulaks in Russia?
6) Whose name is associated with collectivization programme?
7) Karl Marx was against……………………………
8) Who was the successor of Lenin?
9) Pro-Tsarists were known as …………………………..
10) Which religion was followed by majority in the Russian empire?
11) The association of people who produced goods together and divided the profits according to the work done by members
is commonly termed as ………………………………