NCERT Solutions For Class 9 Social Science History

Chapter 2 - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution

1. What were the social, economic and political conditions in Russia before 1905?

Answer:

Social Condition:

Workers were a divided group, some had strong links with the villages, others had settled permanently
in cities. Workers were divided into skills. Division of workers showed themselves in dress and manners
too.

Economic Condition:

Most industries were the private property of industrialists. Government supervised large factories. The
industry was found in pockets. Many factories were set up in the 1890’s when Russia’s railway network
was extended, foreign investment in industry increased, coal production had doubled, iron and steel
output quadrupled. Most industries were the private property of industrialists.

Political condition:

Russia was an autocracy. Unlike other European countries, Tsar was not subject to Parliament.
Liberals in Russia campaigned to end this state of affairs.

Socialist Revolutionary Party struggled for Peasants rights

1905 was the year when the incident of Bloody Sunday took place. 100 workers were killed and about
300 were wounded. Bloody Sunday started a series of events that became known as the 1905
revolution.

2. In what ways was the working population in Russia different from other countries in Europe,
before 1917?

Answer:

The vast majority of Russia’s population were agriculturists. About 85 per cent of Russian empires
population earned their living from Agriculture. This proportion was higher than in most European
countries. In France and Germany, the proportion was between 40 per cent and 50 per cent. Cultivators
produced for the market as well as for their own needs and Russia was a major exporter of grain.

3. Why did the Tsarist autocracy collapse in 1917?

Answer:

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 NCERT Solutions For Class 9 Social Science History
After 1905 most trade unions and factory committees were declared illegal, there were restrictions on
political activity. Tsar dismissed the first 2 Dumas very quickly because he did not want his authority
and powers to be questioned. The third Duma was filled with Conservative politicians. During the 1st
world war the tsar started taking unilateral decisions without consulting the Duma, and while retreating
during the war large swathes of agricultural lands were burnt and buildings destroyed by Russian
soldiers on the orders of Tsar, and millions of soldiers died in the battle. The large majority of the
population were peasants and the land was under the control of a few private people. All these factors
led to the rise of revolution and the collapse of Tsar autocracy.

4. Make two lists: one with the main events and the effects of the February Revolution and the
other with the main events and effects of the October Revolution. Write a paragraph on who was
involved in each, who were the leaders and what was the impact of each on Soviet history.

Answer:

Main events of February Revolution:

 In February 2017 there was a shortage of food items in workers quarters.

 On Feb 22, a lockout took place at a factory on the right bank. The workers in fifty factories
called a strike, women played a very critical role in strikes. This day went on to be named as
International Women’s Day.
 On 25th Feb, Government suspended Duma.
 On 27th Feb, Police headquarters were ransacked, people were demonstrating and raising
slogans about bread, wages, better hours and democracy.
 Petrograd Soviet was formed.
 Tsar abdicated on March 2, Monarchy was formed in Feb 1917.
 Soviet leaders and Duma leaders formed a Provisional Government to run the country.

Effects of February Revolution:

 Restrictions on public meetings and associations were removed.

 ‘Soviets’ like the Petrograd Soviet, were set up everywhere, though no common system of
election was followed.
 The number of trade unions increased.
 In Industrial areas, factory committees were formed to question the way industrialists ran their
factories.
 Soldiers committee were formed in the Army
 Bolsheviks influence kept growing and the provisional government saw its power reducing.
 Land committees were formed to handle redistribution of land, which was a popular demand for
peasants and their socialist revolutionary leaders in the countryside.

Main events of October Revolution:

As the conflict between the provisional government and the Bolsheviks grew, Lenin feared the
Provisional Government would set up a dictatorship. Lenin began discussions for an uprising against
the Government. Bolshevik supporters in the Army, Soviets and factories were brought together. On
16th October 1917, Lenin persuaded the Petrograd Soviet and the Bolshevik Party to agree to a

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 NCERT Solutions For Class 9 Social Science History
socialist seizure of power. A military revolutionary committee was appointed by the Soviet under Leon
Trotskii to organize the seizure. The uprising began on 24th October 1917. 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 retaliation response the
Military Revolutionary Committee ordered its supporters to seize Government offices and arrest
ministers. A ship named Aurora bombed the Winter Palace, other ships sailed down the Neva and took
over various Military positions. By the end of the end, the city was under the control of Committee and
ministers had resigned. By December, Bolsheviks controlled the Moscow-Petrograd area.

Effects of October Revolution.

 Industries and banks were nationalised by November 1917, Government took over ownership
and management.
 The land was declared social property and peasants were allowed to seize the land of the
nobility.
 In the cities, Bolsheviks enforced the partition of large houses according to family requirements.
 Old titles of the aristocracy were banned.
 New uniforms were designed for the army and officials.
 Bolshevik Party was renamed as the Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik)
 Bolsheviks conducted elections to the constituent assembly, however, they failed to attain the
majority, Assembly rejected the Bolshevik measures and Lenin dismissed the assembly.
 All Russian Congress of Soviets became Parliament of the country. Russia became a one-party
state.
 Trade unions were kept under party control, the Secret Police punished anyone who criticised
the Bolsheviks. Many young artists and writers continued to support the Party as it stood for
Socialism.
 Many experiments were done in Arts and Architecture, but many were unhappy because of the
censorship.

5. What were the main changes brought about by the Bolsheviks immediately after the October
Revolution?

Answer:

 Industries and banks were nationalised by November 1917, Government took over ownership
and management.
 The land was declared social property and peasants were allowed to seize the land of the
nobility.
 In the cities, Bolsheviks enforced the partition of large houses according to family requirements.
 Old titles of the aristocracy were banned.
 New uniforms were designed for the army and officials.
 Bolshevik Party was renamed as the Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik)
 Bolsheviks conducted elections to the constituent assembly, however, they failed to attain the
majority, Assembly rejected the Bolshevik measures and Lenin dismissed the assembly.
 All Russian Congress of Soviets became Parliament of the country. Russia became a one-party
state.
 Trade unions were kept under party control, the Secret Police punished anyone who criticised
the Bolsheviks. Many young artists and writers continued to support the Party as it stood for
Socialism.

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 NCERT Solutions For Class 9 Social Science History
 Many experiments were done in Arts and Architecture, but many were unhappy because of the
censorship.

6. Write a few lines to show what you know about:

a. Kulaks

Answer:

 Wealthy peasants who Stalin believed were hoarding the grains to gain more profit.
 When the towns faced acute shortage of grains, Kulaks were thought to be responsible behind
it.
 Stalin thought it was necessary to eliminate them so that farms could be modernised.

b. the Duma

Answer:

In 1905, Tsar allowed the creation of an elected consultative Parliament or Duma. The Tsar dismissed
the first Duma within 75 days and re-elected the second Duma within three months. Tsar did not want
anyone to question his authority or undermine and reduce his powers. Tsar changed the voting laws
and packed the Third Duma with conservative politicians. Liberals and revolutionaries were kept out.

c. women workers between 1900 and 1930

Answer:

 Their wages were less than the wages of men.

 They formed 31% of the factory workforce.

d. the Liberals

Answer:

 They considered all religions as equal.

 They believed only men who have property had the right to vote
 They wanted an elected form of Parliamentary governance.

e. Stalin’s collectivisation programme.

Answer:

 He began this program in 1929.

 He believed this program would help in improving grain supplies.
 All peasants were forced to cultivate in collective farms called kolkhoz.
 On the contrary, this worsened the food supply situation.

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