The document outlines key concepts and events related to socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution, including the roles of various social classes, the emergence of political parties, and the causes of the 1917 revolution. It discusses the impact of the Bolshevik Revolution, the establishment of the Duma, and the global influence of the Russian Revolution on socialist movements worldwide. Key figures and movements, such as the Labour Party and the suffragette movement, are also highlighted.
The document outlines key concepts and events related to socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution, including the roles of various social classes, the emergence of political parties, and the causes of the 1917 revolution. It discusses the impact of the Bolshevik Revolution, the establishment of the Duma, and the global influence of the Russian Revolution on socialist movements worldwide. Key figures and movements, such as the Labour Party and the suffragette movement, are also highlighted.
The document outlines key concepts and events related to socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution, including the roles of various social classes, the emergence of political parties, and the causes of the 1917 revolution. It discusses the impact of the Bolshevik Revolution, the establishment of the Duma, and the global influence of the Russian Revolution on socialist movements worldwide. Key figures and movements, such as the Labour Party and the suffragette movement, are also highlighted.
The document outlines key concepts and events related to socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution, including the roles of various social classes, the emergence of political parties, and the causes of the 1917 revolution. It discusses the impact of the Bolshevik Revolution, the establishment of the Duma, and the global influence of the Russian Revolution on socialist movements worldwide. Key figures and movements, such as the Labour Party and the suffragette movement, are also highlighted.
CH-2: Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution
Questions:
Q1. Name the classes which controlled economic and social powers in the society before eighteenth century. Ans. Aristocracy and Church controlled economic and social power in the society.
Q2. State any one idea of the liberals.
Ans. Liberals wanted a nation which tolerated all religions.
Q3. Who formed the Labour Party in Britain in 1905?
Ans. Socialists and trade unionists formed Labour Party in Britain in 1905.
Q4. State any one main idea of the radicals.
Ans. Radicals wanted a nation in which government was based on the majority of a country population.
Q5. What was suffragette movement?
Ans. A movement to give women the right to vote.
Q6. State any one fundamental idea of the socialists.
Ans. The socialists were against private property, and saw it as the root of all social ills of the time.
Q7. Who introduced collectivisation programme in Russia? State its one feature. Ans. (i) Stalin introduced collectivisation programme. (ii) All peasants were forced to cultivate in collective farms (Kolkhoz).
Q8. Describe the drawbacks of the communist government in the USSR.
Ans. The drawbacks are as mentioned below: (i) Denial of essential freedoms to the people. (ii) Repressive policies for carrying out developmental projects such as collectivisation programme
Q9.Why did the Tsarist autocracy collapse in 1917?
Ans. (i) During World War Russia suffered 7 million causalities, destruction of crops and industrial equipment, breaking of railway lines. (ii) There were labour shortages and (iii) In February 1917, food shortages were felt in the workers' quarters. (iv) The winter of 1917 was very cold. Under the above conditions, Tsar desired to dissolve the Duma. On 22 February, there was a lockout in one factory which led to strike in fifty factories. Women led the strikes. Ultimately, on Sunday, 25 February, the government suspended the Duma. There were slogans about bread, wages, better hours and democracy. The situation became worse. Soldiers and workers formed a soviet' or 'council'. Ultimately on the advice of Military commanders, Tsar abdicated on 2 March. A provisional government was formed by Soviet leaders and Duma leaders.
Q10. What were the main causes of the Russian Revolution?
Ans. Main causes of Russian Revolution were: (i) Autocratic rule of Tsars: In 1914, the Russian emperor was Tsar Nicholas. He fought a number of wars to expand his empire in the north and west in Europe. He had borne the expenditure of war by taxing the common people of Russia. (ii) Conditions of peasants: A majority of the Russians were agriculturalists. Major part of the land was owned by nobles and clergy and these peasants worked as farmers on daily wages. They were paid less and worked more and sometimes under debt; they were not even paid wages. (iii) Status of industries: Industry was found in pockets. Prominent industrial areas were Petersburg and Moscow. Craftsmen undertook much of the production, but large factories existed alongside crafts workshops. Foreign investment in industries increased with the extension of Russia's railway network. (iv) Conditions of workers in the industries: Most industries were owned by private industrialists. Though the government supervised factories' working hours and wages of the workers, but still rules were broken. Women workers were also paid less than men. Some workers formed associations to help members in times of unemployment and financial hardships. (v) Formation of socialist parties: All political parties were illegal in Russia before 1914. The Russian Social Democratic Workers Party was founded in 1898 by socialists, who respected Marxist ideas. But because of government policies, it had to operate secretly as an illegal organisation. It set up a newspaper, mobilised workers and organised strikes.
Q11. Who was "father Gapon'? Narrate the events leading to the 'Bloody Sunday' incident and the 1905 Revolution. Ans. Father Gapon was the leader of the procession of workers, who marched towards the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. Events: (i) When this procession of workers reached the Winter Palace, it was attacked by the police (ii) Over a hundred workers were killed and about three hundred wounded. (iii) This incident known as the Bloody Sunday' started a series of events leading to the 1905 Revolution. (iv) Strikes took place, universities closed down and student bodies staged walkouts. (v) Lawyers, doctors and engineers and other middle class workers formed unions and demanded a constituent assembly.
Q12.What was the Duma? How far was it successful?
Ans. (i) Duma was an elected legislative body like the parliament having representatives of the third estate. (ii) The Tsar dismissed the first Duma within 75 days and the re-elected Second Duma within three months. He did not want any restrictions or reductions in his powers. He changed the voting laws and packed the Third Duma with the conservative politicians. Liberals and revolutionaries were kept out.
Q13. What were the main changes brought about by the Bolsheviks immediately after the October Revolution? Ans. The main changes brought about by the Bolsheviks were as follow: (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) In cities, Bolsheviks enforced the partition of large houses according to family requirements. (iv) Use of old titles of aristocracy were banned. (v) New uniforms were designed for the army and officials. (vi) The Bolshevik Party was renamed the Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik) (vii) In March 1918, despite opposition by their political allies, the Bolsheviks made peace with Germany at Brest Litovsk. (viii) In subsequent years, Russia became a one party-state. Trade Unions were kept under party control. (ix) The secret police punished those who criticised the Bolsheviks.
Q14. What was the global influence of Russian Revolution?
OR What were the effects of the Russian Revolution on the world? Ans. (i) In many countries, communist parties were formed like the Communist Party of Great Britain. (ii) The Bolsheviks encouraged colonial people to follow their experiment of taking power. (iii) Many non-Russians from outside the USSR, participated in the Conference of the People of East and the Bolshevik-founded Comintern (an international union of pro-Bolshevik socialist parties). (iv) Some received education in USSR's Communist University of the Workers of the East. (v) By the time of the outbreak of the World War II, the USSR had given socialism, a global face and world stature.
