Socialism in Europe and the Russian

Revolution Class 9 Important Questions

Very Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
In the context of Russia, which group was the
supporter of women’s Suffragette Movements?
Answer:
Radicals.

Question 2.
Who was Karl Marx?
Answer:
Karl Marx was a philosopher who favoured
socialism. He believed that to free themselves
from capitalist exploitation, workers had to
construct a radically socialist society, where all
the properties were socially controlled.

Question 3.
By whom was ‘Das Capital’ written?
Answer:
Karl Marx.
Question 4.
Name the term that refers to ‘women’s right to
vote’. (HOTS)
Answer:
Suffragette.

Question 5.
Who were the ‘greens’ and ‘whites’?
Answer:
They were the group of people who were
against the Bolshevik Revolution. They started a
civil war. They were supported by the French,
American, British and the Japanese troops as
these countries were worried about the growth
of socialism in Russia.

Question 6.
What was the basic idea of socialism?
Answer:
Socialists were against private property, and
saw it as the root of all social ills of the time.

Question 7.
What was the basic idea of a communist
society?
Answer:
All properties should be socially controlled.

Question 8.
Who built the cooperative called ‘New
Harmony’?
Answer:
Robert Owen.

Question 9.
Name the European nation where the first ever
socialist government was formed.
Answer:
Russia.

Question 10.
What was the Russian Revolution?
Answer:
The fall of monarchy in February 1917, and the
events of October are normally called the
Russian Revolution.

Question 11.
When was the Russian Social Democratic
Workers Party founded, and by whom?
Answer:
In 1898, by the socialists, who respected Marx’s
ideas.

Question 12.
Who was ruling over Russia when the Russian
Revolution took place?
Answer:
Tsar Nicholas II.

Question 13.
What was the Second International?
Answer:
It was an International body which was formed
to coordinate the ideas of the socialists.

Question 14.
“The year 1904 was particularly bad for the
Russian workers” Give reason.
Answer:
In 1904 prices of essential goods rose very
quickly and the real wages declined by 20%.

Question 15.
What was Duma?
Answer:
It was an elected consultative Parliament of
Russia.

Question 16.
Name the term that refers to the meaning of the
word ‘Soviet’.
Answer:
A Revolutionary Organization.

Question 17.
What was Bolsheviks?
Answer:
It was a socialist party of Russia which was led
by Lenin.

Question 18.
What was Mensheviks?
Answer:
It was a break away group of Bolsheviks. It was
also a socialist party like that of Bolshevik.

Question 19.
Define Kulaks.
Answer:
The wealthy farmers of Russia.

Question 20.
In the context of Russia what was ‘Kolkhoz’?
(HOTS)
Answer:
Kolkhoz were the collective farms, where all
peasants were forced to cultivate from 1929.

Question 21.
Who started ‘Collectivization Programme’ in
Russia?
Answer:
Stalin.

Question 22.
Who headed the Communist Party of Russia
after the death of Lenin?
Answer:
Stalin.

Question 23.
Which incident of the Russian history is known
as ‘Bloody Sunday’?
Answer:
It was an incident in which more than 100
workers were killed and about 300 wounded.
These workers were attacked by the police in
1905 when they reached the winter palace.

Question 24.
What was Lenin’s ’April Theses’?
Answer:
In 1917, Lenin declared that the war be brought
to an end, land be transferred to the peasants,
and banks be nationalised. These three
demands were Lenin’s ‘April Theses’.

Question 25.
What was the new name of St. Petersburg*?
Answer:
Petrograd.

Question 26.
Name a few countries that were part of central
power during the First World War?
Answer:
Germany, Austria and Turkey.
Question 27.
Name the term which was used for elected
Consultative Parliament in Russia?
Answer:
Duma.

Question 28.
At the beginning of the 20th century, where did
the vast majority of Russian people worked? .
Answer:
Agricultural sector.

Question 29.
When did the First World War break out?
Answer:
1914.

Question 30.
Why is 22nd,February celebrated as the
International Women’s day?
Answer:
Because on this day. women workers of Russia
led a huge strike in the factories.
Question 31.
What were the Muslim reformers within the
Russian Empire called?
Answer:
Jadidists.

Question 32.
To which place did industrialization bring men,
women and children together?
Answer:
Factories.

Question 33.
Name any two Indian nationalists who talked of
the significance of the French Revolution.
Answer:

• Raja Ram Mohan Roy and

• Derozio.
Question 34.
Name a few countries which were included in
Russian Empire in 1914.
Answer:
Finland, Lithuania and Latvia.
Socialism in Europe and the Russian
Revolution Class 9 Important Questions
Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Describe the views of radicals.
Answer:
The views of radicals are as follows:

• The group who wanted to bring about

immediate social change in Russia was
radicals.
• They wanted a government on the
majority of country’s population.
• They were against private properties.
Question 2.
Who were liberals? What were their political and
social views?
Or
Liberals were not democrats. Explain.
Answer:
Liberals : One of the groups which looked to
change society were the liberals.
Political and Social Views of Liberals :
 • Liberals wanted a nation which tolerated
all religions.
• Liberals also opposed the uncontrolled
power of dynastic rulers. They wanted to
safeguard the rights of individuals
against governments.
• They argued for a representative, elected
parliamentary government, subject to
laws interpreted by a well-trained
judiciary that was independent of rulers
and officials.
• However, they were not ‘democrats’.
They did not believe in universal adult
franchise, that is, the right of every
citizen to vote. They felt men of property
mainly should have the vote.
• They also did not want the vote for
women.
Question 3.
Distinguish between the ideas of liberals and
the radicals.
Answer:
 Liberals Radicals

(i) They argued They also

for ,it argued for a

representative, representative

elected elected

parliamentary parliamentary

government, government,

but did not but believed

believe in in universal
universal adult adult

franchise. franchise.

(ii) They felt

They felt all
men of
citizens
property
should have
should have
the right to
the right to
vote
vote.

(iii) They were They opposed

in favour of the privileges

giving of the rich or

privileges to the men of

the rich or the property.

men of

property.

Question 4.
Who ruled Russia in 1914? How did he manage
his empire? Explain.
Answer:
Tsar Nicholas II was ruling over Russia, during
the revolution.

• He was an autocrat.
• Though he created ‘Duma’ after the
Revolution, but never cared for it.
• He was carrying the war against the
wishes of the people.
 • He worked under a monk called
Rasputin.
Question 5.
Explain the views of different socialists and
philosophers regarding the vision of the future
or to transform the society.
Answer:

• Robert Owen, a leading English

manufacturer and a socialist sought to
build a cooperative community called the
New Harmony, in Indiana (USA).
• Louis Blanc of France wanted the
government to encourage cooperatives
and replace the capitalists.
• Karl Marx believed that to free
themselves from capitalist exploitation,
workers had to construct a radically
socialist society, where all the properties
were socially controlled.
• Friedrich Engels was also against
capitalism.
Question 6.
Explain any three reasons which led to civil war
between the Bolsheviks and the Russian army
of non-Bolsheviks.
Or
What conditions led to the Russian Civil War in
1918 – 1920? Give any four points.
Answer:

• Impact of Land Redistribution Policy on

Soldiers: When the Bolsheviks ordered
land redistribution, the Russian army
began to break up. Soldiers, mostly
peasants, wished to go home for the
redistribution and deserted.
• Opposition from Greens and Whites:
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).’ During
1918 and 1919, the greens (Socialist
Revolutionaries) and whites (pro-
 Tsarists) controlled most of the Russian
empire.
• Outside Forces: The Greens and Whites
were backed by French, American, British
and Japanese troops. All these forces
were worried at the growth of socialism
in Russia.
• Use of Force: In many parts, Bolshevik
colonists brutally massacred local
nationalists in the name of defending
socialism. In this situation, many were
confused about what the Bolshevik
government represented.
Question 7.
‘A communist society was the natural society of
the future.’ Explain.
Or
Explain the views of Karl Marx on capitalism.
Or
Explain the thoughts and beliefs of Karl Marx
which convinced the workers to enter into
conflict with the capitalists.
Answer:
 • Marx was of the opinion that an
industrial society was a ‘capitalist’
society.
• Capitalists earn profits because of
workers.
• To increase his profits the capitalist uses
two methods i.e., either by reducing
wages or increasing the working hours.
• Marx believed that to free themselves
from the capitalists, workers had to
construct a radically socialist society
where all the properties were socially
controlled.
Question 8.
Explain the economic condition of the workers
before the Russian Revolution.
Answer:

• Most of the industries were the private

property of the industrialists. Most of the
workers were working for about 10 to 12
hours a day.
• They were paid very low wages.
 • The working conditions were also very
poor.
• Women workers made up about 31% of
the factory labour, but they were paid
less than men.
Question 9.
Mention four features of socialism.
Answer:

• Socialists were against private property.

• Under socialism, the means of
production are under the control of the
government.
• Socialists regarded the private property
as the root cause of all social evils.
• Socialism encourages cooperatives.
Question 10.
Mention any four features of the Russian
economy at the beginning of the 20th century.
Or
Describe the economic condition of Russia
before 1905.
Answer:
 • The vast majority of Russia’s people
were agriculturists. About 85 per cent of
the Russian empire’s population earned
their living from agriculture.
• Industry was found in pockets.
Prominent industrial areas were St.
Petersburg and Moscow. Craftsmen
undertook much of the production, but
large factories existed alongside craft
workshops.
• Many factories were set up in the 1890s,
when Russia’s railway network was
extended, and foreign investment in
industry increased. Coal production
doubled and iron and steel output
quadrupled.
• In the countryside, peasants cultivated
most of the land. But the nobility, the
crown and the Orthodox Church owned
large properties.
Question 11.
Explain any three views of the socialists about
private property.
Answer:
Views of socialists about private property are :

• They were against private property.

• They saw it as the root of all social ills.
• Individuals who owned the property were
concerned about personal gain only.
• Those who make property productive are
ignored by the owners of the property,
(any three)
Question 12.
Mention any four features of the Russian
society of the 20th century.
Answer:

• The vast majority of Russia’s people

were agriculturists. About 85 per cent of
the Russian empire’s population earned
their living from agriculture.
• Workers were a divided social group.
Some had strong links with the villages
from which they came. Others had
settled in cities permanently.
 • Women made up 31 per cent of the
factory labour force by 1914, but they
were paid less than men (between half
and three-quarters of a man’s wage).
• In the countryside, peasants cultivated
most of the land. But the nobility, the
crown and the Orthodox Church owned
large properties. Nobles got their power
and position through their services to the
Tsar, not through local popularity.
Question 13.
What were the differences between the Russian
peasants and the other peasants of Europe?
Or
How were the peasants of Russia different from
rest of Europe?
Answer:

• Russia’s people were agriculturists.

About 85 per cent of the Russian
empire’s population earned their living
from agriculture. This proportion was
higher than in most European countries.
For instance, in France and Germany the
 proportion was between 40 per cent and
50 per cent.
• In Russia, peasants wanted the land of
the nobles to be given to them. They had
no respect for them, whereas in other
parts of Europe, the nobles were
respected.
• Russian farmers pooled their land
together periodically, and their commune
divided it according to the needs of the
individual families. This never happened
in other parts of Europe.
Question 14.
What were the main demands of April Theses?
Or
Explain the Lenin’s ‘April Theses’.
Or
Describe the three major demands of Bolshevik
during 1917.
Answer:
Main demands of April Theses were :

• Lenin returned to Russia from exile and

felt that it was time for Soviets to take
 over power. He declared that war be
brought to an end, land be transferred to
the peasants and banks nationalized. He
also argued to rename Bolshevik Party
as Communist Party.
• Started planning on uprising against
government with the support of army.
• Military Revolutionary Committee was
planned to seize the power and bring the
city under control.
Question 15.
Why did ‘the Kerenskii Government’ in Russia
fall?
Or
Why did the Kerenskii Government become
unpopular in Russia? .
Answer:

• Lenin: In April 1917, the Bolshevik leader

Lenin returned to Russia from his exile.
He put forward the ‘April Theses’ due to
which he got full support from the
Russian workers. Bolsheviks supporters
in the army, factories and peasants were
 brought together under one umbrella
under his leadership.
• Trade Unions and Other Organisations:
After the February revolution, workers
were free to form associations and
unions. So trade unions grew in number.
• Conflict between Bolsheviks and the
Government: Regular conflicts between
Bolsheviks and the government
weakened the government. Bolsheviks
were supported by Soviet army and
factory workers.
• Non-fulfilment of Demands: The
Provisional Government failed to meet
any of the demands of the workers and
the common people.
Question 16.
Describe the events that led to 1905 Revolution
of Russia.
Or
Write A note on the Bloody Sunday incident.
Or
Which incident came to be known as Bloody
Sunday? What were its consequences? V3Q
Answer:

• The year 1904 was a particularly bad one

for Russian workers. Prices of essential
goods rose so quickly that the real
wages declined by 20%.
• When four members of the Assembly of
Russian workers were dismissed, the
workers became agitated.
• In January 1905, a large number of
peaceful workers led by Father Gapon
reached the Winter Palace in St.
Petersburg to present a petition to the
Tsar.
• The workers were attacked by the police.
Over 100 workers were killed, and about
300 wounded. Since the incident took
place on Sunday, it is known as the
‘Bloody Sunday
Consequences: Tsar under pressure
from the masses was forced to
announce his manifesto which led to the
formation of Duma.
Question 17.
Explain the major events that were responsible
for the Russian Revolution of 1905.
Or
Why were there revolutionary disturbances iii
Russia in 1905?
What were the demands of the revolutionaries?
Answer:

• Autocratic Rule: Russia was under the

autocratic rule of the Tsars. The Tsar
Nicholas II was an inefficient and corrupt
ruler.
• Role of Liberals and Socialists: Both
Liberals and Socialists were against the
dynastic rule. They worked with
peasants and workers to demand a
constitution. They were being supported
by Jadidists.(Jadidists were the Muslim
reformers. These were people within the
Russian Empire. Their main aim was to
establish Islam and make Islam the way
of life in the society they lived in.)
 • Strike of the Workers: The year 1904 was
a bad year for the Russian workers.
Prices of essential goods rose so quickly
that real wages declined by 20%. So
there was a strike by the workers. They
demanded reduction in working hours,
an increase in wages and improvement
in the working conditions.
• Bloody Sunday : The incident of Bloody
Sunday in which more than 100 workers
were killed became the turning point. It
led to an all Russia strike. Lawyers,
doctors, engineers and others demanded
constituent assembly.
Question 18.
What is meant by ‘October revolution’?
Answer:

• It was the revolution which occurred in

October 1917. It was led by Petrograd
Soviet and the Bolshevik Party under the
leadership of Lenin.
 • A military Revolutionary Committee was
appointed by the Soviet under Leon
Trotskii to organise the seizure.
• The uprising began on 24th October.
Though Prime Minister Kerenskii resisted
but the seizure was complete within a
day.
• The Bolshevik Party was renamed the
Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik).
• In November 1917, the Bolsheviks
conducted the elections to the
Constituent Assembly, but they failed to
gain majority support. In January 1918,
the assembly rejected Bolshevik
measures and Lenin dismissed the
assembly.
• In the years that followed, Bolsheviks
took full control over the government
and Russia became one party state.
Question 19.
Explain any three major effects of the Russian
Revolution of October 1917 on Russian
economy.
Answer:
 • No Private Property: Private property in
the means of production was abolished.
Land and other means of production
were declared the property of the entire
nation. Labour was made compulsory for
all and economic exploitation by
capitalists and landlords came to an end.
• Nationalisation of Industries: The control
of industries was given to the workers.
All the banks, insurance companies,
large industries, mines, water transports
and railways were nationalised.
• Centralised Planning: 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.
Question 20.
How did Russia’s participation in the World
War-I become a cause for the fall of Tsar?
Explain.
Or
Explain any four reasons why Russian people
wanted the Tsar to withdraw from the First
World War.
Answer:

• Loss of Soldiers: In the First World War,

Russia lost more than 7 million soldiers.
So there was a discontent among the
masses.
• Destruction of Crops: The war led to the
destruction of crops, homes and
industries. So over 3 million people
became refugees.
• Impact on Industries: Russian industry
was dependent on other countries, and
was cut off from other suppliers of
industrial goods.
• Shortage of Workers: There was
shortage of workers as most of the
workers were sent to the army.
Socialism in Europe and the Russian
Revolution Class 9 Important Questions
Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
What are the main objectives of Liberals in
Russia?
Answer:
The mam objectives of Liberals are as follows:

• They expected a nation which tolerated

all the religions.
• They opposed the uncontrolled powers
of dynastic rules.
• They wanted to safeguard the right to
individual against government.
• They did not believe in universal adult
franchise as they were not democrats.
• Liberals argued for a representative
elected by the government. They were
subjected to laws interrupted by a well-
trained judiciary that was independent of
rulers and officials.
 • In the parts of Europe, where
independent nation states did not yet
exist. For example, Germany, Italy,
Poland-men and women combined their
demands for constitutionalism with
national unification.
• They took advantage of the growing
unrest and to push their demands for a
creation of a constitution with freedom
of press and freedom of association.

Question 2.
Explain any five differences between the
peasants of Russia and peasants of Europe.
Answer:

Peasants of Peasants of

Europe Russia
(i) They
They had
formed
no proper
unions and
unions and
fought for
associations
better
initially. It
wages and
came up
good living
much later.
conditions.

(ii) The The

workers workers

were united were not

in their united.

demands They were

for political divided on

rights and the basis of

reduction in occupation.

work hours.

(iii) The The

workers’ workers’

associations associations

had close were

ties with considered

the political as illegal

parties and and were

themselves suppressed.

formed

political

parties. For

example,

the labour

Party in

Britain.
 But in
(iv) In
Russia, the
France,
peasants
during the
had no
French
regards for
Revolution
the nobility
in Brittany
and often
peasants
revolted
had the
against
respect for
them.
nobles and
fought for

them.

(v) The
The
peasants in
peasants
Europe had
did not
political
enjoy any
rights and
political
enjoyed
rights.
them.

Question 3.
How far the economic and social conditions of
Russia were responsible for the Russian
Revolution? Explain by giving examples.
Or
Describe the circumstances which were
responsible for the Russian Revolution.
Answer:

(i) Agrarian Economy and Poor Condition of the

Peasants: At the beginning of the 20th century,
more than 85% of Russian population earned
their living from agriculture. Most of the land
was owned by rich people. Most of the
peasants worked from dawn to dusk
with very low wages or share. Most of the
peasants were against the rich and the nobles.

(ii) Poor Condition of Workers: Most of the

industries were controlled by the private
individuals. In craft units, and small workshops,
the working day was sometimes 15 hours. Most
of the workers were working and living in poor
conditions. Most of the workers were ill-paid.

(iii) Unemployment: Unemployment rate was

very high. The rich industrialists were exploiting
the workers.
(iv) High Prices : Prices of essential goods rose
so quickly that real wages declined by 20%.

(v) Condition of Women: Most of the women

were working in small factories. Women made
up about 31% of the factory labour force. They
were paid less wages, and were forced to work
for long hours. When they launched an
agitation, they were fired at by the police.

Question 4.
Explain the views of the Socialists on private
property with special emphasis on Karl Marx.
Answer:

• Marx argued that industrial society was

capitalist. Capitalists owned the capital
invested in factories, and the profit of
capitalists was produced by workers.
• The conditions of workers could not
improve as long as this profit was
accumulated by private capitalists.
• Workers had to overthrow capitalism and
the rule of private property.
 • Marx believed that to free themselves
from capitalist exploitation, workers had
to construct a radically socialist
controlled. This would be a communist
society. He was convinced that workers
would triumph in their conflict with
capitalists. A communist society was the
natural society of the future.
Question 5.
What social changes were seen in the society
after industrialisation?
Or
How did industrialization change the lives of
people in Europe? Explain.
Answer:

• Working Class: Industrialisation brought

men, women and children to factories.
Work hours were often long and wages
were poor.
• Problem of Unemployment and Poverty:
Problem of unemployment and poverty
was rare in the countryside but this
became a common phenomenon with
 industrialisation. Unemployment was
common, particularly during times of low
demand for industrial goods.
• Problem of Housing and Sanitation:
Large-scale migration to cities lead to
housing and sanitation problem.
• Trade Unions: Workers in England and
Germany began forming associations to
fight for better living and working
conditions. They set up funds to help
members in times of distress and
demanded a reduction of working hours
and the right to vote. In Germany, these
associations worked closely with the
Social Democratic Party (SPD) and
helped it win parliamentary seats. By
1905, socialists and trade unionists
formed a Labour Party in Britain and a
Socialist Party in France.
• Socialism: Trade unions and worker’s
union lead to idea of socialism. The
development of the idea of socialism
changed the political scenario. These
 trade unions stared demanding share in
political power.
Question 6.
Explain the collectivisation policy of Stalin.
Or
What were the major changes Introduced in
agriculture by Stalin? Explain.
Answer:

• The collectivisation policy was

introduced by Stalin who came to power
after the death of Lenin.
• The main reason was the shortage of
grain supplies.
• It was argued that grain shortage was
partly due to the small size of the
holding.
• After 1917, the land had been given over
to peasants. These small-sized peasant
farms could not be modernised. To
develop modern farms, and run them
along industrial lines with machinery, it
was necessary to eliminate ‘kulaks’, take
 away land from peasants, and establish
state-controlled large farms.
• From 1929, the government forced all
peasants to cultivate in collective farms
(kolkhoz). The bulk of land and
implements were transferred to the
ownership of collective farms. Peasants
worked on the land, and the kolkhoz
profit was shared.
• Enraged peasants resisted the
authorities, and destroyed their livestock.
Between 1929 and 1931, the number of
cattle fell by one-third. Those who
resisted collectivisation were severely
punished. Many were deported and
exiled.
• As they resisted collectivisation,
peasants argued that they were not rich,
and were not against socialism. They did
not want to work in collective farms for a
variety of reasons.
• Stalin’s government allowed some
independent cultivation, but treated such
cultivators unsympathetically.
 • In spite of collectivisation, production did
not increase immediately. In fact, the
bad harvest of 1930-1933 led to one of
the most devastating famines in Soviet
history when over 4 million died.
Question 7.
Highlight any five changes brought by Lenin in
Russia after October Revolution of 1917.
(HOTS)
Answer:
Role of Lenin in post 1917 Russian Revolution :

• A conflict between the provisional

government and the Bolshevik grew in
September, 1917. Lenin started planning
an uprising against the government and
began to organize his supporters from
any secrets and factories.
• A military revolutionary committee under
Lenin Trotski planned to seize power.
• Uprising began on 4th October, 1917.
The Prime Minister Karenski, with
government troops tried to subdue the
Bolshevik but failed.
 • Under the guidance of Lenin, the military
Revolutionary committee responded
quickly and by nightfall the city was
under the committee’s control.
• At a meeting all Russian Congress of
Soviet in Petrograd, the majority
approved the Bolshevik action. Russian
Revolution brought Russia under
communist control.
Question 8.
Who was Lenin? What was his contribution in
the Russian Revolution?
Answer:
Lenin was a socialist leader who was against
the autocratic rule of Tsar. His contributions in
the Russian Revolution were :
(i) April Theses: He put forward three demands
i.e., the war be brought to an end, land be
transferred to the peasants, and banks be
nationalised; These three demands were
Lenin’s April Theses. He also argued that the
Bolshevik Party rename itself the Communist
Party to indicate its new radical aims.
(ii) 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. He brought together different
Soviets and prepared them for the Revolution.

(iii) Overthrow of the Provisional Government: It

was under the leadership of Lenin that the
Provisional Government was overthrown by the
Soviets. On 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 Soviets to organise the
seizure.

(iv) Communist State: Lenin laid the foundation

of Communist State. After the October
Revolution the Bolshevik Party was renamed
the Russian Communist Party.

Question 9.
Explain the Russian February Revolution 1917.
Or
Petrograd had led the February Revolution that
brought down the monarchy in February 1917.
Explain. HOTS
Answer:
(i) Grim Condition in the Petrograd: In the winter
of 1917, conditions in the capital, Petrograd,
were grim. In February 1917, food shortages
were deeply felt in the workers’ quarters. The
winter was very cold. There had been
exceptional frost and heavy snow.

(ii) Women Lead the Strike: On 22 February, a

lockout took place at a factory. The next day,
workers in fifty factories called a strike in
sympathy. In many factories, women led the
way to strikes. This came to be called the
International Women’s Day.

(iii) Violent Incidents: In the next few days the

workers tried to pursue the government to fulfill
their demand but government called out the
cavalry. The streets thronged with people
raising slogans about bread, wages, better
hours and democracy. However, the cavalry
refused to fire on- the demonstrators. An officer
was shot at the barracks of a regiment and
three other regiments mutinied, voting to join
the striking workers.

(iv) Formation of Soviet: By that evening,

soldiers and striking workers had gathered to
form a soviet or council in the same building as
the Duma met. This was the Petrograd Soviet.

(v) Formation of Provisional Government: The

very next day, a delegation went to see the Tsar.
Military commanders advised him to abdicate.
He followed their advice and abdicated on 2
March. Soviet leaders and Duma leaders
formed a Provisional Government to run the
country. Russia’s future would be decided by a
constituent assembly, elected on the basis of
universal adult suffrage.

Question 10.
Describe the importance of Battle of Stalingrad
in the Second World War.
Answer:
Importance of Battle of Stalingrad in the
Second World War :

• The battle of Stalingrad was fought

between Russia and Germany on
Russian territory.
• This battle is considered important
because it marked the defeat of
Germany and Hitler along with Nazi
party.
• Hitler had signed a non-aggression treaty
with Russia in August 1939 A.D. Since he
did not have faith in Russia he
considered Russia as a vital threat to
Nazi Germany.
• Hitler also had imperial designs on the
fertile Ukraine Basin and its mines.
• He also wanted to Europeanize the area
of the Asian Steppe.
• Due to the above mentioned reasons,
Hitler violated the Pact of 1939 and
attacked Russia from three sides.
• This led to a battle in Stalingrad near
Moscow.
 • The Germany failed to capture Stalingrad
due to lack of preparation of German
soldiers against heavy rains and frosts in
the month of October.
• This led to failure of Hitler’s campaign.
• In all, Hitler exposed the German.
Western front to British aerial bonding.
Eastern front was exposed to powerful
Soviet Army. In this battle, Germany
suffered a lot and Soviet hegemony was
established over entire Eastern Europe.

Class 9 History Chapter 2 Extra Questions

and Answers Socialism in Europe and the
Russian Revolution
Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Who controlled economic and social powers
before the 18th century in France?
Answer:
The aristocracy and the church controlled the
economic and social powers in France before
the 18th century.

Question 2.
Name any two Indians who talked of the
significance of the French Revolution.
Answer:
Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Derozio talked of the
significance of the French Revolution.

Question 3.
What were the varied responses in Europe
about transformation of society?
Answer:
There were some who accepted that some
changes were necessary but wished to have a
gradual shift while others wanted radical
restructuring of the society.

Question 4.
Mention the type of government favored by the
liberals.
Answer:
They insisted on a representative, elected
parliamentary government, subject to laws
interpreted by a well-trained judiciary that was
independent of rulers and officials,

Question 5.
How can you say that the ‘liberals’ were not
‘democrats’? [HOTS]
Answer:
The liberals were not democrats because they
did not believe in universal adult franchise and
felt that only men of property should have a
right to vote. They were against voting rights to
women.

Question 6.
Mention one significant view of the radicals.
Answer:
Radicals wanted a nation in which the
government was based on the majority of a
country’s population.

Question 7.
When did the conservatives become receptive
to the need of change?
Answer:
After the French Revolution, the conservatives
became receptive to some kind of change.

Question 8.
Which group of ideology was against any kind
of political or social change earlier in the 18th
century?
Answer:
The conservatives, in the early 18th century
were against any kind of political and social
change.

Question 9.
What were the ideas of ‘conservatives’
regarding social change in the 19th century?
Answer:
The conservatives believed that some change
was required in the society but the changes
should be slow.

Question 10.
What kind of developments took place as a
result of new political trends in Europe?
Answer:
As a result of new political trends in Europe
industrial revolution occurred, new cities came
up and railways expanded.

Question 11.
List the major change during industrialisation.
Answer:
Men, women and children were brought to
factories during industrialisation.

Question 12.
What were the firm beliefs of the liberals?
Answer:
The liberals firmly believed in the value of
individual effort, labour and enterprise.

Question 13.
How would society develop according to the
liberals?
Answer:
Liberals believed that societies would develop if
freedom of individuals was ensured, if poor
could labour, and those with capital could
operate without restraint.
Question 14.
Who were the people that wanted to put an
immediate end to the existing governments in
Europe in 1815?
Answer:
Some nationalists, liberals and radicals who
became revolutionaries wanted to put an
immediate end to the existing governments in
Europe in 1815.

Question 15.
What were nationalists views about
revolutions?
Answer:
The nationalists viewed that revolutions would
create nations where all citizens would enjoy
equal rights.

Question 16.
Who was responsible for achieving equal rights
in Italy?
Answer:
An Italian nationalist, Giuseppe Mazzini,
conspired with others to achieve equal rights to
all citizens in Italy after 1815.
Question 17.
Why were the socialists against private
property?
Answer:
The socialists were against private property
because individuals who owned property were
concerned only about their personal gains
rather than social welfare.

Question 18.
What were the two different visions of the
socialists for future?
Answer:
Some socialists like Robert Owen believed in
the idea of cooperatives and build cooperative
community called New Harmony in Indiana.
Others like Louis Blanc felt that it could not be
achieved through individual initiative.
Governments should encourage cooperatives.

Question 19.
What did Karl Marx want workers to overthrow?
Why?
Answer:
Karl Marx wanted the workers to overthrow
capitalism and free themselves from capitalist
exploitation.

Question 20.
Which international body was formed in Europe
in the 19th century to coordinate the efforts of
socialists all over Europe?
Answer:
An international body was formed in Paris in
1889, to coordinate the efforts of socialists all
over Europe. It was called the Second
International.

Question 21.
Name the socialist parties formed in Britain
and France in 1905.
Answer:
Labour Party was formed in Britain by socialists
and trade unionists. A Socialist Party was also
formed in France.

Question 22.
Who was the ruler of Russia and its empire in
1914?
Answer:
The ruler of Russia and its empire was Tsar
Nicholas II.

Question 23.
Mention the regions included in Russian
empire.
Answer:
The Russian empire included territory around
Moscow and current-day Finland, Latvia,
Lithuania, Estonia, parts of Poland, Ukraine and
Belarus. It also comprised some of today’s
Central Asian states.

Question 24.
Name the religions practised in the Russian
empire.
Answer:
The religions in the Russian empire included
Russian Orthodox Christianity’, Catholics,
Protestants, Muslims and Buddhists.

Question 25.
Which was the major occupation of Russian
people at the beginning of twentieth century?
Answer:
Agriculture was the occupation of about 85 per
cent of the Russians at this time.

Question 26.
Name the prominent industrial areas in the
Russian empire.
Answer:
St Petersburg and Moscow were the prominent
industrial areas.

Question 27.
Name any two factors that led to the setting up
of industries in Russia by the end of the 19th
century.
Answer:
The expansion of Russian railway network and
increase in foreign investment led to the setting
up of industries in Russia by the end of the 19th
century.

Question 28.
What was the commune/mir?
Answer:
The commune/mir was a cooperative
community of people in Russia living together
and sharing possessions and responsibilities.

Question 29.
Mention the role of Socialist Revolutionary
Party. .
Answer:
The Socialist Revolutionary Party struggled for
peasants’ rights and demanded that land
belonging to nobles be transferred to peasants.

Question 30.
On what point did the Social Democrats and
Socialist Revolutionaries differ with each
other? [HOTS]
Answer:
The socialists felt that peasants were not a
united group. Some were poor while others
were rich, some worked as labourers while
others were capitalists.

Question 31.
How was the Socialist Revolutionary Party
divided over the strategy of organisation?
Answer:
One group under Lenin felt that the party should
be disciplined and number and quality of
members should be maintained. Others wanted
the party to be open to all.

Question 32.
Which communities demanded constitution
during 1905 Revolution? Who supported them?
Answer:
Liberals, Social Democrats and Socialist
Revolutionaries with peasants and workers
demanded constitution. Nationalists and
jadidists supported them.

Question 33.
Who were jadidists?
Answer:
The jadidists were the Muslim reformers within
the Russian empire. They wanted modernised
Islam to lead their societies.

Question 34.
What was Bloody Sunday?
Answer:
Bloody Sunday was an incident when a workers
procession led by Father Gapon was attacked
by the police and at Winter Palace Cossacks
killing hundreds.

Question 35.
What do you mean by Union of Unions?
Answer:
During the 1905 revolution, lawyers, doctors,
engineers and other middle class workers
established a union of unions and demanded a
constituent assembly.

Question 36.
Why did the Tsar dismiss the first Duma within
75 days of its election?
Answer:
The Tsar dismissed the first Duma within 75
days of its election because the Tsar did not
want any reduction in his power and anyone to
question his authority.

Question 37.
Between which two European alliances First
World War broke out?
Answer:
The two European alliances were Germany,
Austria and Turkey and France, Britain and
Russia.

Question 38.
Give one instance of high anti-German
sentiments in Russia.
Answer:
Renaming of St Petersburg a German name, as
Petrograd showed the high anti-German
sentiments.

Question 39.
What made autocracy unpopular in Russia?
Answer:
The German origin of the Tsarina Alexandra and
advisers like the monk Rasputin made the
autocracy unpopular in Russia.

Question 40.
What were the divisions in the layout of the
Petrograd city?
Answer:
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.

Question 41.
Which division faced the food shortages in
February 1917?
Answer:
The workers’ quarters was affected deeply with
the food shortages in February.

Question 42.
To which the Tsar’s desire of Parliamentarians
were opposed? Why?
Answer:
Parliamentarians were opposed to Tsar’s desire
to dissolve the Duma to preserve the elected
government.

Question 43.
Why did a lockout take place at a factory on the
right bank of the River Neva on 22 February,
1917?
Answer:
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.

Question 44.
Which events took place after the Tsar
abdicated on 2nd March?
Answer:
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.

Question 45.
Who formed the Provisional Government to run
the country?
Answer:
Soviet and the Duma leaders formed a
Provincial Government to run the country.

Question 46.
Who were influential in the Provisional
Government?
Answer:
Army officials, landowners and industrialists
were influential in the Provisional Government.

Question 47.
What were Lenin’s ‘April Theses’?
Answer:
The three demands of Vladimir Lenin after his
return to Russia in April 1917 were called
Lenin’s April Theses’.

Question 48.
Why were most of the Bolshevik Party
members initially surprised by ‘April Theses’?
Answer:
Most of the Bolshevik Party members were
surprised by the April Thesis’ because of the
following reasons.
(a) They wanted continuation of World War I.
(b) They thought that time was not ripe for a
socialist revolution.
(c) Government needed to be supported at this
time.

Question 49.
What do you mean by nationalisation of banks
and industries?
Answer:
This meant that the ownership and
management of banks and industries held by
the government.

Question 50.
Name the ship that protected the Winter Palace
during the October Revolution in 1917 in
Russia.
Answer:
Aurora protected the Winter Palace during the
October Revolution in 1917 in Russia.

Question 51.
What was Budeonovka?
Answer:
Budeonovka was the Soviet hat that was
chosen to assert change in army uniform.

Question 52.
What was the Bolshevik Party renamed after
October Revolution?
Answer:
Bolshevik Party was renamed the Russian
Communist Party after the October Revolution.

Question 53.
What was Cheka?
Answer:
Cheka was the secret police set up by the
Bolsheviks to clamp down on its critics.

Question 54.
To whom did the ‘reds’, ‘greens’ and ‘whites’
refer to during the Civil War in Russia?
Answer:
The ‘reds’ were the Bolsheviks
The ‘greens’ were the Socialist Revolutionaries
The ‘whites’ were the pro-Tsarists.

Question 55.
Name the countries that supported the
Socialist Revolutionaries and the pro-Tsarists
in Russia.
Answer:
France, America, Britain and Japan supported
the Socialist Revolutionaries and pro-Tsarists in
Russia.
Question 56.
What were Stalin’s views about rich peasants
and traders?
Answer:
Stalin viewed that rich peasants and traders
held stocks of food grains hoping for higher
prices in future.

Question 57.
Who were the ‘Kulaks’?
Answer:
Kulakas were the rich peasants who held most
of the land in Russia.

Question 58.
What was the problem associated with small-
sized farms in Russia? .
Answer:
Production in the small-sized farms declined as
modern farming cannot be used.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 59.
Liberals were not Democrats. Explain. [CBSE
2016]
Or
Why do we say that liberals could not be called
‘democrats’?
Answer:
The liberals could not be called democrats
because even though they argued for a
representative, elected parliamentary
government, subject to laws interpreted by a
well-trained judiciary that was independent of
rulers and officials, they did not believe in
universal adult franchise and also did not want
the voting rights for women. They felt right to
vote should only be given to the propertied
men.

Question 60.
Describe the views of radicals. [CBSE 2014]
Answer:
The following were the viewpoints of the
radicals.
(a) Radicals wanted a nation in which
government was based on the majority of a
country’s population.
(b) Many supported women’s suffragette
movements.
(c) They opposed the privileges of great
landowners and wealthy factory owners.
Though they favoured private property, they
disliked concentration of property in the hands
of a few.

Question 61.
What were the viewpoints of the
conservatives?
Answer:
The conservatives had the following viewpoints.
(a) In the beginning of the eighteenth century,
they were opposed to the idea of change.
(b) Later in the nineteenth century, they
accepted that some change was inevitable.
(c) At the same time they believed that the past
had to be respected and change had to be
brought about through a slow process.

Question 62.
How should society, according to liberals and
radicals, develop?
Answer:
Liberals and radicals were often property
owners and employers. They acquired wealth
through industrial ventures and trade. They
believed that society could develop in the
following ways.
(a) They strongly believed that if the workforce
is healthy and educated, more profits could be
earned.
(b) They firmly believed in valuing individual
efforts, labour and enterprise.
(c) They believed that the society would
develop if poor could work and freedom of all
individuals is ensured.
(d) For this, they wanted investment and trade
to be carried out without restrictions.

Question 63.
Why were socialists against private property
and saw it as the root of all social ills? [HOTS]
Or
To what changes did the socialists campaign
for?
Or
Explain the Socialist view on private property.
Answer:
The socialists were against private property
because of the following reasons.
(a) They believed that private property was the
root cause of all social evils.
(b) Individuals who owned property, did provide
employment but at the same they are much
more concerned with personal gains.
(c) They did not bother about the welfare of the
people. .
(d) Socialists also felt that if society controlled
property, more attention would be paid to
collective social interests and concentration of
wealth in the hands of a few could be restricted.

Question 64.
What was the basic principle of the Marxist
theory?
Answer:
Marx believed that the condition of workers
could not improve as long as private capitalists
had profit motive. Workers had to overthrow
capitalism and the rule of private property.
Workers must construct a radically socialist
society where all property was socially
controlled. This would be a communist society,
the natural society of the future.

Question 65.
Explain how workers were divided in social
groups. [CBSE 2013]
Answer:
The workers were divided in social groups in
Russia in the following ways.
(a) Some workers were closely linked to their
villages while others settled in the cities
permanently,
(b) The division among the workers was on the
basis of skills they possessed. Metalworkers
were on the high level as their work required
training.
(c) Apart from males, women also formed a
considerable working force in the factories
though they were paid less than the males.

Question 66.
Discuss the relationship between peasants and
nobles in Russia during early 19th century.
Answer:
Peasants cultivated most of the land that was
owned by the nobility, the crown and the
Orthodox Church. Nobility had no respect
except in few cases. Peasants demanded the
land of the nobles to be distributed to them.
Often they refused to pay rent and even
murdered landlords. Such events were on rise
all over Russia.

Question 67.
How did Social Democrats disagree with
Socialist Revolutionaries? ICBSE 2016]
Answer:
Social Democrats disagreed with Socialist
Revolutionaries in the following ways.
(a) Social Democrats believed workers to be the
main force of revolution whereas Socialist
Revolutionaries argued that peasants would be
the revolutionary class.
(b) Social Democrats wanted benefits for the
workers and control on the factors of
production. Socialist Revolutionaries on the
other hand demanded land to the peasants.
(c) Social Democrats felt that peasants were
not a united group as they were rich and poor
and many owned large tracts of land. Socialist
Revolutionaries favoured peasants as natural
socialists.

Question 68.
What was the difference between Bolshevik
and Menshevik group. [CBSE 2016]
Or
Who were the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks?
Answer:
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 control the number and quality
of its members. They were the group who
conducted the Russian Revolution.
Mensheviks, on the other hand, were the
minority group who thought that the party
should be open to all. They did not believe in
revolution but wanted to bring changes through
democratic means.

Question 69.
What made the Tsar the ‘autocrat of all the
Russians’? Describe the steps he took just
before the Russian Revolution.
Answer:
Russia followed autocracy. The Tsar was not
subject to Parliament. This made the Tsar the
autocrat of all Russia. The liberals in Russia
campaigned to end this state of affairs.
The following steps were taken by the Tsar just
before the Russian Revolution to ascertain his
authority.
(a) All political parties were declared illegal in
Russia.
(b) Every possible effort was taken to crush the
rebellion and revolution against the Tsar.

Question 70.
Why is Tsarist Russia termed as a repressive
society?
Answer:
Tsarist Russia is termed as a repressive society
because of the following reasons.
(a) Large tracts of land were owned by nobility,
crown and the Orthodox Church. Nobles
enjoyed privileges at the cost of the common
people.
(b) Political parties were illegal. No one could
raise voice against the aristocratic class.
(c) Tsar enjoyed unconditional power without
being responsible to any one.

Question 71.
Describe the incident known as ‘Bloody
Sunday’.
Answer:
The following events gave way to the incident
known as Bloody Sunday.
(a) The dismissal of four members of the
Assembly of Russian Workers called for an
industrial action by the workers.
(b) Over 110,000 workers in St Petersburg went
on strike in 1905, demanding a reduction in the
working day to eight hours, an increase in
wages and improvement in working conditions.
(c) When this procession led by father Gapon
reached the Winter Palace it was attacked by
the police and the Cossacks. Hundreds of the
workers were killed and many hundreds
wounded. This incident came to be known as
Bloody Sunday. It started a series of events that
later resulted in the 1905 Revolution.

Question 72.
How did the destruction of Russian industries
after the First World War become one of the
causes of resentment of people?
Or
What effects did the First World War have on
industry of Russia?
Answer:
The First World War had a devastating impact
on industries. Russia had few industries and on
that supplies of industrial goods were cut off
due to war. Industrial equipments began to
disintegrate rapidly, railway lines began to
break down. All the able-bodied men were
engaged in war which resulted in the shutdown
of the small workshops. Grains were supplied
to the army engaged in war. This created food
shortages. In cities, bread and flour became
scarce. Riots at the bread shops became a
common scene in Russia.
Question 73.
Discuss Lenin’s ‘April Theses’. [CBSE 2016]
Or
What were the demands referred in Lenin’s
‘April Theses’?
Answer:
The following were the demands referred to in
Lenin’s April Theses’.
(a) World War I should be brought to an end.
(b) Land should be transferred to the peasants.
(c) Banks should be nationalised.

Question 74.
What were the effects of the February
Revolution in Russia?
Answer:
Ans. The following were the effects of the
February Revolution in Russia.
(a) The Tsar abdicated and monarchy was
brought down.
(b) The Soviet leaders and Duma leaders
formed a Provisional Government to run the
country.
(c) Russia’s future would be decided by a
constituent assembly, elected on the basis of
universal adult suffrage.

Question 75.
Why did the Kerenskii government become
unpopular in Russia? [HOTS]
Answer:
The Kerenskii government became unpopular in
Russia because of the following reasons.
(a) He tried to suppress the workers’
movement. Peasants in the countryside had
started demanding redistribution of land.
(b) The Bolshevik demonstrators was
suppressed. Many of them had to go into
hiding.
(c) Kerenskii was suspected of setting up a
dictatorship and Lenin persuaded the Petrograd
Soviet and Bolshevik Party to agree to a
socialist seizure of power.
(d) Sensing the trouble to be caused by the
revolutionaries he left the city to summon
troops.

Question 76.
Mention any two changes introduced by Stalin
in the Russian economy. How did Stalin deal
with the critics?
Answer:
The following changes were introduced by
Stalin.
(a) Elimination of kulaks, the well-to-do farmers.
The land from the kulaks was taken and state-
controlled farms were established.
(b) Collectivisation of land i.e., Stalin’s
collectivisation programme was followed. All
peasants had to cultivate collective farms
(Kolkohz) and the profit was shared by the
peasants working on the land.
There were peasants’ resistances which Stalin
dealt with severely. The critics were charged
with conspiracy against socialism. Many were
deported and exiled and forced into prisons or
labour camps. Many were forced to make false
statements under torture and were later
executed.

Question 77.
Why was the decision to collectivise farms
taken?
Answer:
Russia was facing acute shortages of grain
supplies. The price at which grains must be
sold was fixed by the government. Still the
peasants refused to sell their grains to the
government. Stalin thought that rich peasants
and traders in the countryside were holding
stocks in the hope of higher prices. This
created a shortage. Therefore, the decision to
collectivise farms was taken. It was felt that
small size farms were not as productive as they
could not be modernised which caused the
shortage. Modern farming was the need of the
hour. They wanted to run farms along industrial
lines with machinery.

Question 78.
“By the 1950s it was acknowledged within the
country that the style of government in the
USSR was not in keeping with the ideals of the
Russian Revolution.” Why was this said?
Answer:
By 1950s the style of government in the USSR
was not in keeping with the ideals of the
Russian Revolution. It was said because of the
following reasons:
(a) No doubt Russia, being a backward country,
had become a great power with developments
in industries and agriculture and feeding the
poor. But at the same time its citizens were
denied the essential freedoms.
(b) Its developmental projects were carried
through repressive policies.
(c) Workers faced hardships with poor working
conditions.

Question 79.
What were the main objectives of the Russian
Revolutionaries? [HOTS]
Answer:
The following were the main objectives of the
Russian Revolutionaries.
(a) Peace: The Russian revolutionaries wanted
to maintain peace and order in the country. The
people of Russia were against the war. Just
after the fall of Tzar, Russia withdrew from the
war.
(b) Land to the Tiller: The Russian
revolutionaries were of the opinion that the
agricultural land should be allotted to the
cultivators as the peasants in Russia were
leading a miserable life under the large
landowners.
(c) Control of industry by the workers: In Russia,
the capitalists greatly exploited the workers.
This made the condition of Russian workers
deplorable. There was great need to control the
industry by workers themselves.
(d) Equal status for the non-Russian
nationalists: The Russian revolutionaries
demanded equal status
for the non-Russian nationalities. Just after the
revolution, a declaration of the people was
issued by the new government conferring them
political autonomy. (any three)

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 80.
What changes did industrialisation bring to the
then society in Russia?
Answer:
The following changes were brought in the
Russian society with the advent of
industrialisation.
(a) The society saw profound social and
economic changes.
(b) It was a time when new cities came up and
new industrialised regions developed and
railways expanded.
(c) Industrial Revolution brought men, women
and children to factories.
(d) Work hours were often long and wages were
very low.
(e) During the time of low demand,
unemployment was common.
(f) As the towns were growing rapidly, problems
like housing and sanitation emerged.

Question 81.
What solutions did radicals and liberals find to
the problem of the industrial society?
Answer:
The following solutions were found by the
radicals and the liberals to the problems of
Industrial society.
(a) They felt that efforts should be made to
make the workforce healthy and educated.
(b) They were opposed to the privileges enjoyed
by the old aristocracy.
(c) They advocated value of individual effort,
labour and enterprise.
(d) They thought of freedom of individuals so
that poor could labour and those with capital
could operate freely. This would develop the
society.
(e) It was also sought that the government
should be removed through revolution.

Question 82.
Explain how a society, according to socialists,
can operate without property. What would be
the basis of socialist society?
Answer:
Socialists had different visions of the future.
Robert Owen, a leading English manufacturer,
sought to build a cooperative community called
New Harmony in Indiana (USA). Some other
socialists felt that cooperatives could not be
built on a wide scale through individual initiative
only. The governments must encourage
cooperatives and replace capitalist enterprise.
The same view was propagated by Louis Blanc
in France. It was said that cooperatives were to
be associations of people who produced goods
together and divided the profits according to
the work done by members.
More ideas were added to this body of
arguments by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
Marx argued that industrial society was
capitalist who owned resources and invested in
the factories. The profit was produced by the
workers but they did not gain anything. Their
condition could improve only if they were freed
from the clutches of capitalist exploitation.
Control of means and factors of production by
the workers themselves can be the basis of
such a socialist society. For this, the workers
needed to construct a radically socialist society
where all property was socially controlled. This
would be a communist society.

Question 83.
What developments took place in Europe in
support of socialism?
Answer:
The following developments took place in
Europe in support of socialism.
(a) An international body, called the Second
International was formed by the socialists to
coordinate the efforts of the workers.
(b) Workers Associations were formed to fight
for better living and working conditions.
(c) Funds were set up to help members in times
of distress.
(d) Workers demanded a reduction in working
hours and the right to vote.
(e) In many places in Europe, these
associations worked closely with the Social
Democratic Party and helped it win
parliamentary seats.
(f) In 1905, socialists and trade unionists
formed Labour Party in Britain and a Socialist
Party in France.

Question 84.
What were the events preceding the 1905
Revolution in Russia?
Answer:
The following events preceded the 1905
Revolution in Russia.
(a) The year 1904 was a particularly bad one for
Russian workers. Prices of essential goods
rose rapidly and the real wages declined.
(b) The membership of workers’ associations
rose dramatically.
(c) There was a call for an industrial action
when four of the workers at the Putilov Iron
Works were dismissed.
(d) There were mass strikes by the workers
demanding reduction in the working hours, an
increase in wages and improvement in working
conditions.
(e) When a procession of workers led by the
Father Gapon reached the Winter Palace it was
attacked by the police and the cossacks that
killed hundreds of the workers. This incident is
known as Bloody Sunday.
(f) There were strikes all over the country and
universities closed, student bodies staged
walkouts, complaining lack of civil liberties.
Various unions of doctors, engineers and other
middle-class workers were established that
demanded a constituent assembly. (any five)

Question 85.
Describe the steps taken by Tsar Nicholas II
after the Revolution to maintain his authority.
Answer:
The following steps were taken by Tsar
Nicoholas II after the Russian Revolution to
maintain his authority:
(a) Under pressure, he allowed the creation of
an elected consultative Parliament or Duma.
(b) Most committees and unions were declared
illegal. Severe restrictions were placed on
political activity.
(c) Later he dismissed the first Duma within 75
days and re-elected second Duma within three
months.
(d) The voting laws were changed.
(e) The third Duma was packed with
conservatives and tried to keep liberals and
revolutionaries out of the Duma.

Question 86.
What were the conditions in Russia during the
First World War?
Answer:
The following were the conditions in Russia
during the First World War.
(a) Russia became a part of First World War in
1914. In the beginning, the war was popular.
The Tsar refused to consult the main parties in
the Duma. This led to weaken the support
within Russia. Anti-German sentiments among
the Russians were on an increase. St
Petersburg, a German name was renamed as
Petrograd.
(b) Russia’s armies suffered defeats in
Germany and Austria between 1914 and 1916.
Casualties were very high. Soldiers did not wish
to fight such a war. The retreating Russian army
destroyed crops and buildings to prevent them
from being used by the enemies. This led to
millions of refugees in Russia.
(c) The Tsar and the government were further
discredited for the situation.
(d) The war also had a severe impact on
industry. Russia had few industries and that too
were cut
off from suppliers of industrial goods by
German control of the Baltic Sea. Industrial
equipment began to disintegrate, railway lines
began to break down.
(e) Able-bodied men were called up to the war
that resulted in labour shortages and shut down
of small workshops.
(f) Grains were sent to feed the army which led
to food shortage in cities. Riots at bread shops
were common. (any five)

Question 87.
Discuss the role and importance of Lenin in the
history of the USSR. [HOTS]
Or
Examine the role of Lenin in Russian
Revolution.
Answer:
After returning from exile, Lenin felt that the
time was right for the Soviets to take over the
power in Russia. Following was the role played
by Lenin in Russian Revolution 1917.
(a) He led the Bolsheviks in the revolution.
(b) He declared three points, to end war,
transfer land to peasants and nationalisation of
banks that came to be known as April Theses.
(c) He introduced radical land reforms that led
to turn Russia into a socialist society.
(d) He was the driving force behind the October
Revolution that eventually led to the formation
of the Soviet Union.
(e) Lenin was instrumental in the victory of
Bolsheviks in the civil war (1917-1922).

Question 88.
Why did Bolshevik Party accept the ‘April
Theses’? Give any five reasons. [CBSE 2016]
Answer:
Bolshevik Party accepted the April Theses’
because of the following reasons.
(a) The Provisional Government under Kerenskii
failed to fulfil the aspirations of the people like
land to the tiller, peace, control of industries by
the workers, etc. Rather it became more
unpopular.
(b) The government was under the influence of
landowners, army officials and industrialists
that affected its decisions.
(c) Lenin felt that time had come to seize the
power from the government.
(d) People’s demands were included in the
programme along with exit from the war and
nationalisation of banks.
(e) Lenin’s view was accepted when the
Provisional Government began suppressing the
Bolsheviks.

Question 89.
Discuss the civil war that took place in Russia
after the October Revolution and its
consequences.
Answer:
When the Bolsheviks ordered land redistribution
the Russian army began to break up. They
wished
to return home for getting land. Non-Bolshevik
socialists, liberals and supporters of autocracy
condemned the Bolshevik uprising with the
support of those who were apprehensive of the
growth of socialism. There was mass looting,
banditry and famine during the civil war. The
pro-Tsarists who supported private property
suppressed the peasants and took their land.
This made non-Bolsheviks unpopular.
Bolsheviks were supported by non-Russian
nationalities and jadidists. Local nationalists
were massacred by the Bolsheviks.
Consequences:
The following were the consequences of the
civil war in Russia.
(a) The civil war created confusion about the
Bolsheviks way of working.
(b) It made the Bolsheviks quite unpopular.
(c) Non-Russian nationalities were given
political autonomy.
(d) Nomadism was harshly discouraged.
(e) The Bolsheviks failed to win over different
nationalities.

Question 90.
Mention the important steps taken by Lenin to
improve the agriculture and economy of
Russia.
Answer:
The following steps were taken by Lenin to
improve agriculture and economy of Russia.
(a) Most of the industries and banks were
nationalised.
(b) He ordered land redistribution and permitted
peasants to cultivate the land.
(c) Centralised planning was introduced. Five
year plans were made.
(d) The government fixed all price during the
first two year plans.
(e) Communes were set up and income was
divided according to the principles of
cooperative commission.

Question 91.
What steps were taken to improve the
condition of factory workers and peasants in
Russia after the civil war?
Answer:
The following steps were taken to improve the
conditions of the factory workers in Russia after
the civil war.
(a) Various industries were set up like in
Magnitogorsk city.
(b) Extended schooling system developed so
that factory workers could also access
universities.
(c) Crèches’ for children of women factory
workers were established.
(d) Cheap public healthcare was provided.
Model living quarters were built up for workers.
(e) Lenin ordered land redistribution and
permitted peasants to cultivate the land.
(f) Communes were set up and income was
divided according to the problems of
cooperative commission.

Question 92.
Critically examine Stalin’s collectivisation
programme. [HOTS]
Answer:
Stalin began collectivisation programme to find
a solution to the food shortage. But this proved
to be disastrous in the subsequent years in the
following ways:
(a) The policy of eliminating kulaks and
establishing state-owned farms was widely
criticised.
(b) Peasants were compelled to work in the
kolkhoz.
(c) Peasants resisted the authorities and their
livestock were destroyed. It resulted in the
decline of cattle.
(d) Policy of deportation and severe
punishment was followed for all those who
refused to do so.
(e) There was no such increase in the
production of food grains. Even his party
members criticised Stalin the way the policy
was followed.

Question 93.
Explain the global influence of the Russian
Revolution and the USSR.
Or
Explain the impact of the Russian Revolution
on the world. [CBSE 2014]
Answer:
The following was the global influence of
Russian Revolution and the USSR.
(a) In many countries, communist parties were
formed on the line of Russia.
(b) It gave the world a new economic system
known as socialism.
(c) The Bolsheviks encouraged colonial peoples
to follow their experiment. It inspired a number
of freedom movements in other countries.
(d) Many non-Russians from outside the USSR
participated in the Conference of the Peoples of
the East and the Bolshevik-founded Comintern.
Some even received education in the USSR’s
Communist University of the Workers of the
East.
(e) By the time the Second World War broke,
socialism had acquired a global face.
(f) Though by the end of the twentieth century,
the image of USSR as a socialist country
declined, yet it’s socialist ideals were respected
and rethought in many ways suiting individual
interests.

Map Skills

Question 94.
Seven features A, B, C, D, E, F and G are
marked on the political map of world. Identify
these features with the help of given
information and write their correct names.
 • Central Powers of First World War.
• Allied Powers of First World War.
Answer:

• Central Powers → A. Germany, B.

Austria-Hungary, C. Turkey (Ottoman
Empire)
• Allied Powers → D. France, E. England, F.
Russia, G. America (USA)