EVENTS CONVENT HIGH SCHOOL
23/08/2021 CLASS-9 SESSION2021-22(SLOT-1)
SOCIAL SCIENCE(HISTORY)
Chapter-2
SOCIALISM IN EUROPE AND THE RUSSIAN
REVOLUTION
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A.ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:-
Question-1 What were the social, economic and
political conditions in Russia before 1905?
Solution:The following were the
social, economic, and political conditions in Russia before 1905.
(a) Social Conditions: The majority
religion was Russian Orthodox Christianity which had grown out of the Greek
Orthodox Church. 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 the freedom to follow their culture
and language. Workers were divided into group on the basis of skill and
training. Peasants formed their group called commune or mir.
(b) Economic conditions: The majority
of Russians were agriculturists. Grain was the main item of export from Russia.
Industries were few. Prominent industrial areas were St Petersburg and Moscow.
Much of the production was done by the craftsmen. There were large factories
alongside the craft workshops. With the expansion of the Russian rail network,
foreign investment in factories grew. There were huge coal, iron and steel
production. There were equal numbers of factory workers and craftsmen. The
workers were exploited by capitalists who made their life miserable.
(c) Political Conditions: Russia was a
monarchy. (Tsar Nicholas II ruled Russia and its empire that extended to
current-day Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, parts of Poland, Ukraine and
Belarus. It stretched to the Pacific and comprised today’s Central Asian
states, as well as Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan). The Tsars believed in the
divine rights of kings. They were not responsible to the Parliament. All
political parties were illegal in Russia.
Question-2 In what ways was the working population in Russia different from
other countries in Europe, before 1917?
Solution:The working population in
European countries was a more united lot than those in Russia. Workers in
England and Germany formed associations and fought for better living and
working conditions. Funds were set up by these Associations to help workers in
distress. The workers in European countries were united in their demand for a
reduction of working hours and the right to vote. Workers association also
supported political parties and ultimately formed political parties themselves.
The Labour Party in Britain and a Socialist Party in France are examples of political
parties formed by socialists and trade unionists.
In total contrast to the working
population in Europe, the Russian workers were not united. Workers were divided
on the basis of their occupation. Workers whose jobs needed skill and training
considered themselves on a higher plane than the untrained workers. Workers had
strong links to the villages they came from and this also caused a social
divide among workers. Workers’ associations rose dramatically in Russia also,
as in Europe. They demanded reduced working hours and higher wages. The workers
were suppressed by the government.
Question-3Why did the Tsarist autocracy
collapse in 1917?
Solution:Anti-German sentiments in
Russia were high owing to the First World War. Further, Tsarina Alexandra’s
German origin and poor advisors made the autocracy unpopular. Russia suffered
shocking defeats on the waterfront with millions of casualties. Crops and buildings
were destroyed by the Russian army to prevent enemy having any advantage. It
led to millions of refugees. Tsar was being cursed for this situation. Food
shortage led to people rioting for food. The Russian army too shifted its
loyalty and began supporting the revolutionaries.
A lockout took place at a factory on
the right bank of Neva river in sympathy with the workers on the left bank on
22nd February. Women-led the way to strikes. The government imposed a curfew.
Later the government suspended the Duma which resulted in sharp protests. The
demonstrators ransacked the Police Headquarters and raised slogans about bread,
wages, better hours and democracy.
The government called the cavalry but
they refused to fire on the demonstrators. Soldiers and the striking workers
gathered to form a ‘Soviet’ or ‘council’ in the building where the Duma met.
This was the Petrograd Soviet. The very next day, when a delegation went to see
the Tsar, the military commanders advised the Tsar to abdicate. Soviet leaders and
Duma leaders formed a Provisional Government to run the country. The Tsarist
autocracy thus collapsed in February 1917.
Question-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.
Solution:February Revolution:
22 February: Factory lockout on the
right bank.
23 February: Sympathy strike by
workers in 50 factories.
24th & 25th: Strikers stage
demonstrations. Police called out to suppress the workers.
25th: The government suspends the
Duma.
27th: Police Headquarters ransacked by
the workers. Regiments support the workers. Striking workers from the Petrograd
soviet.
2nd March: The Tsar abdicates. Soviet
and Duma leaders form the Provisional Government.
Effects:Army officials, landowners,
and industrialists became influential.
Restrictions on public meetings were removed.
Trade unions grew in number.
October Revolution:16th October:Vladimir
Lenin, the Bolshevik leader persuades the Petrograd Soviet and the Bolshevik
Party to agree to a socialist seizure of power.
A Military Revolutionary Committee was appointed by the Soviet
24th:The uprising against the
Provisional government begins.
Military Revolutionary Committee seized government offices and arrested
ministers.
The winter palace was shelled.
Ministers of the Provisional government surrendered.
The Bolsheviks gained control.
Effects:Industries and banks were
nationalised.
Russia became a one-party state. The single party being the Bolshevik Party.
During the February Revolution, the
factory workers and the Government Regiments played an important role. The
workers and the regiments joined together. The major impact of the February
Revolution was the downfall of the Russian Monarchy and the establishment of
the Petrograd Soviet.
Vladimir Lenin, the Bolshevik leader,
played a major role during the October revolution. His Bolshevik Party
overthrew the Provisional Government and gained power. The Russian Communist
Party came into existence.
Question-5What were the main changes brought
about by the Bolsheviks immediately after the October Revolution?
Solution:Many changes were brought
about by the Bolsheviks after the October Revolution. They were:
Industries and banks were
nationalised. This meant that the government now had their ownership and
management. The 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.
The use of the old titles of the
aristocracy was banned. New uniforms for the army and officials were designed.
The Bolshevik Party was renamed as the
Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik).
Despite opposition by their political
allies, the Bolsheviks made peace with Germany and withdrew from the First
World War.
In the later years, the Bolsheviks
became the only party to participate in the elections to the All Russian
Congress of Soviets. It became the Parliament of Russia.
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Question-6Write a few lines to show what you
know about:
(i) Kulaks
(ii) The Duma
(iii) Women workers between 1900 and 1930.
(iv) The Liberals.
(v) Stalins collectivization programme.
Solution:
(i) Kulaks: They were the well-to-do
peasants who were supposed to be holding stocks in the hope
of higher prices. They were raided so
that they may be eliminated in order to develop modern farms and establish
state-controlled large farms.
(ii) The Duma: The Duma was a
consultative parliament that was created on the permission of the Tsar during
the 1905 Revolution.
(iii) Women workers between 1900 and
1930: Women made up 31% of the factory labour force, but were paid between 1/2
and 3/4 of a man’s wages. They actively led the strikes in many factories. They
even worked on cllective farms.
(iv) The Liberals: They were a group
which looked to change society. They wanted a nation which tolerated all
religions and opposed the uncontrolled power of dynastic rulers. They argued
for a representative, elected parliamentary government subject to laws
interpreted by a well-trained judiciary independent of rulers and oficials.
(v) Stalin’s collectivisation
programme: Stalin hoped to solve the problem of food shortage by combining
small farms with large and modern farms. This was collectivisation programme
that began in 1929. Peasants were forced to work in these state-controlled
collective farms called Kolkhoz.
