RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

CHAPTER-2

Very short answer type

1. When did the Russian Revolution began?

The Russian Revolution began in 1917.
2. Why did the Bolsheviks consider the Russian Revolution as the
first stage of revolution?
The Bolsheviks considered the Russian Revolution as the first
stage of revolution because it marked the struggle between the
communist and the capitalist nations of the world.
3. What made the Czar the autocrat of all the Russians?
The whole hearted of the nobles and the Church made Czar the
autocrat of all the Russians.
4. When was Russian Social Democratic Labour Party formed?
1898
5. What was a Soviet?
A Soviet was a council of representative of peasants and workers
of Russia.
Which three important demands were part of Lenin’s April
Theses?
1. He declared that the war be brought to a close.
2.The land be transferred to the peasants.
3. Banks be nationalized.
6. Who took command after the fall of Kerensky’s government and
what was the new
 The three important demands that were part of Lenin’s April
Theses were
7. government called?
Lenin took command after the fall of Kerensky’s government. The
new government was called Council of People Commissars.
8. How was the common person affected when Russia entered the
First World War?
When Russia entered the world war 1 it further increased the
misery of the common people.
9. What did the Bolsheviks promise the people?
The Bolsheviks promised the people peace, bread and land.

Short answer type questions:

1. Explain the difference between:
a. Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks.
The Bolsheviks were the extreme groups of Russian Social
Democratic Labour Party who favored outright Revolution of the
working class and did not believe in parliamentary system.
Whereas the Mensheviks were the moderate group of
Russian Social Democratic Labour Party who wanted gradual and
peaceful change to set up democracy in Russia.

b. February 1917 and October 1917 revolutions.

The first revolt of peasants and soldiers against autocratic
rule of the Czar in Russia broke out on 12 March 1917. Since it
 coincided with February, according to old Russian colander it was
called February Revolution.
The second stage of Russian Revolution by Bolsheviks who
overthrew Kerensky government on 7th November 1917 coincided
with October according to the old Russian colander and was
called the October Revolution.
2. Discuss the role of czar in the peasant revolt of 1905.
The peasants on 19th January 1905 revolted against the wrong
policy of the Czar. At first the issued a manifesto recognizing civil
rights and granting formation of parliament called Duma. Shot
hindered of workers. This event turned out to be a dress
rehearsal for the final onslaught on the Czarist regime thought
the revolt was a failure. The incident was called Bloody Sunday. It
proved fatal to the Czarist regime and this jolt sounded the
establishment of Bolsheviks rule.
3. Discuss the effect on the first World War on Russia?
The effects on the First World War son Russia:
I. There was over 7million casualties by 1917.
II. Russian army destroyed crops and buildings to prevent the
enemy from being able to leaving off the land.
III. The destruction of crops and buildings had to over 3 million
refugees in Russia.
IV. Russia was cut off from other suppliers of industry goods by
German controls of the Baltic Sea.
V. Railway lines began to break down as able-bodied men were
called up to the war.
VI. As the large suppliers grains were sent to feed the army.
There was great scarcity of bread and flour in Russia.
4. Discuss any two features on New Economic Policy(NEP)
The two features of New Economic Policy were:
I. The Soviet government control major industries trade
and banking. While the individuals were allowed to sell
their food grains in the open market.
II. Individuals were also given the permit to open stores
and small factories.
Long answer type questions:
5. Discuss the causes that led to the Revolution of 1917.
The main causes that led to the revolution of 1917 were:
I. Political causes: the Czarist regime of Russia was very
oppressive and unsympathetic towards the misery of the
common people. He was least bothered about the welfare
of the Russia.
II. Social condition: Russians society was divided into many
sections the privileges classes like the nobles and clergy
enjoyed a luxurious life while the common people of Russia
suffered miserably. They were overburdened with taxes and
subjected to many cruelties and oppressions. That was one
of the reasons of the revolutions.
III. Removal of serfdoms: even though serfdom was removed it
did not take away the problems of the serf. The condition of
this group became from bad to worse.
IV. Inte3ctual cause: just like other revolution the intellectual
movement of Russia too played the role to make the
awareness among the people about the miserable condition
of the society. They inspired the people for a revolution.
V. Political parties: political parties like Russian Social
Democratic Labour Party played an important role to make
people for the change in the Russian Society.
VI. Immediate cause: Hundreds of peasants were shot down by
the Russian troops on 9th January 1905 called Bloody Sunday
became the immediate cause of the Russian Revolution.
Comment on the role of Vladimir Lenin in the revolution
and his contribution to the economic policy.
Vladimir Lenin founded the first political party of Soviet
Workers. When the political Democratic Labour Party split
he led the Bolsheviks who favored revolution. He organized
a great strike in 1905 protest against the Bloody Sunday
incident and was exiled. After the March revolution he
returned back and reorganized the Bolsheviks and
overthrew Kerensky’s government. The first revolutionary
step Lenin took was a new government called the Council of
People Commissars. He adopted various reforms to build up
USS. His greatest contribution was the adaptation of New
Economy gradually private ownership and profiteering was
given away to a new Socialist basis for each according to its
work. This work became a fundamental right and to give
work became the government duty. He also started the
centralized planning that gave a sense of security
anddiscipline.
What were the immediate consequences of the Russian
Revolution
The immediate causes of the revolution Russian Revolution
were:
 1. The abolition of autocratic and capitalism.

2. Rise of the first Socialist society in the world.

3. Conversion of R Russia’s name into USSR.

4. Introduction of Five Year Plan (FYP) to built an

advance economy.

8. Describe the main features of the Revolution of 1905.

The main features of the revolt of 1905 were:

I. Strike took place everywhere and universities were shut
down.
II. Demands were made for the formation of Civil liberties
and a constituent by the newly established union of
students, lawyers, doctors etc.
III. The Czar allowed the creation of an elected parliament
or Duma.
IV. The sailors of the battle ship “Potemkin” joined the
revolutionaries.
V. Out of this protest a new organization developed which
came to be known as the “Soviet of Workers”.
VI. The organization later became the instruments of
political power in Russia.

9. Discuss the causes and the nature of the October

Revolution.

The causes and nature of the October Revolution are as

follows:
 I. Alexander Kerensky strived to establish a liberal
democratic form of government which will bring peace,
land to the tillers, and control of industry by workers and
equal status for all.
II. As the conflict between the provisional government and
the Bolshevik grew, Lenin feared the provisional
government would set up a dictatorship.
III. Bolsheviks supporters in the army, Soviet and factories
were brought together.
IV. On 16th October 1917, Lenin Bolshevik Party to agree to a
Socialist seizure of power.
V. The uprising began on 25 October sensing trouble Prime
Minister Kerensky left the city to summon troops.
VI. A Unitary revolutionary committee was appointed by the
Soviet under Leon

10. Discuss the legacy of the Russian Revolution?

According to the modern political thinkers the collapse of

USSR can be termed as the greatest hoax of the 20th
century. The legacy of the Russian Revolution can be
summarized in the following points.
i. The USSR gave the model of centralized economy
planning which is still prevalent in many developing
economy.
ii. After the Revolution, capitalist countries all over
the world took measures to ensure that enable
them to live in dignity.
iii. Right to property and social security were provided
to the workers.
iv. Socialism received global attention and in many
countries communist parties were formed.
v. Communism came as a warning to exploitive
society.