8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

Detailed Chapter Notes: Socialism in Europe and the Russian

Revolution

The Age of Social Change

The French Revolution opened up the possibility of creating a dramatic change in the way
in which society was structured.

Change in Society after French Revolution

Before the eighteenth century, society was broadly divided into estates and orders.
Aristocracy and the church have control of economic and social power.
But suddenly, after the revolution, it seemed possible to change this.
In many parts of the world, including Europe and Asia, new ideas about individual rights and
who controlled social power began to be discussed.
The development in the colonies reshaped these ideas of societal change.
However, not everyone in Europe wanted a complete transformation of society.
Responses varied from those who accepted that some change was necessary but wished for
a gradual shift to those who wanted to restructure society radically.

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f76… 1/25
 8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

These ideas became the beliefs of different groups of people. They started being called
‘conservatives’, ‘liberals’ or ‘radicals’.

Liberals, Radicals, and Conservatives

This group of people started to fight for their rights and beliefs.

Socialism in Russian Revolution

Liberals
Liberals were a group of people who wanted to change the society. Their beliefs can be classified
as:
1. Religious Tolerance:
Most of the European countries favoured specific religions. (Britain favoured the
Church of England, Austria, and Spain favoured the Catholic Church.)
The liberals wanted to build a nation that tolerated all religions. They opposed
discrimination based on religion.
They wanted to safeguard the rights of individuals against the government.
2. Limited Power of Dynastic Rulers:
The liberals opposed the uncontrolled power of dynastic rulers.
They wanted to safeguard the rights of individuals.

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f76… 2/25
 8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

They Called for a representative, elected parliamentary government subject to laws

interpreted by an independent judiciary.
3. Selective Voting rights:
These people did not want to adopt a Universal Adult Franchise, which means they
wanted Voting rights to be reserved only for men who had a good amount of property.

Radicals
Radicals wanted a nation in which government was based on the majority of the country’s
population.
1. Radicals had the idea of the formation of a government based only on the majority support
of people irrespective of gender or financial circumstances.
2. They opposed the privileges of wealthy landowners and also supported the struggle for
women's rights.
3. Radicals were not against the idea of owning land; however, they were opposed to giving
large amounts of land to a few people.

Conservatives
Conservatives opposed radicals and liberals. They were a group who were opposed to the idea of
change.
1. Radicals and Liberals felt the need for a change in society. However, Conservatives were
completely against the idea of change in the system.
2. After the French Revolution, Even they felt that some change was needed.
3. They believed that the past had to be respected and changes must be slow.

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f76… 3/25
 8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

Try yourself: What did the liberals advocate for in society during the Age of Social Change?

a. Religious intolerance

b. Limited power of dynastic rulers

c. No Voting Rights

d. Selective voting rights

View Solution

Industrial Society and Social Change

After the effect of these ideologies on people, There was high time for a change in Social and
economic lifestyle. This era witnessed the rise of new cities, the development of industrialized
regions, the expansion of railways, and the seismic impact of the Industrial Revolution.
1) Industrialization Problems:
As the age of Industrialization started, a large number of men, women, and children started
living near areas with Factories.
However, this progress came with an even higher cost. Work hours were increased, and
wages could be seen declining at an alarming rate.
Housing and sanitation also became a huge problem.

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f76… 4/25
 8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

An image of Russian Industrial Workers in the 1890s

2) Solution by Radicals and Liberals:

Among the challenges imposed by industrialization, The liberals and radicals took a united
stand to seek solutions for the problem.
Both liberals and radicals were mainly composed of land and factory owners. They had
become rich through their own efforts and trade.
So they believed hard work should be encouraged. This should benefit them by having a
healthy, educated workforce.
They firmly believed in the value of individual effort, labour, and enterprise. Because of this
ideology, the working class started supporting liberals and radicals by showing their public
participation.

3) Effects on World:
Many European people, like nationalists and liberals, wanted to change the governments set
up in 1815.
In countries like France, Italy, Germany, and Russia, they worked to overthrow the existing
monarchies.

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f76… 5/25
 8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

Nationalists talked of revolutions that would create ‘nations’ where all citizens would
have equal rights.
In Italy, Giuseppe Mazzini was able to overthrow the government with the help of his
people. Hence, He became a popular figure for nationalists. He was able to influence crowds.

Try yourself: What were the main beliefs of liberals during the Age of Social Change?

a. Religious tolerance and safeguarding individual rights against the government.

b. Formation of a government based on majority support of the population.

c. Opposition to the privileges of wealthy landowners and support for women's

rights.

d. Preservation of the past and slow change in the system.

View Solution

The Coming of Socialism to Europe

By the mid-nineteenth century in Europe, socialism was a well-known body of ideas that
attracted widespread attention.
Socialists were against private property and saw it as the root of all social evils of the
time. Rather than single individuals controlling property, they wanted more attention to be
paid to collective social interests.
Socialists had different visions of the future:
Robert Owen (1771-1858), a leading English manufacturer, sought to build a cooperative
community called New Harmony in Indiana (USA). Other socialists, for instance, Louis

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f76… 6/25
 8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

Blanc(1813-1882) wanted the government to encourage cooperatives and replace capitalist

enterprises. These cooperatives were to be associations of people who produced goods
together and divided the profits according to the work done by members. Karl Marx (1818-
1883) and Friedrich Engels (1820-1895) added other ideas to this body of arguments.

Louis Blanc

Support for Socialism

By the 1870s, socialist ideas spread through Europe. An international body was formed, the
Second International.
Workers in England and Germany began forming associations to fight for better living and
working conditions, set up funds to help members in times of distress and demanded a
reduction in working hours and the right to vote.
In Germany, the Social Democratic Party won parliamentary seats.
By 1905, socialists and trade unionists foamed a Labor Party in Britain and a Socialist Party
in France.
Their ideas did shape legislation, but governments continued to be run by conservatives,
liberals, and radicals.

The Russian Revolution

In Russia, the government headed by Tsar Nicholas II was very oppressive. The common
people began to hate him.

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f76… 7/25
 8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

Nicolas II - Tsar of Russia (1814 - 1917)

Popular discontentment rose to a new height when Russia was defeated by Japan (1904-
05).
In the wake of this defeat, a large number of secret revolutionary parties sprang up.
In March 1917, the Tsar was forced to abdicate, and the provisional government of
moderate social revolutionaries was formed.
On November 7, 1917, the Bolsheviks under Lenin brought the downfall of the Menshevik
government and established the Soviet Republic.

The Russian Empire in 1914

In 1914, Tsar Nicholas II ruled Russia and its empire.
Besides the territory around Moscow, the Russian Empire included current-day Finland,
Lithuania, and Estonia, as well as 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.

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f76… 8/25
 8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

Russian Empire in 1914

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.

Economy and Society

1. Agriculture Dominance:
In the early 20th century, about 85% of Russia's population was engaged in agriculture.
Russia had a higher proportion of people dependent on agriculture compared to most
European countries.

2. Industrial Development:
Industrialization was concentrated in certain areas like St Petersburg and Moscow.
Craftsmen and large factories coexisted, with significant growth in factories in the 1890s.
Russia became a major grain exporter.
The expansion of the railway network and foreign investments in the 1890s contributed
to industrial growth.
Coal production doubled, and iron and steel output quadrupled.

3. Working Conditions:

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f76… 9/25
 8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

Most industries were privately owned.

Government supervision aimed at ensuring minimum wages and limited working hours.
Factory inspectors had limitations in enforcing rules.
Some workers endured long working hours, and accommodation varied widely.

4. Social Divisions Among Workers:

Workers were socially divided based on village connections, permanency in cities, and skill
levels.
Divisions were evident in dress and manners.
Women constituted 31% of the factory labour force but were paid less than men.
Workers formed associations for mutual support during unemployment or financial
difficulties.
Despite divisions, workers united in strikes to protest against dismissals or poor work
conditions.
Frequent strikes occurred in the textile industry in 1896-1897 and the metal industry in
1902.

5. Peasants and Land Ownership:

Peasants cultivated most of the land, but the nobility, crown, and Orthodox Church owned
large properties.
Peasants were deeply religious but lacked respect for the nobility, unlike the situation in
France during the French Revolution.
Peasants wanted land redistribution and often refused to pay rent, leading to incidents like
large-scale landlord murders in 1902 and widespread incidents in 1905.
Russian peasants differed from other European peasants by periodically pooling their land
and dividing it according to family needs in a communal system called "mir."

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f7… 10/25
 8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

Try yourself: What percentage of Russia's population was engaged in agriculture in the
early 20th century?

a. 75%

b. 85%

c. 95%

d. 65%

View Solution

Socialism in Russia
All political parties were illegal in Russia before 1914. So, even after the founding of RSDWP, it
worked as an illegal operation.
George Plekhanov, a follower of Karl Marx, formed the Russian Social Democratic Party in
1883.
This party operated a newspaper, mobilized workers, and organized strikes against
repressive Tsarist policies.

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f7… 11/25
 8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

George Plekhanov

Many of their socialist groups later joined this organization and were known as the Russian
Social Democratic Labor Party in 1898.
However, the party soon split into two groups over questions of organization and policy.
They were known as the Mensheviks and the Bolsheviks.

Differences between these two groups were as follows:

Mensheviks: The minority group, led by Plekhanov, was known as the Mensheviks. They
wanted to bring changes through peaceful and constitutional means and favoured the
parliamentary system of government.
Bolsheviks: The minority group consisted of extreme socialists who were called the
Bolsheviks. Lenin was their leader.

A Turbulent Time: The 1905 Revolution

Russia was an autocracy. Unlike other European rulers, even at the beginning of the
twentieth century, Tsar was not subject to parliament.
Liberals, Social Democrats, and Socialist-Revolutionaries worked with peasants and workers
during the Revolution of 1905 to demand a constitution.
They were supported by nationalists and in Muslim – dominated areas by Judaists.
The year 1904 was a particularly bad one for Russian workers.
Prices of essential goods rose so quickly that real wages declined by 20 per cent.
The membership of workers’ associations rose dramatically. Over the next few days, over
110,000 workers in St Petersburg went on strike, demanding a reduction in the working day

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f7… 12/25
8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

to eight hours, an increase in wages and an improvement in working conditions.

When the procession of workers led by Father Gapon reached the Winter Palace, it was
attacked by the police and the Cossacks.
Over 100 workers were killed and about 300 wounded. The incident, known as Bloody
Sunday, started a series of events that became known as the 1905 Revolution.

Lawyers, doctors, engineers and other middle-class workers established the Union of
Unions and demanded a constituent assembly.
During the 1905 Revolution, the Tsar allowed the creation of an elected consultative
Parliament or Duma.
After 1905, most committees and unions worked unofficially since they were declared
illegal.
Severe restrictions were placed on political activity.
The Tsar dismissed the first Duma within 75 days and the re-elected second Duma within
three months.
He did not want any questioning of his authority or any reduction in his power.
He changed the voting laws and packed the third Duma with conservative politicians.
Liberals and revolutionaries were kept out

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f7… 13/25
 8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

Try yourself: What were the demands made by the workers in St. Petersburg who went on
a strike?

a. Reduction of working time to eight hours

b. Increase in wages

c. Improvement in working conditions

d. All the above

View Solution

The First World War and the Russian Empire

In Russia, the war was initially popular, and people rallied around Tsar Nicholas II. Later, the
Tsar refused to consult the main parties in the Duma.
The common people’s support also declined. The Tsarina Alexandra’s German origins and
poor advisors, especially a monk called Rasputin, made the autocracy unpopular.
Although Russia gained initial success in the war, it later lost badly in Germany and
Austria between 1914 and 1916.
The situation discredited the government and the tsar. Soldiers did not wish to fight such a
war. Industries suffered a setback. Railway lines began to break down.
As most of the men were fighting on the front, there were labour shortages. Large supplies of
grain were sent to feed the army.
By the winter of 1916, riots at bread shops were common.

The February Revolution in Petrograd

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f7… 14/25
8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

February Revolution

The winter of 1917 brought with it a harsh reality for the people of Petrograd.
The city was plagued by food shortages, exacerbated by the severe cold and heavy
snowfall that had struck the region.
Tensions were high, and the government was facing opposition from both parliamentarians
who sought to preserve the elected government and the Tsar who wished to dissolve the
Duma.
On February 22, a lockout at a factory on the right bank of the River Nava sparked a strike in
fifty factories the following day.
Women played a leading role, which became called International Women's Day.
Workers gathered around official buildings and fashionable quarters, prompting the
government to impose a curfew.
After the demonstrators dispersed on the first day, they regrouped on the 24th and 25th,
prompting the government to call in the cavalry and police to monitor their activities.
On February 25, the government suspended the Duma, and the following day, the left bank
of Petrograd was once again filled with demonstrators demanding better conditions.
On February 27, the Police Headquarters were ransacked, and the streets echoed with the
chants of people advocating for bread, wages, better hours, and democracy.
Despite the government's efforts to quell the unrest, the cavalry refused to fire on the
demonstrators.
Eventually, soldiers and striking workers joined forces to establish a council known as the
Petrograd Soviet by the evening.
Military commanders urged the Tsar to abdicate, which he did on March 2.

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f7… 15/25
 8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

The Petrograd Soviet, a council formed by striking workers and soldiers, joined forces
with Duma leaders to form a Provisional Government, effectively bringing down the
monarchy in what became known as the February Revolution.

Russian Provisional Government in March 1917

Try yourself: Tsarina Alexandra was of the

a. German origin

b. French origin

c. Russian origin

d. Dutch origin

View Solution

After February

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f7… 16/25
8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

The Provisional Government was composed of army officials, landowners, and

industrialists, but it also included liberals and socialists who worked for an elected
government.
Restrictions on public meetings and associations were removed.
In April 1917, Vladimir Lenin, the Bolshevik leader, returned to Russia from his exile.
He and the Bolsheviks had opposed the war since 1914.
Vladimir Lenin declared his ‘April Theses,’ which demanded an end to the war, land transfer
to the peasants, and nationalization of banks.
He also argued that the Bolshevik Party renamed itself the Communist Party to indicate its
new radical aims.

The worker's movement continued to spread throughout the summer, and factory
committees and trade unions were formed, while soldier committees were formed in the
army.
In June, 500 Soviets sent representatives to an All-Russian Congress of Soviets.
As Bolshevik influence grew and the Provisional Government's power declined, it began to
take stern measures against the spreading discontent, arresting leaders and resisting
attempts by workers to run factories.

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f7… 17/25
 8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

In July 1917, the Bolsheviks staged popular demonstrations that were seemingly repressed,
and many of their leaders went into hiding or fled.
Meanwhile, in the countryside, peasants and their Socialist Revolutionary leaders
demanded land redistribution and formed land committees to handle this.
Encouraged by the Socialist-Revolutionaries, peasants seized land between July and
September 1917.

The Revolution of October 1917

Lenin became increasingly concerned that the Provisional Government would establish a
dictatorship as the conflict between them and the Bolsheviks intensified.
In September, he began talks for a rebellion against the government and brought together
Bolshevik supporters in the army, soviets, and factories.
On 16 October 1917, Lenin persuaded the Petrograd Soviet and the Bolshevik Party to
approve a socialist seizure of power.

The Petrograd Soviet, the banner on the left reads, "Down with Lenin and Co."

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f7… 18/25
8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

The Soviets formed a Military Revolutionary Committee led by Leon Trotsky to organize
the seizure, and the date was kept secret.
The uprising began on 24 October, with the Military Revolutionary Committee directing
supporters to seize government offices and arrest ministers.
Pro-government troops were dispatched to seize telephone and telegraph offices and
protect the Winter Palace.
The Aurora ship shelled the Winter Palace, and the committee captured the city, leading to
the ministers' surrender.
At a Petrograd meeting of the All-Russian Congress of Soviets, the majority approved the
Bolshevik action.
Other cities also witnessed uprisings, with heavy fighting, especially in Moscow.
By December, however, the Bolsheviks had control over the Moscow-Petrograd area.

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f7… 19/25
8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

Try yourself: What was the main difference between the Mensheviks and the Bolsheviks?

a. The Mensheviks favored peaceful and constitutional means, while the

Bolsheviks were extreme socialists.

b. The Mensheviks were led by Lenin, while the Bolsheviks were led by
Plekhanov.

c. The Mensheviks supported the parliamentary system of government, while the

Bolsheviks wanted to establish an autocracy.

d. The Mensheviks operated as an illegal organization, while the Bolsheviks

worked legally.

View Solution

What Changed After October?

Private property was staunchly opposed by the Bolsheviks, who proceeded to nationalize
most industries and banks in November 1917 while also allowing peasants to seize land
belonging to the nobility.
They also enforced the partitioning of large houses in cities and banned the use of
aristocratic titles.
The army and officials were given new uniforms to emphasize the change.
The Bolshevik Party was renamed the Russian Communist Party, and though they
conducted elections to the Constituent Assembly in November 1917, they failed to gain
majority support.

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f7… 20/25
 8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

The Assembly rejected Bolshevik measures, leading to its dismissal by Lenin in January
1918.
Despite opposition from political allies, the Bolsheviks made peace with Germany at Brest
Litovsk in March 1918.
In the following years, the Bolsheviks became the only party to participate in elections to the
All Russian Congress of Soviets, which became the country's Parliament, turning Russia
into a one-party state.
Many young writers and artists were drawn to the Party due to its socialist ideology and
commitment to change.

The Civil War (1917 – 20)

A Red Army Unit marches through Kharkiv during Civil War

After the Bolsheviks ordered land redistribution, the Russian army disintegrated, with
soldiers, mostly peasants, deserting to return home for redistribution.
Opponents of the Bolsheviks, including non-Bolshevik socialists, liberals, and supporters
of autocracy, condemned the Bolshevik uprising, and their leaders moved to southern
Russia to organize troops to fight the "Reds."

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f7… 21/25
 8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

During 1918 and 1919, the Socialist Revolutionaries ("greens") and pro-Tsarists ("whites")
controlled most of the Russian empire.
However, supporters of private property among the "whites" took harsh measures against
peasants who had seized land, losing popular support.
By January 1920, the Bolsheviks had gained control of most of the former Russian empire,
and to gain support, they granted political autonomy to non-Russian nationalities in the
Soviet Union (USSR), created by the Bolsheviks from the Russian empire in December 1922.
However, attempts to win over different nationalities were only partially successful, as the
Bolsheviks forced unpopular policies on local governments, such as the harsh
discouragement of nomadism.

Try yourself: What was the main objective of the Bolsheviks after the October Revolution?

a. To establish a democratic government

b. To nationalize industries and banks

c. To restore the monarchy

d. To promote private property rights

View Solution

Making a Socialist Society

The Bolsheviks nationalized most industries and banks and allowed peasants to farm on
socialized land.

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f7… 22/25
 8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

Centralized planning was introduced, and the Five Year Plans were created after officials
assessed the economy.
This led to economic growth, but rapid construction resulted in poor working conditions,
such as climbing down four floors to use the restroom in winter.
The Bolsheviks also developed an extended schooling system, provided cheap public
healthcare, arranged for factory workers and peasants to attend universities, and set up
model living quarters for workers.

Stalinism and Collectivization

In the late 1920s, Soviet Russia faced a significant problem with grain supplies as peasants
refused to sell their grain to the government at fixed prices. This led to speculation and raids
on rich individuals, Kulaks, and traders holding stocks.
To address the issue, Stalin initiated a program of collectivization, which forced all
peasants to work on collective farms (kolkhoz), transferring land and equipment ownership
to these farms and eliminating wealthy peasants or 'Kulaks.'
However, production did not immediately increase, and bad harvests from 1930 to 1933
resulted in over 4 million deaths due to famine.
Those who opposed collectivization were punished severely. Many party members
criticizing the confusion in industrial production under the Planned Economy and the
negative consequences of collectivization were charged with conspiracy against socialism.
Several talented professionals were even tortured into making false confessions and
executed.

The Global Influence of the Russian Revolution and the

USSR
The idea of a worker's state ignited people's imaginations worldwide, leading to communist
parties in various countries like the Communist Party of Great Britain.
The Bolsheviks encouraged colonial peoples to emulate their experiments, and non-Russians
attended conferences like the Conference of the Peoples of the East and the Communist

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f7… 23/25
8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

International.
The USSR's Communist University of the Workers of the East provided education to many.
By the outbreak of the Second World War, the USSR had become a global symbol of
socialism and contributed to the demise of imperialism.
However, by the 1950s, it was evident that the USSR's style of governance did not align with
the ideals of the Russian Revolution, leading to a worldwide recognition of the problems in
the Soviet Union.
By the end of the twentieth century, the USSR's reputation as a socialist country had
declined, but socialist ideals continued to enjoy respect among its people.
Nevertheless, every country rethought socialism in its own way.

Difficult Words
1. Aristocracy: A class of persons holding exceptional rank and privileges, especially the
hereditary nobility.
2. Dynastic: Relating to a dynasty, which is a sequence of rulers from the same family, stock, or
group.
3. Franchise: The right to vote in public elections.
4. Constitutional: Related to or operating under a constitution, which is a body of fundamental
principles or established precedents according to which a state is acknowledged to be
governed.
5. Judiciary: The judicial authorities of a country; judges collectively.
6. Cooperatives: Enterprises or organizations owned by and operated for the benefit of those
using their services.
7. Autocracy: A system of government by one person with absolute power.
8. Provisional: Arranged or existing for the present, possibly to be changed later.
9. Soviet: A governing council in the former Soviet Union, typically elected and based on
workplace, army units, etc.
10. Constituent: Being part of a whole; component.

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f7… 24/25
8/7/24, 7:34 PM Class 9 History Chapter 2 Notes - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Free PDF

11. Nationalize: Transfer (a major branch of industry or commerce) from private to state
ownership or control.
12. Collectivization: The organization of all of a country's production and industry so that it is
owned and managed by the government.
13. Kulaks: Wealthy peasants in the Soviet Union who owned larger farms and used hired
labour. They were the target of Stalin's forced collectivization.
14. Collective farms (kolkhoz): A type of agricultural production cooperative in the Soviet
Union where land and equipment were pooled and farming was conducted collectively.
15. Planned Economy: An economic system in which the government controls and regulates
production, distribution, prices, etc.

Quick Revision: Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution

20:04

https://edurev.in/studytube/Class-9-History-Chapter-2-Notes-Socialism-in-Europe-and-the-Russian-Revolution/bf7fea45-b999-4d02-a815-3d7f7… 25/25