SOCIALISM IN RUSSIA AND THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

1. In the context of Russia, which group was the supporter of women’s Suffragette Movements?
Radicals

2. Who was Karl Marx?

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.

3. By whom was ‘Das Capital’ written?

Karl Marx.

4. Name the term that refers to ‘women’s right to vote’.

Suffragette.

5. Who were the ‘greens’ and ‘whites?

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.

6. What was the basic idea of socialism?

Socialists were against private property, and saw it as the root of all social ills of the time.

7. What was the basic idea of a communist society?

All properties should be socially controlled.

8. Who built the cooperative called ‘New Harmony’?

Robert Owen.

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

10. What was the Russian Revolution?

The fall of monarchy in February 1917, and the events of October are normally called the Russian Revolution.

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

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

13. What was the Second International?

It was an international body which was formed to coordinate the ideas of the socialists.

14. “The year 1904 was particularly bad for the Russian workers” Give reason.
In 1904 prices of essential goods rose very quickly and the real wages declined by 20%.
15. What was Duma?
It was an elected consultative Parliament of Russia.

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

17. What was Bolsheviks?

It was a socialist party of Russia which was led by Lenin.

18. What was Mensheviks?

It was a breakaway group of Bolsheviks. It was also a socialist party like that of Bolshevik.

19. Define Kulaks.

The wealthy farmers of Russia.

20. In the context of Russia what was ‘Kolkhoz’?

Kolkhoz were the collective farms, where all peasants were forced to cultivate from 1929.

21. Who started ‘Collectivization Programme’ in Russia?

Stalin.

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

23. Which incident of the Russian history is known as ‘Bloody Sunday’?

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.

24. What was Lenin’s ’April Theses’?

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’.

25. What was the new name of St. Petersburg*?

Petrograd.

26. Name a few countries that were part of central power during the First World War?
Germany, Austria and Turkey.

27. Name the term which was used for elected Consultative Parliament in Russia?
Duma.

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

29. When did the First World War break out?

1914.

30. Why is 22nd, February celebrated as the International Women’s Day?

Because on this day. women workers of Russia led a huge strike in the factories.

31. What were the Muslim reformers within the Russian Empire called?
 Jadidists

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

33. Name any two Indian nationalists who talked of the significance of the French Revolution.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Derozio.

34. Name a few countries which were included in Russian Empire in 1914.
Finland, Lithuania and Latvia.

35. Describe the views of radicals.

• 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 not against private properties but against the concentration of properties.

36. Who were liberals? What were their political and social views?
Or
Liberals were not democrats. Explain.
• One of the groups which looked to change society were the 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 and independent judiciary.
• 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.

37. Distinguish between the ideas of liberals and the radicals.

Liberals Radicals

They argued for representative, elected They also argued for a representative elected
parliamentary government, but did not believe in parliamentary government, but believed in universal
universal adult franchise. adult franchise.

They felt men of property should have the right to

They felt all citizens should have the right to vote
vote.

They were in favour of giving privileges to the rich They opposed the privileges of the rich or the men of
or the men of property. property.

38. Who ruled Russia in 1914? How did he manage his empire? Explain.
• 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.

39. Explain the views of different socialists and philosophers regarding the vision of the future or to transform
the society.

• 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.

40. ‘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.

• 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.

41. 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.

• 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.

42. Explain the economic condition of the workers before the Russian Revolution.
• 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.

43. Mention four features of socialism.

• 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 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.
• Socialism encourages cooperatives.

44. Mention any four features of the Russian economy at the beginning of the 20th century.
Or
Describe the economic condition of Russia before 1905.
• 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.

45. Explain any five differences between the peasants of Russia and peasants of Europe.

Peasants of Europe Peasants of Russia

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

The workers were united in their demands for The workers were not united. They were divided on
political rights and reduction in work hours. the basis of occupation.

The workers’ associations had close ties with the

The workers’ associations were considered as illegal
political parties and themselves formed political
and were suppressed.
parties. For example, the labour Party in Britain.

In France, during the French Revolution in

But in Russia, the peasants had no regards for the
Brittany peasants had the respect for nobles and
nobility and often revolted against them.
fought for them.
 The peasants in Europe had political rights and
The peasants did not enjoy any political rights.
enjoyed them.

46. Why did ‘the Kerenski Government’ in Russia fall?

Or
Why did the Kerenski Government become unpopular in Russia?

• 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.

47. Write a note on the Bloody Sunday incident.

Or
Which incident came to be known as Bloody Sunday? What were its consequences?
• 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.

48. Explain the major events that were responsible for the Russian Revolution of 1905.
Or
Why were there revolutionary disturbances in Russia in 1905?
Or
What were the demands of the revolutionaries?

• 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 supported by Jadidists.

• Strike of the Workers: 1904 was a bad year for the Russian workers. Prices of essential goods rose so
quickly and 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: More than 100 workers were killed and 300 were wounded and it became the
turning point. It led to an all-Russia strike. Lawyers, doctors, engineers and others demanded
constituent assembly.

49. What is meant by ‘October revolution’?

• 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 Kerenski 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.

50. Explain any three major effects of the Russian Revolution of October 1917 on Russian economy.
• 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 made the Five-Year
Plans to grow the economy.

51. 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.
• 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.
52. 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Unemployment: Unemployment rate was very high. The rich industrialists were exploiting the
workers.

• High Prices: Prices of essential goods rose so quickly that real wages declined by 20%.

• 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.

53. Explain the views of the Socialists on private property with special emphasis on Karl Marx.
• 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.

54. What social changes were seen in the society after industrialisation?
Or
How did industrialization change the lives of people in Europe? Explain.

• 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.

55. Explain the collectivisation policy of Stalin.

Or
What were the major changes Introduced in agriculture by Stalin? Explain.

• 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 peasants were forced to cultivate in collective farms (kolkhoz) and the profit was
shared equally.
• Angry peasants resisted the authorities, and destroyed their livestock. 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.

56. 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.
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.

57. Highlight any five changes brought by Lenin in Russia after October Revolution of 1917.
• 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 army,
soviets and factories.
• A military revolutionary committee under Lenin Trotskii planned to seize power.
• Uprising began on 4th October, 1917. The Prime Minister Kerenski with government troops tried to
defeat 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.
58. Who was Lenin? What was his contribution in the Russian Revolution?
Lenin was a socialist leader who was against the autocratic rule of Tsar. His contributions in the Russian
Revolution were:
• 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

• 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.

• 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.

• Communist State: Lenin laid the foundation of Communist State. After the October Revolution the
Bolshevik Party was renamed the Russian Communist Party.

59. Explain the Russian February Revolution 1917.

Or
Petrograd had led the February Revolution that brought down the monarchy in February 1917. Explain.

• 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.

• 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.

• Violent Incidents: In the next few days the workers tried to persue 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.

• 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.

• 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.

60. Describe the 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.