JKBOSE 9th Class Social Science Solutions Chapter 2 Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution 

Autocratic Rule of Czars : The idea of socialism first grew in Western Europe. But a socialist revolution first broke in Russia in 1917. Russia was under the autocratic rule of Romanov Czars who believed in the Divine Rights of kings. Serfdom was abolished in 1862 but it failed to improve conditions of the peasants. Land hunger of the peasants was a major social factor in the Russian society.

Discontentment against Autocracy Autocracy and Bureaucracy : Industrialization in Russia started very late and that too with the foreign capital. Conditions of Russian workers were horrible. Czar Nicholas II, in whose reign the Revolution occurred, was inefficient and the bureaucracy was corrupt. And as such there was widespread discontentment throughout the empire against the Czar’s autocracy.

The Czar and his Wife : Within Russia, democratic forces which had already raised their head became more and more vociferous. The Czar did not pay any heed to people’s demand. He was dominated by his wife Czarina. She in her turn was ruled by a friend named Rasputin, who virtually ran the government, and was treated as ‘Holy Devil”.

Spread of Socialism : In Russia, the workers’ organization was setup. These organizations were dominated by ideas of socialism. In 1883, the Russian Socialist Democratic Labour Party was formed; this along with other socialist groups was united into the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party in 1898. This party split into two groups-Menshevik and Bolshevik group (majority). Mensheviks favoured parliamentary type party while Bolsheviks wanted revolutionary changes.

Russia was defeated by Japan : In 1904 A.D., a war broke out between Russia and Japan in which Russia was defeated. This strengthened the revolutionary movement in Russia. In 1905 A.D., a mass of peaceful workers with their wives and children was fired at St. Petersburg while on their way to the Winter Palace of the Czar. More than hundred people were killed and several hundreds were injured. This provoked an unprecedented rising in Russia. The Czar yielded and announced a constitutional government but soon relapsed into his old ways. This revolution proved to be a dress rehearsal of the Russian Revolution.

First World War and March Revolution : In 1914 A.D., the Czar took Russia into the First World War. Russians suffered heavy loss in men and money. About 6 lakhs soldiers were killed by 1917 A.D. A famine-like condition prevailed throughout the empire. Revolutionaries captured the capital city of St. Petersburg and Moscow. Czar was forced to abdicate and an interim government was formed under Kerensky.

October Revolution : In April 1917, Lenin reached Petersburg and organized Bolshevik Revolution which took place in October 1917. Interim government collapsed and Bolsheviks captured the power. The Soviet peoples, Commissars under the leadership of Lenin were formed. The new government, withdrew from the war, confiscated the land of landlords, banks were nationalised and church and Czar’s estate and distributed it among the peasants. The new government granted all nationalities the right of self determination and embarked on the formation of new social setup and economic order.

1. Nomadism : Lifestyle of those who do not live in one place but move from area to area to earn their living.

2. Deported : Forcible removed from one’s own country.

3. Exiled : Forced to live away from one’s own country.

4. Socialism : A cult which believes that all the means of production should be in the hands of the State or the Government.

5. Conservatives : People who are opposed to rapid changes.

6. Liberals : People who tolerate all religions and work to protect the rights of the individuals against the state.

7. Radicals : People who were in favour of radical changes like majority rule, women’s suffrage and universal franchise.

8. Suffragette : A movement which supports the idea of giving right to vote to women.

1. 1889 : Nicholas II became the Czar of Russia

2. 1898 : The Social Democratic Party was formed

3. 1903 : The Russian Social Democratic Workers Party bifurcated into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks

4. 1904-05 : The Russo-Japanese War was fought, after which Russia lost

5. January 1905 : The incident of the Bloody Sunday took place

6. October 1905 :  Czar Nicholas II had issued the October Manifesto

7. 1912 : The National Health Insurance Act was passed

8. 1915 : Czar Nicholas II assumed command of the Russian Army

9. 1917 : The Russian Revolution takes place in two phases in February and October

10. 1918-21 : The Civil War takes place in Russia

11. 1923 : Stalin comes to power in Russia

12. 1928 : The First Five Year Plan is introduced

13. 1991 : The disintegration of the Soviet Union took place and 15 new nations were formed

Ans.— 1. Social Condition :

(i) In the nineteenth century, European countries had undergone important social and economic changes but Russia was still living in the old world. The Czars still believed in the Divine Rights of kings. The old feudal autocracy still continued in Russia.

(ii) The condition of the Russian peasants was deplorable. The nobility and the upper layers of the clergy enjoyed special privileges and all rights. Feudalism formed the basis of agriculture.

(iii) The serfdom was abolished in 1861 A.D. But it did not improve agriculture. Their tools and methods of cultivation were age old. For the small holding they acquired, they had to pay heavy redemption dues. Land hunger of peasants formed a major social problem in Russian society.

(i) There was no middle class in Russia and as such industrialization in Russia began very late and it developed at fairly fast rate. The foreign capitalists invested large sums in different industries to amass huge profits.

(ii) The foreign investors were more interested in early profits than in improving the conditions of the workers.

(iii) Even the Russian Capitalists exploited the workers and paid them low wage to compete with foreign investors. The workers had no political rights. The conditions of the workers in Russia were very miserable. They were forced to lead a wretched life. That is why the workers were dominated by the ideas of socialism.

Russia was still under the autocratic rule of Romanov Czars, who believed in Divine Rights of Kings. Czar Nicholas II (1894-1917 A.D.) was inefficient and reactionary. He was under the immoral influence of a Holy Devil- Rasputin.

(i) The conditions of workers and peasants were deplorable. The famine conditions prevailed throughout the empire. Many persons in Russia were influenced by the developments in Western Europe and demanded constitutional democratic government. But their demands were turned down.

(ii) In 1904, there was a war between Russia and Japan. The huge Russian giant suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of a tiny country like Japan. A revolution broke out in Russia in 1905 A.D. It was sparked off by an incident on January 9, 1905. The soviet workers took active part in this revolution. Some sections of army and navy also joined the revolution.

(iii) In October 1905, the Czar announced his manifesto and granted the freedom of speech, press and association. He further conferred the law making power on an elected body called ‘Duma’ but he soon relapsed his despotic rule.

Ans.— The working population of Russia, before 1917 A.D., was different from working population of other European countries in following ways :

(i) The vast majority of the Russian population was agriculturalists. Around 85% population was engaged in agricultural functions. This percentage was much more than that of other European countries. For example this ratio was 40% and 50% in France and Germany respectively.

(ii) Industrial revolution came in other countries of Europe and most of the industries were in the hands of local people. But in Russia, most of the industries were established of labourers was quite pitiable even in those industries which were in the hands of Russian people. They give minimum wages to their labourers to compete with foreign investors.

(iii) Women labourers in Russia were given less wages as compared to other European Countries. The working day was sometimes 15 hours. But this condition was completely changes in other European Countries due to certain legislations. The farms of Russian farmed were quite small as compared to other European Countries.

(iv) Russian farmers never respected their land lords as they were autocratic in nature. They hated them a lot. Quite often they refused to pay taxes and even killed their landlords. On contrary to this, French farmers were very much in favour of their landlords as they fought in their favour during Revolution.

Ans.— (i) Within Russia, democratic forces which had already raised their head became more and more vociferous. But the Czar still regarded his sacred duty to preserve absolutism.

(ii) The Russian people wanted the end of war and conclusion of peace. But the Czar, who had already mismanaged the war, still insisted to continue the war.

(iii) The peasants were the worst suffers. They wanted that cultivable land should be given to the tillers, but the autocratic and corrupt government did not pay any heed to their demands.

(iv) The working conditions of workers were deplorable. There was a general demand that industries should be controlled by workers, and not by capitalists. Autocratic government of Czar helped the capitalists and neglected the workers.

(v) The people further wrapped an equal state to all the non-Russian nationalists. But Czar followed a Pan-Slavish policy.

(vi) There was widespread discontent against the autocratic rule of Czar. The Royal family did not enjoy people’s respect because of the influence of the Holy Devil. The Russian autocracy was bound to collapse as it had no support from the people.

Ans.— The October Revolution of 1917 was the second phase of the Russian Revolution. The first phase took place in February 1917 and the Czar was compelled to abdicate. A provisional government was setup which could not solve the pressing problems of the people. It therefore, lost people’s support. It failed to end war, to. give land to the tillers given the equal status. The result was the revolution of the second phase known as the October Revolution. The Bolshevik party under the leadership of Lenin promised peace to the soldiers, land to the workers, and all powers to the Soviets and equal rights to the non- Russians.

The October Revolution had a great impact on Russia, as detailed below :

(i) It brought an end to the autocratic rule in Russia.

(ii) The new government started the era of socialism.

(iii) Land, industries, factories, mines, bank and insurance companies and all means or production were nationalized. New social set up was based on the principal of communism.

(iv) The Bolshevik Revolution put an end to the Russian imperialism.

(v) The estates of the landlords, the church and the Czar were confiscated and transferred to Peasant’s Societies.

Ans.— 1. End of Autocratic Rule : Czars were autocratic rulers. Czar Nicholas II was an inefficient and a despotic ruler, who cared little for the people’s welfare. The result was that he and members of his family put to death.

2. Government of the Proletariat : After the revolution, a new government called the council of People’s Commissars was formed headed by Lenin. The new government started the era of socialism. The Czarist Empire was transported into a new state. It was called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic and was based on the Bolshevik principles.

3. Social Inequalities abolished : A new social setup was inaugurated. The policies of the new state were based on the principles that every one will get according to his capacity and to each according to his needs.

4. New Economic changes : The Bolshevik Government introduced many changes in the economic sphere and aimed at building a new society based on socialist lines.

Land, Industries, factories mines, bank insurances companies and all means of production were nationalized. Technologically advanced industrialization was taken up through the five year plan. The lands and states confiscate were distributed among the peasants. The management of factories and industries was handed over to the workmen. The foreign debts were repudiated and the foreign investments were confiscated. The right to work became a constitutional right.

5. Russia becomes a world power : Within a few years of the Revolution, Russian made tremendous progress in different spheres of life and emerged as a major power in the world.

6. End of Imperialist designs : The Bolshevik revolution in Russia put an end to the Russian imperialism. The new government was opposed to imperialistic designs and countries which groaned under the Czar were set free.

Ans.—  1. Kulaks : The name for well-to-do peasants of Russia. During the collectivisation programme they were eliminated; their land was taken away and grains seized

2. The Duma : It was the Russian Parliament. Czar Nicholas II held elections of the Duma but not allowed it to become a real representative body. Russian Parliament is still called Duma.

3. Women workers between 1900 and 1930 : Workers were divided social group in Russian. Workers were divided by skill. Women made up 31% of factory labour force by 1914 A.D. but they were paid less than men.

4. The Liberals : One of the groups which looked to change society was the liberals. They opposed the uncontrolled power of dynastic rulers. They wanted to safeguard the rights of individual against governments.

5. Stalin’s Collectivisation Programme : From 1929, the Party formed all peasants to cultivate in collective forms. The bulk of land and implements were transferred to the ownership of collective forms. Peasants worked on the land, and the Kalkhoz profit were shared. Those who resisted collectivisation were severely punished. As they resisted collectivisation, peasants agreed that they were not rich and they were not against socialism.

Ans.— (i) After the Russian Revolution, the British Resident asked the Maharaja of Kashmir in early 1919, to be vigilant so that the Bolshevik literature must not come in Kashmir.

(ii) But socialist literature started entering Kashmir secretly through Gilgit on the northern border of the state.

(iii) By 1930’s, the socialist ideas started expanding in the ideology of National Conference and its members with strong socialist inclinations.

(iv) The philosophy and ideas of the Russian revolution attracted Kashmiri writers to study its literature. Translation of Russian literature attained reverence. The wide circulation of this literature encouraged socialism in the region.

(v) The socialist ideas of Nehru had a great impact on Sheikh Abdullah and it reflected in the pro-peasant and pro-workers policies of National Conference.

(vi) Many organization with socialist ideas come into being and they started mobilizing workers and peasants.

(vii) The drawing up of the New Kashmir Manifesto of 1944 on socialist lines by National Conference recommended equal rights, freedom of speech, press and assembly, free and compulsory education in mother tongue, state ownership of all key industries, providing land to be tiller and abolition of feudalism and landlordism.

(i) Women’s movement

(ii) Property tax

(iii) Land acquisition

(iv) Proletariat class.

Ans.— (i) Women’s movement.

(i) A French manufacturer

(ii) An English manufacturer

(iii) A Russian manufacturer

(iv) None of these.

Ans.— (ii) An English manufacturer.

(i) A bank

(ii) A cooperative community

(iii) A capitalist

 (iv) Common man.

Ans.—  (ii) A cooperative community.

(i) Capitalist

(ii) Clergy

(iii) Farmer

(iv) None of these.

Ans.— (i) Capitalist.

(i) Karl Marx

(ii) Mirabeau

(iii) John Locke

(iv) Rousseau.

Ans.— (i) Karl Marx.

(i) 1872

(ii) 18732

(iii) 1870

(iv) 1875

Ans.— (iii) 1870.

(i) 1915

(ii) 1913

(iii) 1900

(iv) 1911.

Ans.— (iii) 1900.

(i) A war song

(ii) A house owner

(iii) A poor labourers

(iv) Medium land owner.

Ans.— (i) A war song.

(i) Catherine

(ii) Joseph Mazzini

(iii) Czar Nicholas II

(iv) John III.

Ans.— (iii) Czar Nicholas II.

(i) Christian reformers

(ii) Social reformers

(iii) Duma

(iv) Muslim reformers.

Ans.— (iv) Muslim reformers.

(i) France, Britain and Russia

(ii) Britain, Russia, America

(iii) Britain, Russia and Austria

(iv) Russia, Britain and France.

(i) The Russian Community Party

(ii) Jacobin Party

(iii) Communist party of USSR

(iv) None of these.

Ans.— (i) The Russian Community Party.

(i) In 1918 A.D.

(ii) In 1924 A.D.

(iii) In 1926 A.D.

(iv) In 1930 A.D.

Ans.— (ii) In 1924 A.D.

(i) German Emperor

(ii) British Emperor

(iii) Russian Emperor

(iv) Austrian Emperor.

Ans.— (iii) Russian Emperor.

(i) 1832

(ii) 1842

(iii) 1846

(iv) 1848.

Ans.— (iv) 1848.

(i) 1905 A.D.

Ans.— (i) 1905 A.D.

(i) March 1917

(ii) March 1918

(iii) April 1916

(iv) April 1918.

Ans.— (ii) March 1918.

(i) Autocratic rule of Czar

(ii) Russian Revolution of 1905

(iii) Miserable condition of the people

(iv) Russian defeat in the First World War

Ans.— (iv) Russian defeat in the First World War.

(i) French Revolution

(ii) Czar Revolution

(iii) Mark Revolution

(iv) Bolshevik Revolution.

Ans.— (iv) Bolshevik Revolution.

(i) Nicholas II

(ii) Lenin

(iii) Kerensky

(iv) Trotsky.

Ans.— (ii) Lenin.

(i) Anton Chekov

(ii) Leo Tolstoy

(iii) Maxim Goeeky

(iii) Mazdoor Sabha

(iv) All of these.

Ans.— (iv) All of these

(i) 1944

(ii) 1945

(iii) 1946

(iv) 1947.

Ans.— (i) 1944.

1. Lenin died in ………………….. A.D.

2. Das capital was written by ………… .

3. …………… was a war song.

4. …………… was the Czar of Russia at the time of Russian Revolution.

5. Bloody Sunday occured in …………… A.D.

6. ………….. was the leader of Bolsheviks.

Ans.—1. 1924, 2. Karl Marx, 3. Marseillaise, 4. Nicholas-II, 5. 1905, 6. Lenin.

1. Louis XVI was the Czar of Russia.

2. Karl Marx gave the theory of Socialism.

3. Second International was formed in 1870.

4. The Communist Manifesto was published in 1858.

5. Stalin succeeded Lenin in Russia.

6. Five year plans were introduced in U.S.S.R.

Ans.— 1. x, 2. √, 3. √, 4. x, 5. √, 6. √.

Ans.— The 9th January 1905 was Sunday and because of this massacre on this day. It is known as the ‘Bloody Sunday’ in history. These killings provoked unprecedented disturbance throughout Russia.

Ans.— In Russia a party was formed in 1883 A.D., called the Russian Social Democratic Party. This party along with many socialist groups was united into the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party which was split in 1898 due to difference in organization and policy. One group was called Menshevik as it was in minority.

Ans.— The Russian Social Democratic Labour Party was split in 1898 in two groups. The minority group was called Mensheviks. The majority group was called Bolsheviks. The group favoured revolutionary methods for bringing changes in the social order and the state machinery.

Ans.— During the Revolution of 1905, a new form of organization developed in Russia which played an important role in the upheaval of 1917. This was the Soviets or the Council of workers representatives.

Ans.— (i) They system of government in Russia was autocratic. The Czar was a despotic ruler, and believed in Divine Right of kings and absolutism.

(ii) The peasants, the workers and soldiers led a very miserable life.

Ans.— (i) He believed in Divine Right of kings and regarded the preservation of absolutism as his sacred duty.

(ii) The Russian bureaucracy was top-heavy, inflexible and inefficient. Czar Nicholas II moved against the time and paid no heed to the welfare of the common people.

Ans.—The main reason for the provisional government’s unpopularity lay in it insistence on continuing the war against Germany.

Ans.— (i) After revolution his rule was thrown away and Czar and his family members were killed.

(ii) After revolution Government of Peasants and workers was established under the leadership of Lenin.

Ans.— Bolsheviks, under leadership of Lenin, believed in bringing change in the society with the help of revolutionary methods. But Mensheviks believed in Parliament System.

Ans.— (i) Communism hardly believes in private property. It believed that private property is the root cause behind all problems. So whole of the property should come under possession of the state.

Ans.— Leon Trotskii played a very important role in both revolutions of 1905 and October revolution of 1917. Leon Trotskii was the head of the Petrograd Soviet.

Ans.— Communist International was organized in 1919 like first and second international. That’s why it is also known as third international. Its objective was to encourage revolutions at international level.

Ans.— Socialism is that political system in which means of production are under control of the state. Its main objective was the equal distribution of economic means. No class is being exploited in this system. It is exactly opposite to capitalism.

Ans.— The meaning of means of production is by those means which earn capital like land, factory, etc. These means were under control of rich people before Russian Revolution, but after revolution land was given to farmers and factories were given to labour organizations.

Ans.— Universal adult sufferage, equal rights, freedom of speech, press and assembly, free and compulsory education in mother tongue, state ownership of all key industries, providing land to the tiller and abolition of feudalism and landlordism.

Ans.— (i) The Czar was despotic ruler who still believed in the Divine Rights of Kings. The bureaucracy that the Czar had built was top-heavy, inflexible and inefficient.

(ii) The members of bureaucracy were recruited from amongst the privileged classes without taking into consideration their ability and fitness for the posts they held. Czar Nicholas II was a ruthless ruler having no regard for public welfare.

(iii) The general people had no say in the administration of the country. The Czar was completely under the influence of his wife. The Czarina was influenced by a friend named Rasputin, who was called the Holy Devil.

(iv) The Russian Czar had built a vast empire of diverse nationalities. The confused area of diverse nationalities was revived under the Czarist rule, who tried to impose Russian language and to be little the local culture. Moreover, the imperialist designs of the Czar brought Russia into direct conflict with other imperialist countries.

Ans.— 1. Peace : The people of Russia were by now weary of war. They realized that imperialistic wars of the Czar were suicidal for Russia and meant selfdestruction. People were clamoring for peace.

2. Land to the tiller : Serfdom was abolished in 1861 A.D., but it could not improve the miserable life of the cultivators. They had no land and no capital. Hunger for land was dominant factor in the Russian society and the cultivators had been demanding more land to improve their life. dys gadh inne

3. Control of Industries by the workers : The conditions of the workers in Russian industries were deplorable. Both the Russian and foreign capitalists much exploited the labourers and workers. They had to work for 12-14 hours a day, but their wages were very low. The workers were demanding for the right to control the industry.

Ans.—  (i) In 1914, the First World War broke out in Europe and Czarist Russia joined the war against Germany. Czar had hoped to satisfy his imperial ambition. He wanted to annex Constantinople and the Straits of the Dardanelles. With this end in view, he took Russia into the war. But it proved fatal and accelerated the pace of revolution in Russia.

(ii) The Czarist government was incapable of carrying on a modern war. It exposed inefficiency of the Czarist regime. It w difficult for the Russian army to fight due to non-supply of war-materials and food stuffs.

(iii) The Czarist government mismanaged the war front as a result of which the Russian army had to suffer heavy reserves. By February 1917, 6 lakh soldiers had been killed in the war.

(iv) The Czarist government stood discredited for the heavy losses both in men and money. This led to widespread discontent throughout the empire and in the army.

Ans.— With industrialization, workers’ organizations were setup in Russia. These were the dominated by idea of socialism. In 1883 A.D., the Russian Social Democratic Party was formed. There were other socialist groups too. In 1898 A.D., all these were united into Russian Social Democratic Labour Party. The party was soon split into two groups-Mensheviks (minority) and Bolsheviks (majority). The leader of the Bolsheviks was Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov popularly known as Lenin. Lenin is regarded as one of the greatest leader of socialist movement after Marx and Engels. Lenin organized the peasants and workers under the banner of this party and brought unity among them. He organized the Bolshevik party as a movement for bringing about revolution. He preached socialistic ideas and directed the party against the provisional government of Kerensky.

Ans.— In the nineteenth century, European countries had undergone important changes by adopting democratic system. Russia was, however, still under the autocratic rule of Czar, who believed in Divine Right of Kings. Many Russian thinkers demanded changes in Russia too, but in vain. The democratic forces had already raised their heads and revolutionary movement was growing. In 1904 A.D., the huge Russian giant suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Japan. This defeat strengthened the revolutionary movement in Russia. In January 1905, a mass of peaceful workers were fired while on their way to present a petition to the Czar. More than a hundred people were killed and hundreds were wounded. This incident provoked unprecedented disturbance throughout Russia. Certain section of army and navy also revolted. The Czar had to yield. He promised to introduce constitutional monarchy.

Ans.— (i) Basically conservatives were exactly opposite to liberals and radicals but after French revolution, conservatives also started to felt the need of the change.

(ii) Conservatives were basically against the idea of change but liberals wanted to change the society.

(iii) Conservatives hardly raised their voice against ill effects of industrializations which were faced by workers. But radicals opposed the privileges of great landowners and wealthy factory owners. They were not against the existence of private property but disliked concentration of property in few hands.

Ans.— (i) After the war, large estates of Church, landlords, nobility, etc were taken away by the government and that land was distributed among the peasants.

(ii) After First World War, land was taken away from large holders and was distributed among peasants. But these peasants had very small holdings of land which was not very productive. That’s why a new method of agriculture was introduced and that was collective farms.

This idea promoted collective farming by bringing land of small peasants together with higher yield.

(iii) Rich farmers opposed the idea of collective farm. They were dealt harshly by government. With this landlords were oppressed.

Ans.— (i) Industrial revolution not only came in Europe but also came in Russia as well. Many capitalists of Russia as well as of other countries invested large amount of money in different industries so that more and more profit could be gained.

(ii) That’s why they started to exploit the workers. Workers of Industries had to work for 12-14 hours and they were paid very less wages.

(iii) They were not allowed to form their trade unions. Workers were divided by skill among different social groups.

(iv) Their accommodation varied from rooms to dormitories. (v) Women made up of 31% of the factory labour by 1914 but were paid less wages than men.

Ans.— (i) The Russian Socialist Democratic Party split in 1898 A.D. in two groups. The minority group was called Mensheviks. Mensheviks favored to organize party on the basis of the parties prevailing in France and Germany. They favoured the establishment of parliamentary form of government in Russia and election of the parliament.

(ii) The majority group was called Bolsheviks. The group favoured revolutionary method for bringing changes in the social order and the state machinery. They also favoured a party of disciplined workers for revolution.

(iii) The people were influenced by this idea of Karl Marx and Tolstoy. Within Russia, democratic forces which had already raised their head became more and more vociferous.

Ans.— The most important demands of the people in Russia were four-folds : peace, land to the tiller, control of industry by workers and equal status for the non-slaves as described below :

(i) Corruption in the state resulted in great suffering among the people. Feudalism formed the basis of Russian agriculture. Land hunger of peasant formed a major problem. The peasants demanded land to the tillers.

(ii) The condition of workers in Russia was very miserable. They were forced to lead a wretched life. They demanded control of industries by workers.

(iii) The Russian army suffered heavy reverses due to mismanagement of the government. The rising prices of food and clothes added hardship to the poorer classes. They dem- anded peace.

(iv) Non-Slave subjects of the empire demanded equal status but the Russian autocracy supported the Pan-Slavist idea.

Ans.— The main objectives of the Russian Revolution were the following :

(i) The system of government in Russia was autocratic where decisions were taken by the Czar and a few aristocrats. The revolutionaries favoured a socialist movement.

(ii) The revolutionaries felt that war was being fought to satisfy imperial ambitions and it was suicidal. So they favoured to free Russia from the First World War.

(iii) The other objective was to save Russians from foreign exploitations and therefore control of industries by workers.

(iv) To grant equal status to the non-Russian nationalities, i.e., right to selfdetermination to all nationalities.

(v) Transfer of land to the tillers.

Ans.— (i) Socialism became wider ideology in the world because of Russian Revolution. Socialist governments were established, after Russia, in many countries.

(ii) Idea of economic planning by state for public welfare was strengthened.

(iii) Respect of labour increased in the world.

(iv) Russian revolution speeded up the process of destruction of colonialism. People started to work against colonialism.

Ans.— Russian revolutionaries were totally against the war right from its start. That’s why Russia left the war after revolution.

(i) Russia, under Lenin, decided to change war into revolutionary war.

(ii) Russian empire was defeated many a times in the war with which its prestige was severely blowed.

(iii) More than six lakh Russian people were killed in the war.

(iv) Russian people don’t want to capture land of any other country as it was already as the largest empire in the world.

(v) Russian people primarily wanted to solve their international problems.

Ans.—  Bread was in shortage in Russia at that time due to First World War. Women demonstrators of working class tried to buy the bread because of which revolution was started. After this general strike of workers and soldiers was called and in March 1917, Czar was removed from the power and St. Petersburg was captured by revolutionaries.

Ans.— Labourer’s strike took place in Russia after the demonstration of women. Labourers captured the capital Pittsburgh on 12th March. Very quickly they also captured Moscow. Czar left the throne and ran. Interim government was established on 15th March. This revolution took place on 27th February 1917 and that’s why it is known as February Revolution.

Ans.— The Nobles : At the top stood the king and the nobles. They, forming hardly 10% of the population, led a luxurious life. The nobles were mostly the masters of the land. They were appointed to all the higher posts. Many nobles not only owned a number of houses in the cities but also had large estates in the countryside.

Workers and Peasants : The workers and peasants stood at the bottom. About 90% of the Russian population was the workers and peasants. The peasants were illiterate, helpless and downtrodden. They had no rights as citizens. They were tied to the land on which they worked under miserable conditions. They belonged to the owner of the land. If they were punished by their masters, they had no remedy. If they dared to raise their voice, they were whipped, sold and sent to Siberia.

The Industrial Revolution gave impetus to many industries in Russia. The capitalists began to exploit the workers for their selfish ends their wages were very low. They had to work for long hours. They could not form trade unions to fight for their demands. They were deprived of their political rights. They were dissatisfied with their condition and led a miserable and wretched life. With the help of the secret police, the Czar tried to suppress the labour unions. They had no hope of gaining any reform except through revolution.

Industrialists and Traders : As a result of the Industrial Revolution, new powerful middle class came into being. This class consisted of the industrialist and traders. They combined with the intellectuals to demand a responsible government. Besides this, they demanded the freedom of religion, the freedom of speech and equality before law. But the Czar turned down these just demands. As a result, they developed hatred and indignation against the despotic and autocratic rule of the Czar.

Ans.— As a result of the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the condition of the workers had considerably deteriorated. The capitalists were immensely exploiting them to their heartful. The workers neither received good salaries nor did they have good houses to live. Under these conditions, the workers began to incline towards communism. They had started thinking that a revolution could be brought in the country only by following the Marxian theory. And only in this way the standard of the workers could improve. Karl Marx was a German Jew but he lived mostly in Britain.

(i) He was a staunch supporter of Socialism. He wrote his principles in his famous book ‘Das Capital’. He was deadly against capitalism and private property. According to him, the whole society should have common control over the means of production. All the units of production should be nationalized. Capitalism can be rooted out only through revolution and establishing dictatorship of the workers. The teachings of Karl Marx made a great contribution to the rise of the revolution in Russia.

(ii) In spite of the restrictions imposed by Czar, the liberal ideas of the western world entered Russia through the medium of literature. The novels of Tolstoy, Turgenov and Dostoevsky produced evolutionary thought in the youth. The ideologies, of Marx, Bakumin and Kropotkin were also prevailing in the country. The words of Marx that workers have “nothing to lose but their chains” rang literally tune to them. Influenced by these ideologies, people began to ask for such comforts and rights which were available to the people of western countries. When the Czar tried to turn down their demand they resorted to revolution.

Ans.— (i) Within Russia, democratic forces had become very vociferous. But the Czar was still despotic ruler. The Russian bureaucracy was completely inefficient. The conditions of the peasants and workers were deplorable.

The non-Russian subjects were against the government which followed the pan -Slav policy. Many Russian thinkers appreciated the development in Western Europe. This was the reason that people were influenced by the ideas of Karl Marx and Tolstoy,

(ii) This generated the socialist ideas in the workers. In the Russia-Japan war in 1904, Russia had suffered a humiliating defeat. The Czar was held responsible for this defeat. There was a revolt in 1905 and the Czar was forced to announce a manifesto granting a series of reforms and to confer the law-making powers upon an elected body. He soon replaced with his old ways.

(iii) The partial success of 1905, revolt encourages the working class of Russia. The peasants demanded land, the workers demanded control of industries and non-Slav nationalities demanded equal status. The Czar did not pay any need to the people’s demand and moved against the tides of the time.

(iv) The Russian involvement in the First World War accelerated the pace of revolution. Russia had to suffer heavy loss of men and money. Soldiers on the front were short in arms, ammunitions, food and clothings. Famine like conditions prevailed in the whole of the country. The government stood-completely discredited. Bread, peace and land were the popular demands, but in vain.

(v) As a result, the revolution broke out in and Czar had to abdicate. The provisional government also failed to solve people’s problems. Lenin managed to unite the soldiers, the workers and the peasants by the very popular slogans. Bread, peace and land all powers to the Soviets and equal status to the non-Russian nationalities. In October 1917, the Bolshevik forces went into action and the revolution of the second phase known as October revolution succeeded.

Ans.— (i) As soon as the reins of the government fell into the hands of Bolshevik Party, the Bolshevik government withdrew from the war. It concluded the Treaty of Brestlinovsk in 1918 A.D. with Germany.

The estates of the landlords, the church and the Czar were confiscated and transferred to peasant societies to be allotted to peasant families for cultivation.

(ii) The control of industries was transferred to shop committee of workers. By the middle of 1918, banks and insurance companies, large industries, mines, water transport and railways were nationalized.

(iii) Foreign debts were repudiated and foreign investments were confiscated.

(iv) A declaration of the Rights of People was issued. The rights of selfdetermination were conferred upon all nationalities. A new government called the council of people’s Commissars headed by Lenin was formed. Thus, the October Revolution was completed peacefully.

Ans.—1. Rise of Nationalism : The Russian Revolution espoused socialist movement of international character. It proclaimed the building of a socialist society. It created a new state over a vast area of the globe. Its worldwide impact was, therefore, natural, particularly on the minds of the people of Asia and Africa who were groaning under the imperialist exploitations. The spirits of revolution awakened them and infused in them a sense of nationalism. It gave impetus to struggle for freedom.

2. International Communist Movement : After the Revolutioncommunist International was formed for promoting revolutions on international basis. Left wing sections or many socialist parties were formed. Thus, international communist movement started under one organization. The Soviet Union was treated as the leader of the world communist movement.

3. Struggle between Capitalists and the Workers : The Revolution of 1917 setup a new society on the basis of the communist Principle. It led to a struggle between the workers and the capitalist. This struggle terrified the capitalists of the world. Their attentions were diverted towards the improvement of working conditions and welfare of workers.

4. Re-definition of Democracy : The success of socialism in Russia led to a re-definition of democracy, the countries having capitalist system of economy without social and economic equality. The state must play an active role in regulating the economy of the country and improve the conditions of the people.

5. Helped Internationalism : The success of the Russian Revolution also promotes internationalism. Many problems which were hitherto national became international. The discrimination based on race, colour and sex must by mitigate.