Socialism in Europe and Russian Revolution

 Textbook questions 

Ch 2. SOCIALISM IN EUROPE AND RISSIAN REVOLUTION 

TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS 

Q1. What were the social, economic, and political conditions in 

Russia before 1905?

Ans: The following were the social, economic, and political 

conditions in Russia before 1905:

(a) Social Conditions

•The majority religion was Russian Orthodox Christianity—which had grown out of the Greek Orthodox Church. But the empire also included Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, and Buddhists.The non-Russian nationalities were not treated equally to the Russian nationalities.

•Workers were a divided group on the basis of skill and training.

(b) Economic Conditions

•The majority of Russians were agriculturists.

• Industries were few. Much of the production was done by the 

craftsmen.

•With the expansion of the Russian rail network, foreign 

investment in factories grew.

•There was huge coal, iron, and steel production. The workers 

were exploited by capitalists who made their lives miserable.

(c) Political Conditions

•Russia was a monarchy.

•The Tsars believed in the divine rights of kings.

•They were not responsible to the Parliament.

•All political parties were illegal in Russia.

Q2. In what ways was the working population in Russia different 

from other countries in Europe, before 1917?

Ans:

• Compared to people in Europe, the situation for Russians, 

especially workers like farmers and factory workers, was very 

poor.

• This was mainly because of Tsar Nicholas II's harsh and corrupt 

rule.

• Much of what the peasants produced went to landowners and the wealthy.

 Large estates were controlled by the nobility, the crown, and 

the Orthodox Church.

• In Europe, peasants supported and fought for nobles, but in Russia, they wanted the nobles' land for themselves.

• They often refused to pay rent and sometimes even killed landlords due to frustration with harsh policies.

• Factory workers also suffered; they couldn't form unions or political groups to voice their complaints.

•They were exploited by industrialists, often receiving low wages and working long hours with no limits.

Q3. Why did the Tsarist autocracy collapse in 1917?

Ans:

• There was widespread anger against the Tsar's autocratic rule. The Russian people wanted an end to the war and peace, but the Tsar, who had mishandled the war, insisted on continuing it. The peasants, in particular, wanted land for themselves, but the corrupt government ignored their demands.

• Workers also faced terrible conditions. They couldn't form trade unions or political parties to voice their concerns. Private industrialists ran most industries, and workers often received less than minimum wages and worked 12-15 hours a day with no set limits.

• The Tsar's rule had become ineffective. He was corrupt, 

oppressive, and indifferent to the people's welfare.

• Karl Marx's ideas inspired people to demand change.

• The Tsar’s involvement and defeat in World War I was the 

final blow that led to the collapse of his rule.

Q4. Make two lists: one with the main events and the effects of the 

February Revolution and the other with the main events and effects of the October Revolution. Write a paragraph on who was involved in each, who the leaders were, and what the impact of each was on Soviet history.

Ans:

(a) The February Revolution

• In February 1917, there were severe food shortages in the  workers’ areas. Parliamentarians were against the Tsar’s decision to dissolve the Duma.

•On 22nd February, a factory lockout happened, with many women leading strikes. The strikes spread, with workers surrounding important areas in Petrograd, like Nevskii Prospekt.

•On 25th February, the Duma was dissolved, leading to the ransacking of the Police Headquarters on 27th February. The cavalry refused to shoot at the protesters. By evening, soldiers and workers joined together to form the Petrograd Soviet, a "council."

•The Tsar abdicated his power on 2nd March, and the Soviet and Duma leaders set up a Provisional Government for Russia. The February Revolution was led by the people, not  any political party. Petrograd was crucial in ending the monarchy and had an important place in Soviet history.

(b) The October Revolution

•The conflict between the Provisional Government and 

the Bolsheviks led to the October Revolution.

• In September 1917, Vladimir Lenin began organizing an uprising. On 16th October, he convinced the Petrograd  Soviet and the Bolshevik Party to support a socialist takeover. Leon Trotsky led the Military Revolutionary  Committee to carry out the plan.

•On 24th October, as the uprising began, Prime Minister Kerensky left the city for reinforcements. The Military Revolutionary Committee quickly took action: the ship Aurora shelled the Winter Palace, and by evening, the city  was under Bolshevik control

•After fierce fighting, the Bolsheviks secured the Moscow-Petrograd area. Their actions were approved by the All-Russian Congress of Soviets. 

•The October Revolution, led by Lenin and Trotsky, marked the start of Lenin’s rule with Volshevik leadership.

Q5. What were the main changes brought about by the Bolsheviks immediately after the October Revolution?
Ans: 

• Industries and banks were nationalized, meaning the government took over their ownership and management.
• Land was declared social property, allowing peasants to take land from the nobility. In cities, the Bolsheviks divided large houses to fit family needs.
• The use of old aristocratic titles was banned, and new uniforms for the army and officials were introduced. The Bolshevik Party was renamed the Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik).
• Despite opposition from their allies, the Bolsheviks made peace with Germany and withdrew from World War I.
• Later, the Bolsheviks emerged as the only dominant party in the elections to the All-Russian Congress of Soviets, which became Russia’s Parliament.

Q6. Write a few lines to show what you know about
(a) Kulaks
(b) The Duma
(c) Women workers Between 1900 and 1930
(d) The Liberals
(e) Stalin’s Collectivisation Programme
Ans: 
(a) Kulaks

• They were the well-to-do peasants who were supposed to be holding stocks in the hope of higher prices. 
• They were raided so that they may be eliminated in order to develop modern farms and establish state-controlled large farms.

(b) The Duma
The Duma was a consultative parliament that was created with the permission of the Tsar during the 1905 Revolution.

(c) Women Workers Between 1900 and 1930

• Women made up 31% of the factory labour force but were paid between 1/2 and 3/4 of a man’s wages. 
• They actively led the strikes in many factories. They even worked in the collective farms.

(d) The Liberals

• They were a group that looked to change society. They wanted a nation that tolerated all religions and opposed the uncontrolled power of dynastic rulers. 
• They argued for a representative, elected parliamentary government with laws interpreted by a well-trained, independent judiciary that was separate from rulers and officials.

(e) Stalin’s Collectivisation Programme

• Stalin hoped to solve the problem of food shortage by combining small farms with large and modern farms. 
• This was a collectivisation programme that began in 1929. Peasants were forced to work in these state-controlled collective farms called Kolkhoz.

Extra Questions 

Q1.List two features of conservatives

ANSWER-Conservatives were opposed to radicals and liberals. After the 

French Revolution, however, even conservatives had opened their 

minds to the need for change.

I)They accepted that some change was inevitable

II)But believed that the past had to be respected and change had to be 

brought about through a slow process.

Q2.List two features of Liberals

ANSWER- 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, 

subject to laws interpreted by a well-trained judiciary that was independent 

of rulers and officials.

Q3.Explain Lenin‘s April Theses. 

ANSWER-i.The war brought to an end ii.Land be transferred to the peasants 

 iii.The banks be nationalised

Q4..How did the first world war affect the industry in Russia?

ANSWER-The first world war affect the industry in Russia in several waysRussia‘s own industries were few in number and the country was cut off from other supplies of industrial goods by German control of Baltic Sea

Industrial equipments disintegrated more rapidly in Russia then elsewere in Europe. III.There was labour shortage and small workshops producing essentials 

were shut down 

Q5. What steps were taken by the Bolsheviks to make Russia a socialist 

society? 

ANSWER-

I.The Blosheviks kept industries and banks nationalised ,they permitted peasants to cultivate the land that had been socialised

II.A process of centralised planning was introduced .Officilas assessed howthe 

economy could work and set targets for a five year period

III.An extended schooling system was developed and arrangements were made 

for factory workers and peasants to enter universitie.

Q6.How were Bolsheviks different from the Mensheviks? 

ANSWER-

The Bolsheviks were led by b Vladimir Lenin while Mensheviks were led by 

Alexander Kerenskii

The Bolsheviks constituted a majority of the socialists but the Mensheviks 

represented a minority group

III.The Bolsheviks were against private property .Hence most industries and 

banks were nationalised .

Land was declared social property and peasants were allowed to seize the land 

of the nobility. III.In cities Bolsheviks Inforced the partition of large houses 

according to family requirements IV.Old titles of aristocracy were banned .

V.New uniforms were designed for the army and officials.

Time line 

• 1815: Some nationalist liberals and radicals wanted the 

revolution to end the monarchical governments established in 

Europe after the Congress of Vienna.

• 1818–1883: The lifespan of Karl Marx, who developed 

revolutionary socialist theories.

• 1820–1895: The lifespan of Friedrich Engels, co-author of The 

Communist Manifesto with Marx.

• 1858: Robert Owen sought to build a cooperative community 

called New Harmony in Indiana, USA.

• 1900: Socialists and trade unions formed the Labour Party in 

Britain and, later in 1905, the Socialist Party in France.

• 1900: The Socialist Revolutionary Party was formed in Russia.

• 1902: Large-scale murders of landlords occurred in South 

Russia.

• 1904: A particularly harsh year for Russian workers, marked by 

labor strikes and unrest.

• Before 1914: All political parties were illegal in Russia.

• Until 1914: Socialists had not succeeded in forming a 

government in Europe.

• 1914: In October, the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) entered the 

First World War, aligning with Germany and Austria-Hungary.

1914–1916: The Russian Army faced heavy losses in Germany 

and Austria.

• By 1916: Railway lines began to break down, affecting 

supplies.

• By 1917: The Russian Army had lost approximately 7 million 

soldiers.

• Winter of 1917: Conditions in the capital, Petrograd, were 

grim, with food shortages in workers' quarters.

• February 1917: Food shortages were deeply felt, fueling 

discontent.

• 25th February 1917: The government suspended the Duma.

• 26th February 1917: Demonstrators returned to the streets of 

the Left Bank in Petrograd.

• 27th February 1917: The police headquarters were ransacked.

• February 1917: The Revolution in February brought down the 

monarchy.

• April 1917: Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin returned to Russia 

from exile.

• July 1917: The Bolsheviks were sternly repressed.

• July–September 1917: Peasants began seizing land across 

Russia.

• 16th October 1917: Lenin persuaded the Petrograd Soviet and 

the Bolshevik Party to agree to a socialist seizure of power.

• 24th October 1917: The Bolshevik uprising began.

• November 1917: Most industries and banks were nationalized.

• January 1918: The Constituent Assembly rejected Bolshevik 

measures, and Lenin dissolved the Assembly.

• December 1922: The USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist 

Republics) was officially formed.

• 1927–1928: Soviet towns faced an acute shortage of grain 

supplies.

• 1928: Party members toured grain-producing areas to enforce 

grain requisition.

• Stalin collectivisation programme 

• 1929–1931: The number of cattle fell by one-third due to forced collectivization.

1929–1933: Industrial production of oil, coal, and steel increased by 100%.

• 1930–1933: Bad harvests caused food shortages across Soviet 

Russia.