Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution

Q1. Which revolution inspired the revolution in Russia?

Ans. French revolution inspired the revolution in Russia.
Q2. What do you mean by socialism?
Ans. Socialism means the production owned by the state. There is no concept of private property. The socialist idea is
from each according to her capacity, to each according to his work.
Q3. Why were the socialist against private property and capitalism?
Ans. According to socialist, the private property is the main cause for class, decision (rich & poor). So that’s why they
favoured for the abolition of private property.
Q4. How the society of Russia was divided on the basis of ideas?
Ans. The society of Russia was divided into liberal, radical and conservative.
Q5. Explain the ideas of liberals, radicals and conservatives. Or
What were the values that were most important for the liberals and how they were different from radicals and
conservatives?
Ans. Liberals: They wanted a nation which tolerated all religions.
1. They opposed the uncontrolled power of dynastic rules.
2. They wanted to safeguard the rights of individuals against governments.
3. They argued for a representative, elected parliamentary government subject to laws interpreted by a well-trained
judiciary.
4. They did not believe in universal adult franchise (right to vote).
5. Men of property mainly should have the vote and did not want the vote for women also (conclusion).
Radicals: Radicals wanted a nation in which government was based on the majority of a country’s population.
1. Many supported women’s suffragette movements.
2. They opposed the privileges of great land owners and wealthy factory owners.
3. They were not against the existence of private property but disliked concentration of property in the hands of a few.
Conservatives: They were opposed to radicals and liberals.
1. They had been generally opposed to the idea of change i.e. they liked king rule.
2. They believed that the past had to the respected and change had to be brought about through a slow process.
Q6. Explain the social and economic changes after industrial revolution. Or
Explain the impact of industrial revolution.
1. New cities came up and new industrialized regions developed.
2. Railways expanded.
3. Work hours were often long and wages were poor.
4. Unemployment was common, particularly during times of law demand for industrial goods.
5. Housing & sanitation were problems.
6. Many working men and women who wanted changes in the world rallied around liberal and radical groups and parties
in the early nineteenth century.
Q7. Name the countries which wanted to overthrow their monarchy.
Ans. France, Italy, Germany and Russia.
Q8. Name the leaders who inspired the ideas of Socialism.
1. Robert Owen (1771-1858), a leading English manufacturer, wanted to build a cooperatives community could not be
build on a wide scale only through individual initiative : they demanded that governments encourage called New
Harmony in Indiana USA.
2. Louis Blanc (1813 – 1882) wanted the government to encourage cooperatives and replace capitalist enterprises.
Q9. What do you mean by cooperative societies?
Ans. These cooperatives were to be associations of people who produced goods together and divided the profits according
to the work done by members.
Q10. Who was Karl Marv, what was his theory of socialism?
1. He was a communist and introduced the concept of Socialism.
2. According to him capitalists owned the capital invested in factors, and the profit of capitalists was produced by
workers.
3. As long as this profit was accumulated by private capitalists.
4. Workers had to overthrow capitalism and the rule of private property.
5. Marx believed that to free themselves from capitalist exploitation, workers had to construct a radically socialist society
where all property was socially controlled.
6. This would be a communist society.
Q11. By the 1870s, socialist ideas spread through Europe. Justify.
1. To coordinate socialists formed an international body – namely, the second international.
2. Workers in England and Germany began forming association to fight for letter living and working conditions.
3. They set up funds to help members in times of distress and demanded a reduction of working hours and the right to
vote.
4. In Germany, these associations worked closely with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and helped it win parliamentary
seats.
5. Socialists and trade unionists formed a Labour Party in Britain and a Socialist Party in France.
6. Conclusion – But till 1914, Socialists never succeeded in forming a government in Europe. Represented by strong
figures in parliamentary politics, their ideas did shape legislation.
Q12. Name the countries included in the Russian Empire & the religions followed.
1. Tsar, Czar (King) Nicholas II ruled Russia and its empire in 1914.
2. It also included current day Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, parts of Poland, Ukraine and Belarus, Georgia, Armenia and
Azerbaijan.
3. Religion was Russian Orthodox Christianity – Catholics, Protestants, Muslims and Buddhists.
Q13. Explain the conditions for Russian revolution. (Social, Economic & Political).
Ans. Social: The society was divided into two classes:-
(i) Privileged class – Prosperous and influential people (rich people), who held almost all the important offices of the
state and most of the land was under their control. Non-Privileged class – It consists of poor people.
Economic Condition:- Russia’s Golf of the Capital investment was made by the foreign investors who were interested
only in making huge and big profits without having any concerns for the mineralize conditions of the workers.
(i) The Russian capitalists exploited the workers. They were made to work for 15 hours a day and the working condition
was not good. The workers had very low wages.
Political Condition: Administration was corrupt and inefficient. The clergy and nobles held vast tracts of land. They did
not pay any taxes. High posts were given on the basis of work.
Q14. Discuss in detail the economic & society of Russia in the early 20th Century.
Ans. In Society 85% of Russian people were agriculturists.
Economy
1. 85% of Russian people were agriculturists.
2. The cultivators produced for the market as well as for their own needs. Russia was a major importer of grain.
3. Industry was in Petersburg & Moscow.
4. Large factories existed alongside craft workshops.
5. Russia’s railway network was extended and foreign investment in industry increased.
6. Coal production doubled and iron & steel output quadrupled.
7. Most industries were the private property of industrialists.
8. Government supervised large factories to ensure minimum wages and limited hours of work.
9. The working day was sometimes fifteen hours.
Workers:
1. Workers were divided by skill.
2. Women made up 31% of the factory labour force by 1914, but they were paid less than men (b/w half and 3-quarter of
a man’s wage)
3. Decision among workers should themselves in dress and manner too.
Effects:
1. Workers formed association to help members in times of unemployment or financial hardship but such associations
were few.
2. They unite to strike works (stop work) when they disagreed with employers about dismissals or work conditions.
Peasants:
1. Peasants cultivated most of the land.
2. Nobles and church owned large properties.
3. Peasants were too divided.
4. Nobles got their power and position through their services to the Tsar.
5. Peasants respected nobles & fought for them.
6. After French revolutions, peasants wanted the land of the nobles to the given to them.
7. They referred to pay rent and even murdered land lords.
Effects: 1. The Russian peasants were different from others. Europe each peasants in another way.
2.They pooled their together periodically and their communal (mir) divided it according to the needs of individual
families.
Q15. Differentiate between Menshevik and Bolsheviks.
Menshevik Bolsheviks
Menshevik thought that the party should be open to Vladimir Lenen (who led Bolsheviks) thought that
all as (in Germany) in a repressive society like Tsarin Russia, the party
should be disciplined & should control the no. &
quality of its members.

Q16. Name the association or parties formed by Russia’s people in the late 1914 and early 20 th century.
Ans. All political parties were illegal in Russia before 1914. The parties formed were:
1. The Russian Social Democratic workers party – 1898.
2. The Socialist Revolutionary Party in 1900.
Q17. Explain 1905 revolution. Causes
1. No constitution for Russia.
2. Prices of essential goods were high and wages declined by 20th Century.
3. Long working hours & poor working conditions.
4. Immediate cause – bloody Sunday.
Bloody Sunday: 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 even is that became known as the 1905 revolutions.
Demands of Workers: 1. Social Democrats and Socialist Revolutionaries, they worked units peasants and workers
during the revolution of 1905 to demand a constitution.
2.Muslim-dominated areas by facieses who wanted moderned Islam to lead their societies.
Members & methods who took part in revolutions:
1. Strikes took place all over the country.
2. Universities closed down.
3. Student staged walkouts, complaining about the lack of civil liberties.
4. Lawyers, doctors, engineers and other middle-class workers established the Union of nations and demanded a
constituent assembly.
Conclusions:
1. During the 1905 revolution, the Tsar allowed the creation an elected consultative Parliament or Duma.
2. A large number of trade unions and committees started for workers.
3. Most committees and unions worked unofficially.
4. The Tsar dismissed the first Duma within 75 days and the re-elected second Duma elections in three months.
5. Tsar changed the voting laws and packed the third Duma with conservative politicians.
Q18. Explain the February Revolution in Petrograd.
Ans. February Revolution: Conditions:
1. In the winter of 1917, conditions in the capital, Petrograd, were grum.
2. The winter was very cold.
3. There had been exceptional frost and heavy snow.
Causes: Parliamentarians wishing to preserve elected government were opposed to the Tsar’s desire to dissolve the
Duma.
Methods: On 22nd Feb., a lockout took place at a factory on the right bank.
1. The next day, workers in fifty factories called a strike in sympathy.
2. Women also led strikes. This was called the International Women’s day.
Government measures:
1. At this stage, no political party was actually organizing the movement.
2. As a result of this, the demonstrators dispersed by the evening but they came lack on the 24 th & 25th.
3. The government then called out the cavalry and police to keep an eye on them.
4. On Sunday, 25th Feb, the government suspended the Duma.
5. Because of this politicians spoke out against the measure.
6. Demonstrators returned in force to the streets of the left bank on the 26 th.
7. On 27th, the Police Headquarters were ransacked by the people and the streets thronged with people raising slogans
about bread, wages, better hours & democracy. So, in order to control the situation, the government called out the
cavalry once again.
8. The cavalry refused to fire on the demonstration.
9. An officer was shot at the barracks of a regiment and three other regiments mentioned, voting to join the striking
voters.
10. By that evening, striking workers had gathered to form a ‘soviet’ or ‘Council’ in the same building as the Duma met.
This was the Petrograd Soviet.
Conclusions:
1. The very next, a delegation went to see the Tsar.
2. Military commanders advised him to abdicate. He followed their aduci and abdicated on 2 nd March.
Q19. Who was Linina? State its ideology. Or What do you mean by Lenins ‘April Theses’?
Ans. Vladimir Lenon was the Bolshevik leader.
Demands
1. Opposed the war.
2. Power should be taken by soviet in Russia.
3. Land should be transferred to the peasants, and banks be nationalized.
4. He also remained the Bolshevik Party to Communist party.
Q20. Explain the steps taken by the Communist Party.
Ans. 1. The worker’s movement spread.
2. Industrial areas, factory committees were formed.
3. They began questioning the industrialists.
4. Trade unions were formed.
5. Soldirt committees were formed.
6. 500 Soviets sent representatives to an All Russian Congress of Soviets.
7. Workers ran factories and demonstrations staged by the Bolsheviks.
8. Workers demanded for redistribution of land.
9. Peasant started seizing land.
Q21. Which events led to the revolution of October? Or Give reasons for October revolution.
Aim & Causes:
1. Conflict between the Provisional Government and the Bolsheviks grew.
2. So, Lenin feared the Provisional Government would set up a dictatorship.
3. On 16th Oct. 1917, Lenin persuaded the Petrograd Soviet and the Bolshevik Party to agree to a Socialist seizure of
power.
4. A Military Revolutionary Committee was appointed by the Soviet under Lenin Trotsku for the seizure.
5. The uprising began on 24th Oct.
6. Prime Minister Kerensku had left the city to Summon troops.
7. So, Military men loyal to the government seized the building of 2 Bolshevik newspaper.
8. The Military Revolutionary Committee ordered its supporters to seize government offices and arrest ministers.
9. The winter palace was bombed.
10. Ships took over various military points.
Results:
1. The city was under the committees, control and the ministers had surrendered.
2. All Russian Congress approved the Bolsheviks action.
3. After heavy fighting by December, the Bolsheviks controlled the Moscow-Petrograd areas.
Q22. Explain the steps taken by the Bolsheviks after coming to power.
Ans. 1. They opposed to private property.
2. Most industry and banks were neutralized (under the central power of government).
3. Land was declared social and peasants were allowed to seize the land of the nobility.
4. Bolsheviks enforced the partition of large houses according to family requirements.
5. They lanned the used of the old titles of aristocracy.
6. New uniforms were designed for the army and officials.
7. The Soviet hat was chosen.
8. The Bolshevik Party was renamed the Russian Communist Party.
Q23. How Bolshevik Party came to power even after losing elections?
Ans. 1. In Nov. 1917, the Bolsheviks conducted the elections to the Constituent Assembly, but they failed to gain majority
support.
2. Lenin dismissed the Assembly.
3. Despite opposition by their political allies, the Bolsheviks made place with Germany.
4. Later, the Bolsheviks became the only party to participate in the elections to the All Russian Congress if Soviets and
became the Parliament of the Country.
5. The secret Police was called the check a first and later UGPU and NKUD.
Q24. Explain Civil War in Russia.
Ans. 1. When the Bolsheviks ordered land redistribution, the Russian Army began to break up (to seize the land).
2. Bolsheviks – the reds Socialist Revolutionaries – the greens and pro-Tsarists – the whites controlled most of the
Russian empire and they were backed by French, American, Britain and Japanese troops.
3. Bolsheviks fought a civil war looting, banditry and famine became common.
4. Whites took harsh steps with peasants who had seized land.
5. The Bolsheviks controlled most of the farmer Russian empire with the support of non-Russian nationalists and Muslims
factors.
Q25. Explain socialist society, was formed in Russia by the Bolshevik?
Ans. 1. A process of centralized planning war introduced.
2. They planned a five-year plan.
3. The government fixed all prices to promote industrial growth during the first two ‘plans’. (Economic Growth).
4. Industrial production increased.
5. New factory cities came up.
6. The Bolsheviks kept industries and banks nationalized and permitted peasants to cultivate the land that had been
socialised.
7. Schooling system developed.
8. Factory workers and peasants to enter universities.
9. Crèches were established in factories for cludron.
10. Cheap public health care was provided to the workers.
11. Model living quarters were set up for workers.
Q26. Explain Stalin’s collectivesction programme. Or Conditions of Russia after the details of Lenin.
Ans. 1. Stalin headed the party after the death of Lenin in Russia.
2. The decision was taken to collective farms to reduce grain shortages.
3. The Party forced all peasants to cultivate in collective farms.
4. The bulk of land and implements were transferred to the ownership of collective farms.
5. Profit was shared by peasants.
6. Those that resisted collectivization were severally punished (deported & exile).
7. Result:- Inspite of collectusation, production did not increase immediately. Those who criticized.
Q27. What were the effects of Russian, revolution on the world? Or
What was the global influence of Russian revolution?
Ans. 1. Many countries formed communist parties.
E.g. Communist Party of Great Britain.
2. The Bolsheviks encouraged colonial people to follow their experiment of taking power.
3. Many non-Russians from outside the USSR participated in the conference of the Peoples of the East (an international
union of pro-Bolshevik socialist parties).
4. Some recurred education in the USSR’s Communist University of the Workers of the East.
5. By the time of the outbreak of the Second World War, the USSR had given socialism a global face and world stature.
E.g. Communist parties are China, North Korea and in India Kerala.
Q28. Explain the effects of Socialism in Russia.
Ans. Positive
1. A backward country had become a great power.
2. Its industries and agriculture had developed.
3. The poor were being fed.
Negative
1. They carried out its developmental projects through repressive policies.
Conclusion:
By the end of the twentieth century, the international reputations of the USSR as a socialist country declined but it war
recognised that socialist ideas all over the world.