Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution

Important Questions for Chapter 2 Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution Class 9 History

Important Questions

1

Who were Liberals?

Answer

Liberals was a group of those people who wanted a nation which tolerated all religions. They opposed the uncontrolled power of dynastic rulers.
VSAQ

2

Which group supported women’s suffragette movements?

Answer

Radicals supported women’s suffragette movements.
VSAQ

3

Who were jadidists?

Answer

The Muslim reformers within the Russian empire who wanted modernised Islam to lead their societies.
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4

Who sought build a cooperative community called ‘New Harmony’?

Answer

Robert Owen south to build a cooperative community called ‘New Harmony’.
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5

How were the liberals different from the democrats?

Answer

Liberals argued for a representative, elected parliamentary government but unlike democrats, they did not believe in universal adult franchise, that is, the right of every citizen to vote.
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6

Who wanted revolutions to put an end to monarchical system?

Answer

Some nationalists, liberals and radicals wanted revolutions to overthrow monarchical system.
VSAQ

7

By the nineteenth century what changes occurred in the idea of conservatives?

Answer

By the nineteenth century, conservative accepted that some change was necessary but believed that the past had to be respected and change had to be brought about through a slow process.
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8

Who was Louis Blanc?

Answer

Louis Blanc was a socialist of France who wanted the government to encourage cooperatives and replace capitalist enterprises.
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9

Why were socialist against private property?

Answer

Because the propertied were concerned only with personal gain and not with the welfare of those who made the property productive.
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10

According to Karl Marx, how workers could free themselves from capitalist exploitation?

Answer

By constructing a radically socialist society where all property was socially controlled.
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11

Which countries were the part of Russian empire?

Answer

The current-day Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, parts of Poland, Ukraine and Belarus were part of Russian Empire. It stretched to the Pacific and comprised today’s Central Asian states, as well as Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
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12

What do you mean by the term Russian Revolution?

Answer

The fall of monarchy in February 1917 and the events of October are normally called the Russian Revolution.
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13

What was the religious belief of people in Russian Empire?

Answer

The majority religion was Russian Orthodox Christianity but the empire also included Catholics, Protestants, Muslims and Buddhists.
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14

Name two prominent industrial area of Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century?

Answer

St Petersburg and Moscow.
VSAQ

15

What was the main occupation of Russians at the beginning of the twentieth century?

Answer

The main occupation of Russian was agriculture.
VSAQ

16

How were Russian peasants different from other European peasants?

Answer

Russian Peasants pooled their land together periodically and their commune divided it according to the needs of the individual families.
VSAQ

17

What was the name of the body formed by socialist to coordinate their efforts?

Answer

The Second International.
VSAQ

18

Which socialist party formed in Russia in 1898 on Marx’s ideas?

Answer

Social Democratic Workers Party.
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19

Which incident was the immediate cause of 1905 Revolution in Russia?

Answer

'Bloody Sunday' was the incident, where over 100 workers were killed and above 300 wounded on a Sunday.
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20

Who led procession of workers to Winter Palace?

Answer

Father Gapon.
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21

What do you mean by the term Duma?

Answer

Duma was an elected consultative parliament formed with the permission of Tsar after the success of 1905 Russian Revolution.
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22

Which countries formed allied Powers in World War I?

Answer

France, Britain and Russia formed allied Powers in World War I. Later, it was joined by Italy and Romania.
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23

Which countries formed Central Powers bloc during World War I?

Answer

Germany, Austria and Turkey.
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24

Who was the ruler of Russia at the beginning of the First World War?

Answer

Tsar Nicholas II.
VSAQ

25

What was the commune of farmers known as?

Answer

Mir.
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26

Who was the advisor of Tsarina Alexandra?

Answer

Rasputin.
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27

Which party struggled for peasant’s rights in 1900 in Russia?

Answer

Socialist Revolutionary Party.
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28

Why was St. Petersburg, the German name of a Russian city, renamed as Petrograd?

Answer

Because of high anti-German sentiments in Russia.
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29

What was located on the right bank of river Neva in Petrograd?

Answer

The workers, quarters and factories were located on the right bank of river Neva.
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30

What was located on the left bank of river Neva?

Answer

The fashionable areas, the winter Palace and official buildings, including the Palace where the Duma met were located on the left bank of the river Neva.
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31

Why did the Tsar dismiss the first Duma within 75 days of its election?

Answer

Because the Tsar did not want anyone to question his authority or any reduction in his power.
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32

When did the government suspend the Duma?

Answer

25 February, 1917.
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33

What was 'Soviet'?

Answer

Soviet was a council of soldiers and striking workers of Russia.
VSAQ

34

What was Petrograd Soviet

Answer

When Soviet met in the same building where Duma met, it was named as Petrograd Soviet.
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35

Which events took place after the Tsar abdicated on 2nd March

Answer

Soviet leaders and Duma leaders formed a Provisional Government to run the country and decided to set up a constituent assembly, elected on the basis of universal adult suffrage.
VSAQ

36

Why was Military Revolutionary Committee appointed?

Answer

The Military Revolutionary Committee was appointed to organise socialist seizure of power.
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37

Who was the Prime Minister of Russia when October Revolution began?

Answer

Kerensky.
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38

What new name was given to Bolshevik Party?

Answer

Bolshevik Party was renamed the Russian Communist Party.
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39

Which secret police was formed to punish the one who criticised Bolsheviks?

Answer

The secret police called MOW first and later OGPU and NKVD.
VSAQ

40

Who controlled the most of the former Russian Empire in 1918 and 1919?

Answer

The socialist, revolutionaries pro-Tsarists controlled the most of the former Russian Empire in 1918 and 1919.
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41

What was Centralised Planning?

Answer

In centralised planning, the officials assessed how the economy could work and set targets for a five year period called 'Five Year Plans’.
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42

What do you mean by Kulaks?

Answer

Kulaks was the name for well-to-do peasants.
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43

What does kolkhoz mean?

Answer

Kolkhoz were collective farms where peasants worked on this land and the profit is shared amongst them.
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44

Socialists took over the government in Russia through which revolution?

Answer

October Revolution in 1917.
VSAQ

45

What is Comintern?

Answer

Comintern is Communist International, a union of pro-Bolshevik Socialist parties.
VSAQ

46

Who introduced collectivisation of farms in Russia?

Answer

Joseph Stalin introduced the collectivisation of farms in 1929.
VSAQ

1

Differentiate between the ideas of the liberals and radicals in Europe.

Answer

• Liberals wanted a nation that tolerated all religions while radicals wanted a government based on majority.
• Liberals opposed to uncontrolled power of dynastic rulers while radicals were opposed to privileges of land owners and wealthy factory owners.
• Liberals wanted representative elected parliamentary government and did not believe in Adult Franchise while radicals supported women's suffragette movements.
SAQ

2

Mention any three features of socialism.

Answer

• Socialists were against private property.
• Society as a whole should control property collectively.
• Socialists regarded the private property as the root cause of all social evils.
SAQ

3

Mention any three factors responsible for the Russian Revolution of 1905.

Answer

• Political: The rule of Tsar was autocratic as he was not subject to parliament.
• Economical: In the year 1904, prices of essential goods rose so quickly that real wages declined by 20 percent.
• Immediate: The Bloody Sunday incident took place in which more than 100 workers were killed.
• Poor condition of the working class.
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4

Who was Karl Marx? What were his views about capitalism?

Answer

• Karl Marx was socialist.
• He was against capitalism.
• According to Marx, the profit of capitalists was produced by workers.
• He wanted to construct a radically socialist society.
SAQ

5

Describe the economic condition of the workers at the beginning of the twentieth century.

Answer

• Most industry was the private property of industrialists.
• Most of the workers were working for about 10 to 12 hours, a day.
• The working conditions were also very poor.
• Women workers made up about 31% of the factory labour, but they were pair less than men.
SAQ

6

Why were socialists against private property and how it could be improved?

Answer

• According to socialists, individuals who owned the property that gave employment but the propertied were concerned only with personal gain.
• They were not concerned with the welfare of those who made the property productive.
• Socialists wanted that society as a whole should control property so that more attention would be paid to collective social interests.
SAQ

7

Describe the viewpoint of radicals.

Answer

• Radicals wanted a nation in which government was based on the majority of a country’s population.
• Many supported women’s suffragette movements.
• They 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 the hands of a few.
SAQ

8

Describe the events that happened in 1905 revolution in Russia?

Answer

• The attack of police on the procession of workers at the Winter Palace started a series of events that became known as the 1905 Revolution.
• Strikes took place all over the country and universities closed down when student bodies staged walkouts, complaining about the lack of civil liberties.
• Lawyers, doctors, engineers and other middle-class workers established the Union of Unions and demanded a constituent assembly.
SAQ

9

What was the impact of the 1905 revolution on Russia?

Answer

• The Tsar allowed the creation of an elected consultative Parliament or Duma.
• Most of the trade unions and committees were declared illegal.
• Severe restrictions were imposed on various political activities.
• The Tsar changed the voting laws and packed the Duma with conservatives who were in favour of old traditions.
SAQ

10

What were the views of Robert Owen and Louis Blanc related to cooperatives.

Answer

Views of Robert Owen:
• He sought to build a cooperative community called New Harmony in Indiana (USA).
Views of Louis Blanc
• Blanc wanted the government to encourage co- operatives and replace capitalist enterprises.
• These co-operatives were two associations of people who produced goods together and divided the profits according to the work done by members.
SAQ

11

Who was Lenin? Explain Lenin's 'April Theses'.

Answer

Lenin was the leader of Bolshevik group who led the Russian Revolution of 1917.
• In April 1917, the Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin returned to Russia from his exile and announced 'April Theses':
• The war be brought to a close.
• The land be transferred to the peasants.
• Banks be nationalised.
SAQ

12

What effect did the war have on the industry of Russia?

Answer

• Russia’s own industries were few in number and the country was cut off from other suppliers of industrial goods by German control of the Baltic Sea.
• Industrial equipment disintegrated more rapidly in Russia than elsewhere in Europe.
• There were labour shortages because able-bodied men were called up to the war.
SAQ

13

What type of an economy existed in Russia before the Revolution?

Answer

• Vast population was agriculturist.
• Cultivators produced for the market as well as their own needs.
• Industry as private properties was found in pockets - factories were set up in 1890s and 1900s.
SAQ

14

Mention the three major demands raised by Russian workers who went on strike at St. Petersburg in 1904.

Answer

• The workers are working 10 to 12 hours a day and they wanted reduction in the working day to eight hours.
• As the prices of essential goods rose so quickly that real wages declined by 20 percent thus, the workers wanted increase in their wages.
• The workers are working in very poor condition and they wanted improvement in regarding working conditions.
SAQ

15

Describe any three agricultural changes that were introduced in Soviet Union after the First World War.

Answer

• After the First World War, large estates of church, landlords and nobles were taken away by the government and distributed among the peasants.
• These peasants had very small holdings of land, which were not very productive.
• A new method of agricultural production was introduced by which all the farms were collectivised which was promoted collective farming by bringing lands of small peasants together which would give higher yield.
SAQ

16

What were the differences in the ideology of Mensheviks and Bolsheviks?

Answer

• The Bolshevik group led by Vladimir Lenin thought that in a repressive society like Tsarist Russia the party should be disciplined and should control the number and quality of its members.
• Mensheviks, on the other hand, thought that the party should be open to all as in Germany.
SAQ

17

Describe the political conditions in Russia before the Revolution.

Answer

• The autocratic rule of the Tsar was not subject to Parliament.
• All political parties were illegal in Russia
• Tsar was insensitive to the demand of his people.
SAQ

18

Describe any three changes introduced in Russia by Tsar Nicolas II after the 1905 Revolution.

Answer

• During the 1905 Revolution, the Tsar allowed the creation of an elected consultative Parliament or Duma but within 75 days he dismissed the first Duma and re-elected second.
• After 1905, committees and unions worked were declared illegal and severe restrictions were placed on political activity.
• He changed the voting laws and packed the third Duma with conservative politicians.
SAQ

19

Describe the changes brought about by industrialization in Europe.

Answer

• Industrialization brought men, women and children to factories.
• Work hours were long and wages were poor.
• Unemployment was common, particularly during times of low demand for industrial goods.
• Rapidly growing towns created housing and sanitation facilities.
SAQ

20

What was the basic principle of the Marxist theory?

Answer

• Marx believed that the condition of workers could not improve as long as profit was accumulated by private capitalists.
• Workers had to overthrow capitalism and the rule of private property and must construct a radically socialist society where all property was socially controlled.
• This would be a communist society and a Communist Party was the natural society of the future.
SAQ

21

What were the international consequences of the Russian Revolution?

Answer

• Socialism became a popular ideology in the world and rethought in a variety of different ways.
• In many countries, communist parties were formed – like the Communist Party of Great Britain.
• The idea of economic planning was adopted by many countries which aimed at public welfare.
SAQ

22

Mention any three steps taken to improve the conditions of factory workers and peasants in Russia after the Civil War?

Answer

• Peasants were permitted to cultivate land that had been socialised.
• An extended schooling system developed, and arrangements were made for factory workers and peasants to enter universities.
• Crèches were established in factories for the children of women workers.
• Cheap public health care was provided.
SAQ

1

Explain the views of socialists on private property. Which international body was set up by socialists to spread and coordinate their efforts?

Answer

• Socialists were against private property and saw it as a root of all social evils.
• They argued that if society as a whole rather than single individuals controlled property, more attention would be paid to collective social interests.
• Some believed in the idea of cooperatives were to be associations of people who produced goods together and divided the profits according to the work done by members.
• Socialists like Karl Marx believed that workers had to overthrow capitalism and had to construct a radically socialist society where all property was socially controlled to improve their conditions. A body named 'Second International' was set up by socialists to coordinate their efforts.
LAQ

2

Explain the major events that were responsible for the Russian Revolution of 1905.

Answer

• Autocratic Rule: The rule of Tsar was autocratic as he was not subject to parliament.
• Role of Liberals and Socialists: Liberals in Russia campaigned to end dynastic rule. Together with the Social Democrats and Socialist Revolutionaries, they worked with peasants and workers during the revolution of 1905 to demand a constitution.
• Liberals were supported in the empire by nationalists and in Muslim-dominated areas by jadidists who wanted modernised Islam to lead their societies.
• Uprising of workers: In 1904, the prices of essential goods rose so quickly that real wages declined by 20%. Also, the working conditions was very poor. Thus, workers demanded reduction in working hours, an increase in wages and improvement in the working conditions.
• Bloody Sunday: The incident of Bloody Sunday in which more than 100 workers were killed fuelled the revolution as it lead to an all Russia strike. Lawyers, doctors, engineers and others demanded constituent assembly.
LAQ

3

Explain the collectivisation programme of Stalin.

Answer

 From 1929, Stalin forced all peasants to cultivate in collective farms, kolkhoz.
• The bulk of land and implements were transferred to the ownership of collective farms.
• Peasants worked on the land, and the kolkhoz profit was shared.
• Those who resisted collectivisation were severely punished. Many were deported and exiled.
• As they resisted collectivisation, peasants argued that they were not rich and they were not against socialism. They merely 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.
LAQ

4

Mention the main events of the February Revolution of 1917.

Answer

Main events of the February Revolution were:
• In February 1917, there was a severe food shortage in the workers’ quarters.
• All the factories and workers’ quarters were located on the right bank of the River Neva. On the left bank, there were Winter Palace, official buildings and the palace where Duma met.
• On 22nd February, a lockout took place at a factory leading to a strike by the workers. The next day, workers in fifty factories called a strike in sympathy.
• The demonstrating workers ultimately crossed the river and surrounded the official buildings in Petrograd.
• The Government imposed a curfew and called out the cavalry and police to keep check on them.
LAQ

5

Highlight any five changes brought by Lenin in Russia after the October Revolution of 1917.

Answer

• A conflict between the provisional government and the Bolsheviks 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 Trotski planned to seize power.
• Uprising began on 4th October, 1917. The Prime Minister, Karenski, with government troops, tried to subdue the Bolsheviks, 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 of all Russian Congress of Soviet in Petrograd, the majority approved the Bolshevik action. The Russian Revolution brought Russia under communist control.
LAQ

6

Explain the views of socialists on private property. Name the international body set up to spread and coordinate their efforts.

Answer

• Socialists were against private property and saw it as a root of all social evils.
• They favoured society as a whole rather than single individual.
• Marx stated that under capitalist’s society, the main objective of the industrialists was to earn profit. He believed the condition of the workers could not improve as long as this profit was accumulated by private capitalists.
• For this, workers had to overthrow capitalism and rule of private property. They had to construct a radically socialist society where all property was socially controlled. This would be a communist society.
• A communist society was the natural society of the future. To coordinate their efforts, socialists formed the international body, namely, the ‘Second International’.
LAQ

1

How working population of Russia different from other countries in Europe before Russian Revolution?

Answer

• There was less unity among the working population Russia as compared to European countries as there were divisions among workers and some peasants were poor while others were rich.
• Peasants were deeply religious. But except in a few cases they had no respect for the nobility. This was unlike France where peasants respected nobles and fought for them.
• In Russia, peasants wanted the land of the nobles to be given to them.
• Russian peasants were different from other European peasants as they pooled their land together periodically and their commune divided it according to the needs of individual families.
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