Socialism in Europe and Russian Revolution

Socialism in Europe and The Russian Revolution

Chapter - 2

(Solutions)

Q. 1. In what ways was the working population in Russia different from other countries in Europe, before 1917?
Answer:-  The working population in Russia was different from other countries in Europe before 1917 because not all Russian workers migrated from the villages to work in the industrial sector. Some of them continued to live in villages and went to work daily, to the towns. They were a divided group, socially and professionally, and this showed in their dress and manners too. Metal workers were the "aristocrats" of the working class because their occupation demanded more training and skill. Nevertheless, the working population was united on one front - strikes against work conditions and employer tyranny.

Q. 2. Why did the Tsarist autocracy collapse in 1917?
Answer:- The Tsar first dismissed the initial two Dumas and then packed the parliament with the conservatives. During the First World War, the Tsar took decisions without consulting the Duma. Large scale casualties of Russian soldiers in the war further alienated the people from the Tsar. Burning of crops and buildings by the retreating Russian armies created a huge shortage of food in Russia. All of these led to the collapse of the Tsarist autocracy in 1917.

Q. 3. 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 were the leaders and what was the impact of each on Soviet history.
Answer:- February Revolution:

• 22nd February: Factory lockout on the right bank took place,
• 25th February: Duma was dissolved.
• 27th February: Police Headquarters ransacked. Regiments support the workers. Formation of Soviet.
• 2nd March: The Tsar abdicated his power. The Soviet and Duma leaders formed a Provisional Government for Russia.

The February Revolution had no political party at its forefront. It was led by the people themselves. Petrograd had brought down the monarchy, and thus, gained a significant place in Soviet history. Trade Unions grew in number.
October Revolution:

• 16th October: A Military Revolutionary Committee was appointed by Soviet.
• 24th October: The uprising against provisional government begins. Military Revolutionary Committee controls the city by night and ministers surrender. The Bolshevik gained power.

The October Revolution was primarily led by Lenin and his subordinate, Trotskii and involved the masses who supported these leaders. It marked the beginning of Lenin's rule over the Soviet, with the Bolsheviks under his gguidance.
Q. 4. What were the main changes brought about by the Bolsheviks immediately after the October Revolution?
Answer:- The main changes which were brought about by the Bolsheviks immediately after the October Revolution:

1. Banks and Industries were nationalised.
2. Land was declared social property, thereby allowing peasants to seize it from the nobility.
3. In urban areas, houses were partitioned according to family requirements
4. Old aristocratic titles were banned, and new uniforms were designed for the army and the officials.
5. New uniforms were introduced for the army and the officials.

Q. 5. Write a few lines to show what you know about:
(i) Kulaks
(ii) The Duma
(iii) Women workers between 1900 and 1930.
(iv) The Liberals.
(v) Stalin’s collectivization programme.
Answers:- (i) Kulaks: It is the Russian term for wealthy peasants who Stalin believed were hoarding grains to gain more profit. By 1927-28 the towns of Soviet Russia were facing an acute problem of grain supplies. Kulaks were thought to be partly responsible for this. Also to develop modern farms and run them along industrial lines the Party under the leadership of Stalin thought it was necessary to eliminate Kulaks.
(ii) The Duma: During 1905 Revolution, the Tsar allowed the creation of an elected consultative parliament in Russia. This elected consultative parliament in Russia was called Duma.
(iii) Women Workers Between 1900 and 1930: They made up 31% of the factory labour force by 1914 but were paid almost half and three-quarters of the wages given to men. However, interestingly, it was the women workers who led the way to strikes during the February Revolution.
(iv) The Liberals: They espoused a nation that was tolerant towards all religions; one that would protect individual rights against the government. Although the liberals wanted an elected parliamentary form of governance, they believed that the right to vote must only belong to men, and that too the ones who were property holders.
(v) Stalin’s Collectivization Programme: He began this program in 1929. He believed this program would help in improving grain supplies. All peasants were forced to cultivate in collective farms called ‘Kolkhoz’. On the contrary, this worsened the food supply situation.
Q. 6. How did the Russian peasants differ from the French peasants?
Answer:- Peasants had no respect for nobility, very unlike the French peasant. Russian peasants were the only peasant community which pooled their land and their commune divided it. As land was divided among peasants periodically and it was felt that peasants and not workers would be the main source of the revolution.
Q 7. What is known as Bloody Sunday?
Answer:- The procession of workers led by Father Gapon demanding a reduction in the working day to eight hours, an increase in wages and improvement in working conditions was attacked by the police and the Cossacks near Winter Palace. Over 100 workers were killed and about 300 wounded. The incident came to be known as Bloody Sunday. The incident led to series of events that became known as the 1905 Revolution.
Q. 8. What led to the division of Bolsheviks and Mensheviks?
Answer:- The Socialist Revolutionary Party was formed in 1900 by Socialists. The party was divided over the strategy of organisation. Vladimir Lenin, who led the Bolshevik group, thought that in a repressive society like Tsarist Russia the party should be disciplined and should control the number and quality of its members. Others known as Mensheviks thought that the party should be open to all as in Germany.
Q. 9. What were the social, economic and political conditions in Russia before 1905?
Answer:- The Social, economic and political conditions in Russia before 1905 was backward:
Social Condition: Workers were a divided group. Some had strong links with the villages; others had settled permanently in cities. Workers were divided based on their skills. The division among workers reflected in their dress and manners too.
Economic Condition: Most industries were the private property of industrialists. Government supervised large factories. The industry was found in pockets. Many factories were set up in the 1890s when Russia’s railway network was extended, foreign investment in industry increased, coal production had doubled, and iron and steel output quadrupled. Most industries were the private property of industrialists.
Political condition: Russia was an autocracy. Unlike other European countries, The Tsar was not subject to a Parliament. Liberals in Russia campaigned to end this state of affairs.
Socialist Revolutionary Party struggled for Peasants rights: 1905 was the year when the incident of ‘Bloody Sunday’ took place. 100 workers were killed, and about 300 were wounded. Bloody Sunday started a series of events that became known as the 1905 revolution.
Q. 10. What was the impact of the Rissian Revolution over the globe?
Answer:- The possibility of a workers state fired people’s imagination across the world. In many countries communist parties were formed like the Communist Party of Great Britain. The Bolsheviks encouraged colonial peoples to follow their experiment. By the time of the outbreak of the Second World War, the USSR had given socialism a global face and world stature.
Q. 11. Give an account of the changes introduced after 1917 Revolution in Russia?
Answer:- The Bolsheviks were totally opposed to private property. Most industry and banks were nationalised in November 1917. Land was declared social property and peasants were allowed to seize the land of the nobility. In cities, Bolsheviks enforced the partition of large houses according to family requirements. To assert the change, new uniforms were designed for the army and officials.