NCERT CLASS 9 HISTORY CHAPTER 2 Socialism in Europe and the Russian
Revolution
- What were the
social, economic and political conditions in Russia before 1905?
• Socially, Russia was a highly stratified society with a rigid class system, where the majority of the population (peasants) were oppressed by the ruling classes.
• Economically, Russia was primarily an agricultural society with very little industrialization, which led to a lack of development and modernization.
• Politically, Russia was an autocratic monarchy
with no real representation for the people, which resulted in widespread
dissatisfaction and opposition.
- In what ways was
the working population in Russia different from other countries in Europe,
before 1917?
• The working population in Russia was relatively small compared to other European countries, as Russia was primarily an agricultural society.
• The workers in Russia were also heavily exploited and oppressed, with very little representation or rights.
• Unlike in other
European countries, there was no strong labor movement or trade unions in
Russia before 1917.
- Why did the
Tsarist autocracy collapse in 1917?
• The collapse of the Tsarist autocracy was due to a combination of factors, including economic hardship, military defeats, and political opposition.
• The government's inability to address the needs and demands of the people led to widespread dissatisfaction and unrest, which culminated in mass protests and strikes.
• The inability of the Tsarist regime
to control these protests and strikes, combined with the military's refusal to
support the government, led to the collapse of the Tsarist autocracy.
- 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.
Main events and effects of the February Revolution:
• Mass protests and strikes in Petrograd led to the overthrow of the Tsarist government.
• A provisional government was established, led by Alexander Kerensky.
• The Petrograd Soviet was also established, representing the interests of the workers and soldiers.
• The February Revolution resulted in
the end of the Tsarist autocracy and the establishment of a provisional
government.
Main events and effects of the October Revolution:
• The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, staged a coup and overthrew the provisional government.
• The Bolsheviks established a new government, the Soviet Union, which was based on socialist principles.
• The October Revolution
marked the beginning of a new era in Soviet history, characterized by the
establishment of a socialist state.
- What were the main
changes brought about by the Bolsheviks immediately after the October
Revolution?
• The Bolsheviks immediately implemented a series of reforms to establish their socialist government, including the nationalization of industry and land reform.
• They also implemented a new legal system, based on socialist principles, and established new institutions of government.
• The
Bolsheviks also established the Red Army, which played a crucial role in
defending the new government against counter-revolutionary forces.
- Write a few lines
to show what you know about:
- Kulaks:
The term "kulak" referred to wealthy peasants who owned land and
employed laborers. The Bolsheviks considered them to be class enemies and
subjected them to repression and confiscation of their land and property
during the collectivization campaign in the 1930s.
- The Duma:
The Duma was a national assembly established by Tsar Nicholas II in 1905
in response to the 1905 Revolution. It was a consultative body with
limited powers and could not make laws without the approval of the Tsar.
The Bolsheviks dissolved the Duma after the October Revolution.
- Women workers
between 1900 and 1930: During this period, women
workers in Russia faced harsh working conditions, low wages, and
discrimination. However, they played an important role in the
revolutionary movement and the Bolshevik Party actively promoted women's
rights and participation in the workforce.
- The Liberals:
The Liberals were a political group in Russia that advocated for
constitutional reforms, civil liberties, and the establishment of a
constitutional monarchy. They played a key role in the 1905 Revolution but
were largely marginalized by the Bolsheviks after the October Revolution.
- Stalin's
collectivization program: Stalin's
collectivization program was a policy aimed at collectivizing agriculture
and creating large-scale collective farms. It involved the confiscation of
land and property from the kulaks and the forced resettlement of peasants.
The program resulted in significant social and economic upheaval,
including widespread famine and the deaths of millions of people.
Liberals: They believed in a system which accepted all religions and not concentrates on a single religion. They were against dynasty rulers as well. They asked for one vote per property but did not include women in the same.
ReplyDeleteRadicals: They wanted a nation where the government should be elected by a majority of the population and some of them wanted women to participate in the same.
Conservatives: They were not ready for changes and wanted to discard the idea of changes. At one point they agreed to the upcoming changes but they wanted that at the same time the past should be respected.