9th CBSE notes from the Russian revolution

 

 Grade : IX 

 HISTORY  CHAPTER : 2 

RUSSIAN REVOLUTION 

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IMPROVE YOUR LEARNING

VSAQ 01. Difference between Kulasks and Kolkhoz?

Ans: 

Kulaks were the wealthy peasant who owned large farm and several cattle and who was financially capable of employing hired labor and leasing land

Kolkhoz were the collective farms, where all peasants were forced to cultivate from 1929.

VSAQ 02.Who were the ‘greens’ and ‘whites’?

Ans: 
They were the group of people who were against the Bolshevik Revolution. They started a civil war. They were supported by the French, American, British and the Japanese troops as these countries were worried about the growth of socialism

LAQ 03. Who are liberals, radicals and conservatives?

Ans: 

Liberals: 

1. They believed in a system which accepted all religions
2. They were against dynasty rulers
3.  They felt men of property should have the right to vote. 
4. They were against the UAF and voting rights of women

Radicals:

1. They wanted a nation where the government should be elected by a majority of the population
2. They support UAF and women suffragist movement 
3. They opposed the privileges of landowners.

Conservatives: 

1. Conservatives were opposed to radicals and liberals.
2. They were not ready to bring changes in the society. 
3. They support old traditions and political system
4. At one point they agreed to the upcoming changes through a slow process but at the same time they wanted the past should be respected

SAQ 04. Define socialism.

Socialism is a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.

SAQ 04. Mention four features of socialism

Ans: 

1. Socialists were against private property.
2. Under socialism, the means of production are under the control of the government.
3. Socialists regarded the private property as the root cause of all social evils.
4. Socialism encourages cooperatives

LAQ 05. Explain the collectivization policy of Stalin.

Or

What were the major changes Introduced in agriculture by Stalin? Explain.

Ans:

1. The collectivisation policy was introduced by Stalin who came to power after the death of Lenin.
2. The main reason was the shortage of grain supplies.
3. It was argued that grain shortage was partly due to the small size of the holding.
4. After 1917, the land had been given over to peasants.
5. These small-sized peasant farms could not be modernised. 
6. To develop modern farms, and run them along industrial lines with machinery, it was necessary to eliminate ‘kulaks’, take away land from peasants, and establish state-controlled large farms.
7. From 1929, the government forced all peasants to cultivate in collective farms (kolkhoz). 
8. The bulk of land and implements were transferred to the ownership of collective farms. 
9. Peasants worked on the land, and the kolkhoz profit was shared.
10. Those who resisted collectivisation were severely punished and exiled.
11. In spite of collectivisation, production did not increase immediately. 
12. In fact, the bad harvest of 1930-1933 led to one of the most devastating famines in Soviet history when over 4 million died.

LAQ 06. 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: 

1.  The majority religion of Russia was Orthodox Christianity which had grown out of   the Greek Orthodox Church. 
2.  But the empire also included Catholics, Protestants, Muslims and Buddhists. 
3.  The non-Russian nationalities were not treated equal to that of Russian nationalities. 
4.  They were not given the freedom to follow their culture and language. 
5.  Workers were divided into group on the basis of skill and training. 

(b) Economic conditions: 

1. The majority of Russians were agriculturists. 
2. Grain was the main item of export from Russia. Industries were few. 
3. Prominent industrial areas were St Petersburg and Moscow. 
4. Much of the production was done by the craftsmen. 
5. There were large factories alongside the craft workshops. 
6. With the expansion of the Russian rail network, foreign investment in factories grew. 
7. There were huge coal, iron and steel production. 
8. There were equal numbers of factory workers and craftsmen. 
9. The workers were exploited by capitalists who made their life miserable.

(c) Political Conditions: 

1. Russia was a monarchy. 
2. Tsar Nicholas II ruled Russia and its empire. 
3. The Tsars believed in the divine rights of kings. 
4. They were not responsible to the Parliament. 
5. All political parties were illegal in Russia.

LAQ 07. What were the main changes brought about by the Bolsheviks immediately after the October Revolution??

Ans:

Many changes were brought about by the Bolsheviks after the October Revolution. 

They were:

1. Industries and banks were nationalised. 
2. The land was declared social property 
3. The peasants were allowed to seize the land of the nobility. 
4. In cities, Bolsheviks enforced the partition of large houses according to family requirements.
5. The use of the old titles of the aristocracy was banned. 
6. New uniforms for the army and officials were designed.
7. The Bolshevik Party was renamed as the Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik).
8. Despite opposition by their political allies, the Bolsheviks made peace with Germany and withdrew from the First World War.
9. In the later years, the Bolsheviks became the only party to participate in the elections to the All Russian Congress of Soviets. 
10. It became the Parliament of Russia.

LAQ 08. Explain the Impacts of the Russian Revolution on the World.

Ans:

1. The experience of the USSR inspired all over the world especially those who were committed to the ideals of equality and national liberation
2. Formation of communist parties in many countries, like the Communist Party of Great Britain, CPI etc.
3. The Bolsheviks encouraged colonial peoples to follow their experiment.
4. Worker's unions strengthened all over the world.
5. Debates over key issues, land reforms, social welfare, workers’ rights, and gender equality started taking place in a global context.
6. Many workers received education at the USSR’s Communist University.
7. Many Indian leaders like MN Roy, Rabindranath Tagore and Jawaharlal Nehru were also inspired by it, even though they did not agree with many aspects of communism like suppression of opposition political parties
8. Many people were also opposed due to the denial of multiparty democracy and freedom in the USSR. 
9. George Orwell brought his famous satire novel, 'Animal Farm' to highlight how the ideals of the Russian Revolution were suffering in USSR

LAQ 09. In what ways was the working population in Russia different from other countries in Europe, before 1917?

Ans:

1. About 85 per cent of the Russian Empire’s population earned their living from Agriculture. 
2. This proportion was higher than in most European countries.
3. Workers in Russia were living under the autocratic rule of the Tsar, while the working population in Europe lived under a parliamentary form of government. 
4. Workers in Russia were not allowed to form trade unions.
5. Unlike Europe, in Russia, industrialisation started late, in the last quarter of the 19th century. 
6. Industries were found in small pockets.
7. Cultivators produced for the market as well as for their own needs,
8. Russia was a major exporter of grain.

LAQ 10. Why did the Tsarist autocracy collapse in 1917?

Ans:

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

LAQ 11. List out the Main Events of the February Revolution?

Ans:

1.  In February 1917, there was a shortage of food items in workers' quarters.
2. On February 23, a lockout took place at a factory on the right bank. 
3. The workers in fifty factories called a strike and women played a very critical role in these strikes.
4. On February 25, the government suspended the Duma.
5. On February 27, Police headquarters were ransacked, and people were demonstrating and raising slogans about bread, wages, better hours and democracy.
6. Petrograd Soviet was formed.
7. The Tsar abdicated in March 1917, bringing an end to the Monarchy.
8. Soviet leaders and Duma leaders formed a Provisional Government to run the country.

LAQ 12. Explain the effects of February Revolution?

Ans:

1. Restrictions on public meetings and associations were removed.
2. ‘Soviets’ were set up everywhere, though no common system of election was followed.
3. The number of trade unions increased.
4. In Industrial areas, factory committees were formed to question the way industrialists ran their factories.
5. Soldiers’ committees were formed in the Army.
6. The Bolsheviks’ influence kept growing, and the provisional government saw its power reducing.
7. Land committees were formed to handle the redistribution of land.

LAQ 13. List out the Main Events of the October Revolution?

Ans:

1. Lenin began for an uprising against the Kerensky government. 
2. On 16th October 1917, Lenin persuaded the Petrograd Soviet and the Bolshevik Party to agree to a socialist seizure of power. 
3. A military revolutionary committee was appointed by the Soviet under Leon Trotsky to organize the seizure. 
4. The uprising began on 24th October 1917. 
5. Military men who were loyal to the government seized the buildings of two Bolshevik newspapers. 
6. Pro-Government troops were sent to take over telephone and telegraph offices and protect the Winter Palace. 
7. In retaliation, the Military Revolutionary Committee ordered its supporters to seize government offices and arrest ministers. 
8. A ship named Aurora bombed the Winter Palace, other ships sailed down the Neva and took over various military positions. 
9. By the end of the month, the city was under the control of a committee and ministers had resigned. 
10. By December, Bolsheviks controlled the Moscow-Petrograd area.