NCERT Solutions for Class 9 History Chapter 2 – Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution provide a clear understanding of how socialist ideas developed in Europe and how the Russian Revolution of 1917 changed the course of world history. These NCERT Solutions help students understand the background of socialism, the role of the Bolsheviks and the major changes introduced after the revolution. This chapter also builds a strong foundation for understanding modern world history.
Ch- 2- Socialism in Europe and Russian Revolution
Exercise Solution
Ques 1 :- What were the social-economic and political conditions in Russia before 1905 ?
Ans :- Economic :-
• The vast majority of Russia’s people were agriculturists.
• About 85% of the Russian Empire population earned their living from agriculture.
• Russia was a major exporter of grain; industry was found in pockets.
• Craftsmen undertook much of the production.
• Russia’s railway network was extended.
• Foreign investment in industry increased.
• Coal production doubled.
* Political life :-
• Most industries were the private property of industrialists.
• Government supervisor large factories to ensure minimum wages and Limited hours of work.
• Factory Inspector could not prevent rules from being broken.
• Accommodation surprised from Rooms to democratise.
* Social life :-
• Workers were a divided social group.
• They were divided into skills.
• workers consider themselves aristocrats among other workers.
• Their occupation demanded more training and skill.
• Women made up 31% of the factory labour but they were paid less than men.
• Divisions among workers showed them self in dress and manners too.
Ques 2 :- In what way was the working population in Russia different from other countries in Europe before 1917 ?
Ans :- The working population in Russia was different from that of those in other countries in Europe before 1917 in the following ways :-
• About 85% of Russians were agriculturists Whereas in France and Germany the farmers were between 40% and 50%.
• The cultivators in Russia produced for the markets as well as for their own needs.
• Workers were divided social group on the basis of skill. Metal workers considered themselves aristocrats among other workers as their occupation demanded more training and skills.
• In Russia sometimes the working hours for workers were 15 hours as compared to 10 or 12 hours in Europe.
• In France during French Revolution the French peasants respected nobles and also fought for them but in Russia peasants wanted the land of the nobles and they refused to pay rent and even murdered landlords.
• In Russia peasants had pooled their land together and divided the profits according to the family needs. In other parts of world agriculture was done individually by the peasants.
Ques 3 :- Why did the tsarist autocracy collapse in 1917?
Ans :- The Tsarist autocracy collapsed in 1917 due to social , economic and political reasons:-
Social reasons:- In the First World War the defeat of the Russian army was shocking and demoralising.
• There were over 7 million casualties and 3 million refugees by 1917.The rest of the population became hostile to the Tsar.
Economic reasons:- There were labour shortages due to the participation of able bodied men in the war which led to the shutdown of many small factories.
• Moreover large quantities of grain were sent to feed the army.
• For the people in cities bread and flour became expensive and scarce. This scarcity led to riots at bread shops. People became very dissatisfied with the policies of the Tsar.
Political reasons:- The Tsar first dismissed the initial two dumas and then packed the parliament with the conservatives.
• During the First world war the Tsar took decision without consulting the duma.
• Large scale casualties of Russian soldier 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.
Ques 4 :- 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 and who were the leaders and what was the impact of each on Soviet history .
Ans :- Events and Effects of the October Revolution:-
Events of the February Revolution :-
22nd February 1917 :- Lockout of a factory on the right bank of the Neva river. The next day the workers of 50 factories went on strike in sympathy.
24th and 25th February:- Demonstrators came back on the streets and were dispersed by imposing curfew.
25th February:- The government suspended the Duma. Politicians criticised the measure.
26th February:- Demonstrators returned in force to the streets.
27th February:- Workers ransacked the Police Headquarters.
2nd March:- The Tsar gave up his throne. Soviet leaders and Duma leaders formed a Provincial Government to run the country.
Who was Involved; the Leaders and its Impact:-
Both men and women workers were involved. There were no particular leaders.
The effect was that it brought down the autocratic monarchy.
Effects of the February Revolution :-
• Restriction on public meetings and associations were removed.
• Soviets were set up everywhere but no common system of election was followed.
• In industrial areas factory committees were formed which began questioning the way industrialists ran their factories.
• Trade unions grew in number.
• Soldier's committees were formed in the army.
• Provisional Government’s power reduced and Bolshevik influences grew.
• The Bolsheviks were repressed.
• Land committee was formed peasants seized land between July and September 1917 by the encouragement of the socialist revolutionaries.
Events and Effects of the October Revolution:-
Events of the October Revolution :-
16th October :-
• Vladimir Lenin, the Bolshevik leader persuades the Petrograd Soviet and the Bolshevik Party to agree to a socialist seizure of power.
• A Military Revolutionary Committee was appointed by the Soviet
24th October :-
• The uprising against the Provisional government begins.
• Military Revolutionary Committee seized government offices and arrested ministers.
• The winter palace was shelled.
• Ministers of the Provisional government surrendered.
• The Bolsheviks gained control.
Effects of the October Revolution :-
• Most industries and banks were nationalised in November 1917.
• Land was declared social property and peasants were allowed to seize the land of the nobility. Use of old titles was banned.
• New uniforms were designed for the army and officials.
• Russia became a one-party state.
• Trade unions were kept under party control.
• A process of centralised planning was introduced. This led to economic growth.
• Industrial production increased.
• An extended schooling system was developed.
• Collectivisation of farms started.
Vladimir Lenin the Bolshevik leader, played a major role during the October revolution.
• His Bolshevik Party overthrew the Provisional Government and gained power.
• The Russian Communist Party came into existence.
Ques 5:- What were the main changes brought about by the Bolsheviks immediately after the October Revolution ?
Ans:- The changes brought by the Bolsheviks after October Revolution were:-
• The Bolsheviks opposed private properties ; thus they nationalised most industries and banks.
• Lands of the clergy and nobility were seized and land was declared state property.
• In cities the large houses were partitioned to accommodate other families.
• The use of old titles of aristocracy was banned . To assert the social change new uniforms. e.g. , Soviet hat were designed for the army and the officials.
• The Bolshevik Party renamed itself as the Russian Communist Party. Russia became a one – party state.
• All Russian Congress of Soviets became the Parliament of the country. Trade unions were kept under party control.
• The secret police kept vigilance on citizens and punished those who criticised the Bolsheviks.
Ques 6:- Write a few lines to show what you know about:-
Ans:- (a) kulaks:-
• It was a name for well to do farmers of Russia.
• 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.
(b) The Duma:-
• During the 1905 Revolution, the Tsar allowed the creation of an elected consultative parliament in Russia. This elected consultative parliament in Russia was called Duma.
• The Tsar dismissed the first Duma within 75 days and the second Duma was re-elected within three months.
• The third Duma was packed with conservative politicians. Liberals and revolutionaries were kept out of the Duma.
(c) Women workers between 1900 and 1930 :-
• Due to industrialization, women began to work in factories. On 22nd February 1917, many women became the leaders in organizing strikes in factories.
• This day came to be called as the International Women's Day.
• Women made up 31 per cent of the factory labour force by 1914 but they were paid less than men.
• They joined trade unions and political Organizations. They helped the male workers in both revolutions - The February and October Revolution.
• After introduction of the new constitution in USSR the women workers were given equal political, social and economic rights.
(d) The Liberals:-
• The liberals were one of the groups which wanted to change the society. The liberals wanted a nation which tolerated all religions.
• At that time the European states usually discriminated in favour of one religion or another.
• Liberals also opposed the uncontrolled power of dynastic rulers.
• They wanted to safeguard the rights of the individuals against governments.
• They argued for a representative elected Parliamentary Government subject to laws interpreted by a well-trained Judiciary that was independent of rulers and officials.
• They did not believe in universal adult franchise, i.e., the right of every citizen to vote. They felt that men of property mainly should have the right to vote. They did not want the vote for women.
(e) Stalin’s collectivisation programme:-
• Stalin believed that collectivization of agriculture would help in improving grains supplies in Russia.
• He began collectivization in 1929. All peasants were forced to cultivate in collective farms (kolkhoz).
• The bulk of land and implements were transferred to the ownership of collective farm. Many peasants protested such attempts and destroyed livestock to show their anger.
• Collectivization did not bring the desired results in the food supply situation turned even worse in subsequent years.
Conclusion
In this chapter, we studied how socialism developed in Europe, the causes of the Russian Revolution, and how the Bolsheviks established a new form of government. These NCERT solutions help students understand events clearly and strengthen their exam preparation.
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