CBSE Class 9 Social Science Socialism in Europe and Russian Revolution Worksheet

Short Answer Type Questions

Question. Describe the views of Radicals.
Answer : The views of Radicals were as follows :
(i) The Radicals wanted to bring about immediate social change in Russia.
(ii) They wanted to form a government based on the majority of country’s population.
(iii) They were against Private Properties.

Question. Mention the three major demands raised by Russian workers who went on strike at St.Petersburg in 1904.
Answer : The demands raised by Russian workers :
(i) Reduction in the working day to eight hours.
(ii) Increase in wages.
(iii) Improvement in working conditions.

Question. In what ways were working population of Russia different from other countries in Europe before 1917 ?
Answer : (i) The working population in European countries were a lot more united than those in Russia. The condition of Russian people, especially those of the working population like the Farmers and the Factory Workers, was deplorable as compared to other European countries.
(ii) It was mainly due to the Autocratic government of Tsar Nicholas-II, who antagonized these people day-by-day by his corrupt and oppressive policies.
(iii) The Peasants worked as Serfs on the land and much of their produce went into the hands of Landowners and the privileged classes. The Nobility, the Crown and the Orthodox Church owned large properties.
(iv) Although, these Peasants were generally deeply religious yet they had no respect for the Nobility. In European countries, the Peasants respected Nobles and fought for them. But in Russia, Peasants wanted the land of the Nobles to be given to them.

Question. What agricultural changes were introduced in Soviet Union after 1917? Explain.
Answer : Changes :
(i) Large Estates of Church, Landlords, Nobility, etc., were taken away by the Government and distributed to Peasants.
(ii) These Peasants had very small holdings of land,which were not productive. So, a new method of agriculture was introduced that was called the Collective farm.
(iii) Rich Farmers opposed this type of farming. They were dealt with harshly by the government. Thus,landlords were oppressed.

Question. Who were Soviets? What was their role in the Revolution?
Answer : Soviet was a Council of Striking Workers and Soldiers who formed February Revolution.
(i) The Petrograd Soviet led the Revolution.
(ii) It helped the Bolsheviks to seize power.

Question. Explain the Lenin’s ‘April Theses’. 
OR
What were the main demands of April Theses?
OR
Describe the three major demands of Bolsheviks during 1917.
OR
Explain Lenin’s ‘April Theses’. What were its effects on the Party Members?
Answer : Demands of ‘April Theses’:
(i) Lenin returned to Russia from exile and felt that it was time for the Soviets to take over power. He declared that war be brought to a close, land be transferred to the Peasants and Banks nationalized. He also argued to rename Bolshevik Party as Communist Party.
(ii) Started planning on uprising against government with the support of Army.
(iii) Military Revolutionary Committee was planned to seize the power and bring the city under control.
(iv) Initially, the Members were surprised and thought that the time was not right for Socialist Revolution, but the developments in the subsequent months changed their attitude.

Question. Describe the conditions of the working women during the years from 1900 to 1930 in Russia.
Answer : Conditions of the working women in Russia :
(i) Took active part in the Revolution and often
inspired their Male Co- workers.
(ii) Women made up 31 per cent of Factory Labour.
(iii) They were less than their male counterparts.
(iv) During February Revolution, the women workers led the way to strikes.
(v) 22nd February was called International Women’s Day.

Question. What was the vision of Robert Owen and Louis Blanc related to Co-operatives? Explain.
Answer : Views of Robert Owen :
(i) He sought to build a Cooperative Community called New Harmony in Indiana (USA).
Views of Louis Blanc :
(ii) In France, Blanc wanted the government to encourage Co-operatives and replace Capitalist enterprises.
(iii) These Co-operatives were two associations of people who produced goods together and divided the profits according to the work done by members.

Question. Describe the Ideas of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels about the Capitalists.
Answer : (i) Marx argued that Industrialist Society was
‘Capitalist’.
(ii) The condition of Workers could not improve as long as the profit was accumulated by Private Capitalists.
(iii) Marx believed that to free themselves from Capitalist exploitation, the Workers had to construct a Radical Society.
(iv) He believed that the Communist Society was the Natural Society of the future.

Question. How did the Tsarist Autocracy collapse in 1917? Explain. 
OR
State the reasons for the collapse of Tsarist autocracy in 1917.
OR
Why did Tsarist Autocracy collapse in 1917?
Answer : Causes of Tsarist Autocracy collapse were :
(i) The Industrial Workers in Russia got very low wages and had very long working hours, sometimes upto 15 hours.
(ii) The Workers demanded higher wages and reduction in working hours, but their demands were not met and they became dissatisfied.
(iii) Most of the Peasants were landless and very poor. Due to the Autocratic government of Tsar Nicholas II, the condition of the Russian People, Farmers and Factory Workers was highly miserable. As a result, his Autocracy collapsed in 1917.
(iv) The Peasants worked as Serfs on the land. Most of the produce went to the Privileged classes and the Landowners. As a result, farmers suffered from hunger. Later, due to these oppressive policies and out of frustration, the farmers refused to pay rent to the Landlords.
(v) The Workers could not form any Trade Unions and Political Parties to express their grievances. The Workers did not get even the minimum fixed wages. They used to work for 12–15 hours a day, due to no limit on working hours.
(vi) Karl Marx taught the people to raise a standard revolt.
(vii) The Revolution of 1905 also proved to be a Dress Rehearsal of the Revolution of 1917.
(viii) Tsar’s participation and defeat in the First World War served the last reason of failure of his Autocracy in 1917.

Question.  Describe the incident known as the ‘Bloody Sunday’. State any two events after the Bloody Sunday which led to the Revolution of 1905 in Russia.
Answer : The incident of attack by Police over protesting Workers demanding improvement in Working condition in Russia which left many workers killed and wounded, is known as the ‘Bloody Sunday’.
Events after that which led to the Revolution of 1905 in Russia :
(i) Strike took place all over the Country, Universities closed down.
(ii) Lawyers, Doctors, Engineers and other Middle class Workers established the Union of Unions and demanded a Constituent Assembly.

Question. What type of economy existed in Russia before the Revolution ?
Answer : Before the Russian Revolution :
(i) Vast population was Agriculturalists.
(ii) Cultivators produced for the market as well as for their own needs.
(iii) Industry in the form of Private Properties was found in pockets - factories were set up in 1890s and 1900s.

Question. Describe any three changes that took place in the year of 1904 in Russia.
Answer : Three changes that took place in Russia in 1904 were :
(i) Prices of essential goods raised so quickly that real wages declined by 20%.
(ii) The membership of Workers’ Association rose dramatically.
(iii) Four members of the Assembly of Russian Workers were dismissed at the Putilov Iron Works.
(iv) Over 110,000 workers in St. Petersburg went on strike demanding a reduction in the working day to eight hours, an increase in wages and improvement in working conditions.

Question. What were the three main causes of the Civil War between Bolsheviks and the Russian army, the Non- Bolshevik Socialists?
OR
Explain any three reasons which led to the Civil War between the Bolsheviks and the Russian Army of Non- Bolsheviks.
Answer : (i) When Bolshevik ordered land distribution, the Russian Army began to break up.
(ii) Non- Bolshevik Socialists, Liberals and supporters of Autocracy condemned this.
(iii) Their leaders moved to South Russia and organised trips to fight the Bolsheviks.
(iv) These troops and Bolsheviks fought a Civil War and looting and famine became common.

Question. Explain measures taken by Stalin to solve the problem of acute shortages of grains?
Answer : (i) Stalin confiscated supplies, to prevent Rich Peasants and Landlords from indulging in Black-marketing.
(ii) 'Kulaks' were raided.
(iii) Collective farms system known as 'Kolkhoz' was introduced.
(iv) Party members supervised and enforced grain collection.

Question. Identify the conditions of workers in Socialist Society of Russia. 
Answer : (i) Rapid construction led to poor working conditions. Workers lived hard lives and the result was 550 stoppages of work in the first year alone.
(ii) An extended schooling system developed and arrangements were made for Factory Workers and Peasants to enter Universities.
(iii) Creches were established in factories for the Children of Women Workers.
(iv) Cheap Public Healthcare was provided. Model living quarters were set up for Workers.