CBSE and NCERT Solution

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 collectivisation programme Ans. (i) Kulaks : It is the Russian term for well-to-do peasants. Stalin believed that the Kulaks were hoarding grains to gain more profit. By 1927-28 the towns in Soviet Russia were facing an acute problem of grain supplies and the Kulaks were thought to be partly responsible for this. To develop modern farms and run them along industrial lines with machinery, it was necessary to eliminate Kulaks. (ii) The Duma : During the 1905 Revolution, the Tsar allowed the creation of an elected consultative Parliament or Duma. It was initially thought to be an advisory organ. (iii) Women workers between 1900 and 1930 : Women made up 31 per cent of the factory labour force by 1914, but were paid almost half and three-quarters of a man’s wage. In the February Revolution it were the women workers who led the way to strikes...

What was the immediate consequences of the Russian Revolution ? Ans. (i) Most industries and banks were nationalised in November 1917. (ii) This meant that government took over the ownership and management. Land was declared social property. (iii) Peasants were allowed to seize the land of the nobility. (iv) In cities, Bolsheviks enforced the partition of large houses according to family requirements. (v) They banned the use of old title of aristocracy.

Comment on the role of Vladimir Lenin in the revolution and his contribution to the economic policy. Ans. (i) Vladimir Lenin played an important part in the Russian Revolution of 1917. (ii) Lenin led the revolutionaries after the fall of the Tsar. Under Lenin’s leadership; the Bolshevik Party put forward clear policies to end the war. (iii) Transfer land to the peasants and advance the slogan ‘All power to the Soviets’ (iv) He was of the opinion that no genuine democracy could be established unless all the non-Russians were given equal rights. (v) These were the real objectives of the Russian Revolution and he fulfilled all these objectives. That is why Lenin’s name has become inseparable from the Russian Revolution.

Discuss ‘Stalin’s collectivisation Programme’. Ans. (i) Stalin felt that collectivisation would definitely solve the problem of shortage. (ii) From 1929, the Party forced all peasants to cultivate in collective farms (kolkhoz). (iii) The bulk of land and implements were transferred to the ownership of collective farms. (iv) Peasants worked on the land, and the (kolkhoz) profit was shared. (v) Enraged peasants resisted the authorities and destroyed their livestock. Between 1929 and 1931, the number of cattle fell by one-third.

What triggered Civil War in Russia? Discuss its course. Ans. (i) After the success of the October Revolution, the Bolsheviks ordered land redistribution to the peasants. (ii) Soldiers in the Russian army, mostly peasants, went home for the redistribution and deserted the army. (iii) This emboldened the non-Bolshevik socialists, liberals and supporters of autocracy to start a Civil War. (iv) Their leaders moved to South Russia and organised troops to fight the Bolsheviks. (v) During 1918 and 1919, the greens (socialist Revolutionaries) and whites (proTsarists) controlled most of the Russian empire. (vi) They were backed by French, American, British and Japanese troops because these countries were worried at the growth of socialism in Russia (vii) As these troops fought a Civil War with the Bolsheviks, supporters of private property among the whites took steps against peasants who had seized land.

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. Ans. (a) February Revolution : (i) In February 1917, food shortages were deeply felt in the workers’ quarters. Parliamentarians wishing to preserve elected government, were opposed to the Tsar’s desire to dissolve the Duma. (ii) On 22 February, a lockout took place at a factory. The next day, workers in fifty factories called a strike in sympathy. In many factories, women led the way to strikes. The strikes continued, with the workers surrounding fashionable quarters and official buildings at the centre of Petrograd - the Nevskii Prospekt. On 25 February, the Duma was dissolved. This resulted in ransacking of the Police Headquarter on 27th. (iii) The cavalry refused to fire at the protesting crowed, and by evening...

 Explain the condition of Russia during the First World War. Ans. Condition of Russia during the First World War: (i) Russia suffered from immense casualties during the First World War. By 1917 there were over 7 million casualties. (ii) The war had an adverse impact on industry as well. Russia’s own industries were few in number and the country was cut off from supplies from other countries due to German control of the Baltic Sea. (iii) Industrial equipment began to disintegrate rapidly.  (iv) By 1916 railway lines began to break down. (v) As more and more men joined the army, labour shortages occurred which led to small workshops producing essential goods to shut down. (vi) Large supplies of grain were sent to feed the army and food become scarce in the cities.

What were the main changes brought about by the Bolsheviks immediately after the October Revolution? Ans. Many changes were introduced following the control by Bolsheviks after the October revolution: (i) The Bolsheviks were totally against possession of private property. (ii) Industries and banks were nationalized in November 1917. (iii) The government took control of ownership and management. (iv) Land was declared social property and peasants were allowed to seize the land of the nobility. (v) In cities, Bolsheviks enforced the partition of large house according to family requirements. (vi) The use of the old titles of aristocracy was banned. (vii) New uniforms were designed for the army and officials, following a clothing competition organized in 1918 - when the Soviet hat (Budeonovka) was chosen. This was done to assert the change in government. (viii) The Bolshevik Party was renamed the Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik).

Why did the Tsarist autocracy collapse in 1917? Ans. The Tsarist autocracy collapsed in 1917 because of the following reasons: (i) Economic, political and social conditions had deteriorated before 1917 in Russia. (ii) In the First World War about 7 million Russians died and 3 million had become refugees due to destruction of crops and buildings. (iii) The soldiers were not in favor of government’s decision to continue fighting. (iv) On 22 February, the government officials locked out a factory which led to workers of 50 factories going on strike. (v) On 25th February, the government suspended the Duma. This led to mass demonstrations on the streets on 26th and 27th February. (vi) The government ordered the cavalry to open fire on the demonstrators but they refused and instead joined the workers. (vii) The cavalry and workers united to form the ‘Soviet’ or ‘council’ called the Petrograd Soviet. The revolution in February brought down the monarchy and autocracy collapsed.

 What were the social, economic and political conditions in Russia before 1905? Ans. Social conditions in Russia before 1905 : (i) Russia was still living in the old world. (ii) Aristocracy continued in Russia. (iii) Methods and tools of agriculture were old, land holdings were small and production was limited. (iv) Condition of peasants was deplorable and they had no respect for nobility. (v) Housing and sanitation were in a poor state as towns were growing rapidly. (vi) Workers were a divided social groups as the peasants. Economic conditions : (i) There was no middle class in Russia (ii) Industrialization came very late in Russia. (iii) Russia was primarily an agriculture based country and a major exporter of grain. (iv) Industrialists were only interested in capital gains not in the improvement of workers conditions. (v) Capitalists exploited the workers and paid lower wages. (vi) Conditions of workers were miserable. (vii) Workers were dominated by ideas of socialism. Politica...

In what ways was the working population in Russia different from other countries in Europe, before 1917 ? Ans. 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. (i) Some of them continued to live in villages and went to work daily, to the towns. They professionally. Division among workers showed themselves in dress and manners too. (ii) Some workers formed association to help members in times of unemployment or financial hardship but such association were few. (iv) Metal workers considered themselves aristocrats among other workers as their occupations demanded more training and skill. (v) Despite divisions, workers did unite to strike work against work condition and employer tyranny.

Explain how a society, according to socialist, can operate without property. What would be the basis of socialist society ? Ans. (i) Co-operatives could not be built on a wide scale only through individual initiative. They wanted that governments must encourage co-operatives and replace capitalist enterprise. (ii) They said that co-operative were to be association of people who produced goods together and divided the profits according to the work done by members. (iii) More ideas were added to this body of arguments. (iv) These ideas were added by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Marx argued that industrial society was capitalist. Capitalists owned the capital invested in factories. (v) The profit which came to them through these factories was produced by the workers. The workers contributed to the profits but did not gain anything.

 Discuss in brief the socialist ideology of Karl Marx. Ans. (i) Marx argued that industrial society was capitalist and the conditions of workers could not improve as long as the profit was accumulated by private capitalists. (ii) Workers had to overthrow capitalism and the rule of private property. (iii) Marx believed that to free themselves from capitalist exploitation, workers had to construct a radically socialist society where all property was socially controlled. This society would be a communist society which will be the natural society of the future. Thus, Marx associated with the influential philosopher Friedrich developed and built on the influential theories of socialism. (iv) The Russian socialist revolutionaries were highly influenced by his ideology.

Explain the major events that were responsible for the Russian Revolution of Why were there revolutionary disturbances in Russia in 1905?  OR What were the demands of the Revolutionaries? Ans. (i) Autocratic Rule : Russia was under the autocratic rule of the Tsars. The Tsar Nicholas II was an inefficient and corrupt ruler. (ii) Role of Liberals and Socialists : Both Liberals and Socialists were against the dynastic rule. They worked with peasants and workers to demand a constitution. They were being supported by Jadidists. (iii) Strike of the workers: The year 1904 was a bad year for the Russian workers. Prices of essential goods rose so quickly that real wages declined by 20%. So there was a strike by the workers. They demanded reduction in working hours, an increase in wages and improvement in the working conditions. (iv) Bloody Sunday : The incident of Bloody Sunday in which more than 100 workers were killed became the turning point. It lead to an all Russia strike. Lawyers, ...

 “By the 1950s it was acknowledged within the country that the style of government in the USSR was not in keeping with the ideals of the Russian Revolution.” Why was this said ? Ans. (i) In 1950s it was acknowledged within the country that the style of government in the USSR was not in keeping with the ideals of the Russian Revolution. (ii) Russia, which was a backward country, had become a great power. (iii) Its industries and agriculture had developed and the poor were being fed. (iv) But it had denied the essential freedoms to its citizens and carried out its developmental projects through repressive policies.

 Describe the international consequences of the Russian Revolution. Ans. (i) The Russian Revolution helped to promote similar revolutions in other parts of the world. After the end of the Second World War were established of many socialist states in eastern Europe. (ii) Democracy was redefined to include economic and social equality. (iii) The idea of economic planning was adopted by many countries including India as was the belief in the dignity of labour. (iv) The Revolution helped to hasten the end of imperialism and to promote internationalism. It helped in promoting freedom movements in countries under colonial rule.

 Why was the decision to collectivise farms taken ? Ans. (i) It was though that rich peasants and traders in the countryside were holding stocks in the hope of higher prices. (ii) This created a shortage of foodstuff.(iii) As shortages continued, the decision was taken to collectivise farms as Lenin felt that the small size of farms caused the shortage. (iv) They also felt that these small size farms could not be modernised. (v) They felt that the need of the hour was to develop modern farms and run them along industrial lines with machinery.

 What measures did Stalin undertake to solve the problem of acute shortages of grain? Ans. To meet shortages of grain, Stalin took emergency measures. (i) To prevent rich peasants and landlords from indulging in speculation, Stalin confiscated supplies. (ii) Party members toured, supervised and enforced grain collection. (iii) Kulaks (the well-to-do peasants) were raided. System of collective farms called Kolkhoz was introduced.

 What were the significant changes in the Soviet Union after the death of Lenin? Ans. In 1925, Stalin became General Secretary of the Communist Party of Soviet Union after the death of Lenin. The following were the significant changes in the Soviet Union after the death of Lenin : (i) The economic and military power of the Soviet Union was enhanced rapidly. (ii) The unemployment and economic backwardness was controlled to some extent. (iii) The international position of the Soviet Union became much better than the previous time and it became one of the super powers of the world.

 What were the effects of October Revolution of 1917 on Russia? Assess any, three points. Ans. (i) The right to private property was abolished and all the means of production were brought under the control of the Government. (ii) Land was taken away from landlords, the Church and Tsar and it was distributed among the farmers. The farmers and the tillers were made the real owners of the land. (iii) All the big industries and factories were taken away from the private owners and the industrialists. The workers and labourers were made the real owners of the industries.