NCERT Solutions Class 9 Social Science (India and the Contemporary World – I)
The NCERT Solutions in English Language for Class 9 Social Science (India and the Contemporary World – I) Chapter – 2 (Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution) has been provided here to help the students in solving the questions from this exercise.
Chapter – 2 (Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution)
Questions
1. What were the social, economic and political conditions in Russia before 1905?
Answer – The Social, economic and political conditions in Russia before 1905 was backward:
Social Conditions : 85% of Russia’s population was agriculturist. The industry was existent, but rarely in which most of was privately owned. Workers were divided on the basis of their occupation. They mainly migrated to cities for employment in factories. The peasant community was deeply religious but did not care much about the nobility. They believed that land must be divided amongst themselves.
Economic Condition : Russia was going through bad period economically. Prices of essential good rises while real wages decreased by 20% leading to the famous St.Petersburg strike. This strike started a series of events that are together known as the 1905 Revolution. During this revolution, there were strikes all over the country, universities closed down, and various professionals and workers established the Union of Unions, demanding the establishment of a constituent assembly.
Political Condition : Political parties were illegal before 1914. The Russian Social Democratic Workers Party was founded in 1898 by socialists who respected Marx’s ideas. In 1903, this party was divided into two groups – Mensheviks and Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks, who were in majority, were led by Lenin who is regarded as the greatest thinker on socialism after Marx.
2. In what ways was the working population in Russia different from other countries in Europe, before 1917?
Answer – The vast majority of Russia’s population were agriculturists. About 85 per cent of the Russian Empire’s population earned their living from Agriculture. This proportion was higher than in most European countries. In France and Germany, the proportion was between 40 per cent and 50 per cent. Cultivators produced for the market as well as for their own needs, and Russia was a major exporter of grain.
3. Why did the Tsarist autocracy collapse in 1917?
Answer – The Tsar first dismissed the initial two Dumas and then packed the parliament with the conservatives. During the First World War, the Tsar took decisions without consulting the Duma. Large scale casualties of Russian soldiers 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.
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, who were the leaders and what was the impact of each on Soviet history.
Answer –
February Revolution :
- 22nd February – Factory lockout on the right bank took place,
- 25th February – Duma was dissolved.
- 27th February – Police Headquarters ransacked. Regiments support the workers. Formation of Soviet.
- 2nd March – The Tsar abdicated his power. The Soviet and Duma leaders formed a Provisional Government for Russia.
- 16th October – A Military Revolutionary Committee was appointed by Soviet.
- 24th October – The uprising against provisional government begins. Military Revolutionary Committee controls the city by night and ministers surrender. The Bolshevik gained power.
The October Revolution was primarily led by Lenin and his subordinate, Trotskii and involved the masses who supported these leaders. It marked the beginning of Lenin’s rule over the Soviet, with the Bolsheviks under his guidance.
5. What were the main changes brought about by the Bolsheviks immediately after the October Revolution?
Answer – The main changes which were brought about by the Bolsheviks immediately after the October Revolution:
- Banks and Industries were nationalised.
- Land was declared social property, thereby allowing peasants to seize it from the nobility.
- In urban areas, houses were partitioned according to family requirements.
- Old aristocratic titles were banned, and new uniforms were designed for the army and the officials.
- New uniforms were introduced for the army and the officials.
6. 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 collectivization programme.
Answer –
(i) Kulaks: This term was used for the wealthy peasants of Russia. Kulaks had the larger farms than most Russian peasants, and they were partially responsible for food shortage in 1927-28 as Stalin believed that Kulaks were indulged in hoarding grains to earn more profits. Stalin later eliminated Kulaks to develop modern farming techniques.
(ii) Duma: Duma was Russian assembly which was assigned legislative functions. During the Revolution of 1905, The Tsar elected the first State Duma for the Russian empire.
(iii) Women workers between 1900 and 1930: They made up 31% of the factory labour force by 1914 but were paid almost half and three-quarters of the wages given to men. However, interestingly, it was the women workers who led the way to strikes during the February Revolution.
(iv) Liberals: They espoused a nation that was tolerant towards all religions; one that would protect individual rights against the government. Although the liberals wanted an elected parliamentary form of governance, they believed that the right to vote must only belong to men, and that too the ones who were property holders.
(v) Stalin’s collectivization program: From 1928 to 1940, the Soviet Union of Russia imposed collectivization of agricultural units under the control of Joseph Stalin. It began in 1929 and was a five-year plan. The peasants were forced to cultivate in the collective farms. Many peasants protested against it and burnt their livestock to show their anger. The result of collectivization varied from what was desired, and it even turned worse in the consequent years.
