Socialism in europe and the Russian Revolution —__——__ 33 Workers were a divided social group and mainta strong links with the villages they hn pace Meral workers considered themselves é among other workers. In Rus working hours for workers were 18 howe oe computed to 10 oF 12 hours in Europe: Oe the other hand, in Europe, the Indus rial Revol changed a mainly rural society inte an urban one, (ii In France. during French Revolution, the French peasants respected nobles and also fought for peasants wanted the land of the nobles. They refused to pay rent and Ge murdered landlords, : (ie) 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, 3 Why did the Tsarist autocracy collapse in 19177 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 by 1917. The rest of the population became See Fir ener Economic reasons There were labour shortages due to the participation of able-bodied men in the war, which led to the shut down 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 Tsar Nicholas II was an aurocratic, inefficient and weak ruler who believed in the divine rights of the king, The bureaucracy got special rights and privileges, but the general public got none. Moreover, the Tsar had built a vast empire and imposed Russian language and culture on diverse nationalities. A large section of the Russian empire became hostile to the Tsar and his corrupt bureaucracy. All these factors led to discredit of the Bovernment and brought about the end of Tsarist autocracy. 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 of the February Revolution (0 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. (ii) 24th and 25th February Demonstrators came back om the streets and were dispersed by imposing curfew. (iif) 25th February The government suspended the Duma, Politicians criticised the measure. (iv) 26th February Demonstrators returned in force to the streets. (0) 27th February Workers ransacked the Police Headquarters. (x) 2nd March The Tsar gave up his throne. Soviet leaders and Duma leaders formed a Provincial Government to run the country. No political party was actively organising the February Revolution. Men and women workers were involved in this movement who were supported by the soldiers. Effects of the February Revolution (A Restriction on public meetings and associations were removed. (Gi Soviets were set up everywhere, but no common system of election was followed. (iii) In industrial areas, factory committees were formed which began questioning the way industrialists ran theie Factories. (i) Trade unions grew in number. (2) Soldiers’ committees were formed in the army. (2) Provisional Government's power reduced and Bolshevik influences grew. (vii) The Bolsheviks were repressed. (viii) 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 (0 16th October, 1917 Lenin became the leader and he persuaded the Petrograd Soviet and the Bolshevik Party to agree to a socialist seizure of power. It led to the formation of a Military Revolutionary Committee for seizure of power, (ii) 24th October Uprising began on 24th October. The buildings of two Bolshevike newspapers were seized by the milicary men loyal to the government. On the same day, Pro-government troops were sent to take over telephone and telegraph offices and protect the ‘Winter Palace. NCERT4 5 NSN 1e Military _ s action, th Responding to the government's action, Resolutionary Connmitte seized the government isters cftices and arrested the Jgnificant role in the assault on The navy played. : the revolutionaries took over the Winter Palace different military points. 5 What were the main changes brought about by the Bolsheviks immediately after the October Revolution? Jus. The changes brought by the Bolsheviks after October Revolution were (A The Bolsheviks opposed private properties; thus they nationalised most industries and banks. (i) Lands of the clergy and nobility were seized and land was declared state property (Gai) In cities, the large houses were partitioned to accommodate other families. (iv) The use of old titles of aristocracy was banned. To assert che social change, new uniforms, eg. Soviet hat, were designed for the army and the officials. (2) The Bolshevik Parry renamed itself as the Russian Communist Party. Russia became a one-party state. (vi) All Russian Congress of Soviets became the Parliament of the country. Trade unions were kept under parry control. (vii) The secret police kepr vigilance on citizens and punished those who criticised the Bolsheviks. 6 Write a few lines to show what you know about + Kulaks + The Duma + Women Workers between 1900 and 1930 + The Liberals * Stalin's Collectivisation Programme Ans, Kallas Kulak is the Russian name for well-to-do peasants, In 1927-1928, Stalin took the decision to develop modern farms and run them along industrial lines. For this purpose, it was necessary to climinate Kulaks. Many Kulaks’ properties were raided. Under Stalin's Collectivisation Programme, land of Kulaks was taken away and converted into large modern farms. This programme was severely resisted by the Kulaks. Many of them destroyed their livestock. Those who resisted collectivisation were punished; many Kulaks were deported and exiled. Allynone Social Science Class The Duma It was the elected consultative Parliament set up after the Revolution of 1905, Its members were charged with the responsibil making laws. The Tsar dismissed the first Dumy within 75 days and re-elected the second Dum, within 3 months. ar did not wane any questioning of his He changed the voting laws and packed the thid Duma with conservative politicians. Finally, in February 1917, the Duma was suspended. Many members of the Duma became a part of the Provisional Government. Women Workers between 1900 and 1930 In Russia, the women workers constituted 31 per of the factory labour force. They were paid less their men counterparts. In most of the factories, they were paid between half and three-quarters off men’s wage. During the February Revolution ( February, 1917), women led the way to strikes in many factories. The Liberals One of the groups which looked to change society were the liberals. They were to the uncontrolled power of the dynastic rulers. They preferred religious tolerance and wanted to safeguard individual rights. They favoured parliamentary system of government and an independent judiciary. They did not believe in universal adult franchise. They wanted voting rights to be restricted to men of property only. Stalin’s Collectivisation Programme (8 In 1927-1928, Soviet Russia was facing an problem of grain supplies. The peasants to sell the grains at the price fixed by the government. (ii) Stalin believed that the peasants had surplus grain, but were holding it back, expecting hi Prices, So, he introduced the concept of collective farms (kolkhoz). (iii) To develop these farms, it was necessary to liminate Kulaks, take away land from peasant and establish state-controlled large farms. (iv) From 1929, all peasants were forced to work in ‘olkhoa. The kolkbos profit was shared by all Peasants who worked on the land. Those who resisted collectivisation were severely punishé (+) Stalin’s government allowed some independent cultivation, bur treated such peasants unsympatherically,