C1: Revolutions That Influenced The World

Section A: Short Answer Questions (2-3 marks)

Q1. Name the four prominent Russian writers who depicted the plight of workers and farmers in their works.

Ans: The four prominent Russian writers were:

• Maxim Gorky
• Leo Tolstoy
• Ivan Turgenev
• Anton Chekhov

Q2. Who formulated the Marxist ideologies that influenced the Russian workers?

Ans: Karl Marx and Frederick Engels formulated the Marxist ideologies that stirred the Russian workers and called for establishing workers' supremacy instead of capitalist rule.

Q3. What were the two groups formed after the split of the Social Democratic Workers Party?

Ans: After the split, two groups were formed:

• Mensheviks (meaning minority)
• Bolsheviks (meaning majority)

Q4. Who were the main leaders of the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks?

Ans:

• Bolshevik leaders: Lenin and Trotsky
• Menshevik leader: Alexander Kerensky

Q5. What was the Bloody Sunday incident?

Ans: On 9th January 1905, workers organised a huge march at Petrograd demanding political rights and economic reforms. The soldiers fired at the peaceful demonstrators, massacring hundreds of them. This tragic event is known as Bloody Sunday.

Q6. What were 'Soviets'?

Ans: Soviets were workers' organisations formed all over Russia to conduct strikes against the Tsarist government. They played a crucial role in organising the revolutionary movement.

Q7. What is Duma?

Ans: Duma was a legislative assembly formed by the Tsar due to pressure from massive strikes. It was Russia's first attempt at parliamentary government.

Q8. Why is the March 1917 revolution called the February Revolution?

Ans: Since the Russian calendar was a few days behind the international calendar, the revolution that actually took place in March 1917 according to the international calendar was known as the February Revolution as per the Russian calendar.

Section B: Short Essay Questions (5 marks)

Q9. Explain the causes that led to the Russian Revolution.

Ans: The Russian Revolution had several interconnected causes:

Political Causes:

• The autocratic rule of Tsar Nicholas II with no political rights for the people
• Lack of democratic institutions and representation

Economic Causes:

• Extreme poverty and exploitation of workers and peasants
• Influence of Marxist ideologies calling for workers' rights
• Formation of trade unions to address workers' problems

Military Defeats:

• Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War (1905) weakened the Tsar's authority
• Heavy losses in World War I (1914-1917) caused massive discontent

Social Unrest:

• Bloody Sunday massacre (1905) turned people against the Tsar
• Severe food shortage by 1917
• Women's march for bread on 8th March 1917 sparked wider protests

Q10. Describe the events of the February Revolution of 1917.

Ans: The February Revolution unfolded as follows:

• Background: By 1917, Russia faced severe food shortages due to World War I. Thousands of people were suffering from hunger and poverty.
• Beginning: On 8th March 1917, thousands of women marched through the streets of Petrograd demanding bread and protesting against the war.
• Escalation: Workers joined the protests and organised massive demonstrations. Initially, soldiers clashed with the demonstrators.
• Turning Point: The tragic experiences of World War I made soldiers sympathise with the people. Eventually, soldiers joined the workers instead of suppressing them.
• Victory: The combined force of workers and soldiers captured Petrograd. Tsar Nicholas II was forced to abdicate, ending centuries of Tsarist rule.

Formation of Provisional Government: A provisional government was formed under Alexander Kerensky, the Menshevik leader.

Q11. What were the main demands put forward by the Bolsheviks under Lenin's leadership?

Ans: When Lenin returned from Switzerland, he strongly opposed the provisional government and put forward three main demands:

• Peace: Immediate withdrawal of Russia from World War I to end the suffering of soldiers and people.
• Land: Seizure of lands owned by landlords and their distribution among peasants to address rural poverty and inequality.
• Bread: Make factories public property to ensure workers' control over production and fair distribution of resources.
• These demands were summarised in the slogan "Peace, Land, and Bread" which gained massive popular support and helped the Bolsheviks gain power.

Section C: Long Essay Questions (8-10 marks)

Q12. Analyse the October Revolution and its immediate consequences.

Ans:

Background of October Revolution: The provisional government under Kerensky failed to address people's demands. Lenin, who returned from Switzerland, gained support from Bolsheviks and Soviets by promising to transfer all power to the Soviets.

The Revolution: In October 1917, the Bolsheviks organised an armed rebellion against the provisional government. The revolution was swift and decisive. Kerensky fled the country, and Russia came under Bolshevik control. Due to the Russian calendar system, this came to be known as the October Revolution.

Formation of New Government: A convention of Soviets was immediately held, and a new cabinet was formed with Vladimir Lenin as its head, establishing the world's first socialist government.

Immediate Results:

1. End of War: Russia immediately withdrew from World War I, fulfilling the promise of peace
2. Land Reforms: Lands were seized from landlords and distributed among peasants
3. Industrial Changes: Factories became public property, ending private capitalist control
4. Economic Planning: Centralised planning was introduced to develop the economy systematically
5. Political Structure: A new constitution came into force in 1924
6. Federal Structure: The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was formed by consolidating different Soviet republics

Q13. Evaluate the long-term impact of the Russian Revolution on Russia and the world.

Ans:

Impact on Russia:

Political Transformation:

• Ended centuries of Tsarist autocracy
• Established the world's first socialist state
• Created the USSR as a federal structure uniting various Soviet republics
• Introduced a new constitution in 1924 based on socialist principles

Economic Development:

• Introduced centralised economic planning
• Emphasised public sector development
• Achieved significant progress in science, technology, and industry
• Transformed Russia from a backward agricultural economy to an industrial power

Social Changes:

• Eliminated the feudal system and redistributed land to peasants
• Established workers' rights and ended capitalist exploitation
• Promoted education and literacy among the masses

Global Impact:

Spread of Socialist Ideas: The Russian Revolution inspired socialist and communist movements worldwide, influencing revolutions in China, Cuba, Vietnam, and other countries.

Cold War Origins: The establishment of a socialist state created ideological competition with capitalist nations, eventually leading to the Cold War.

Decolonisation Movement: Socialist ideologies supported anti-colonial movements in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Worker Rights Movement: The revolution inspired labour movements globally, leading to better working conditions and rights for workers in many countries.

Alternative Development Model: It provided an alternative to capitalist development, influencing economic policies in many developing nations.

Section D: Map Work and Timeline

Q14. Prepare a timeline of major events of the Russian Revolution.

Ans:

• 1905: Russo-Japanese War defeat; Bloody Sunday massacre; Formation of Duma
• 1914: Russia enters World War I
• 1917 (March/February): February Revolution; Fall of Tsar Nicholas II; Provisional government formed
• 1917 (October): October Revolution; Bolsheviks come to power; Lenin becomes head
• 1918: Russia withdraws from World War I
• 1924: New Soviet constitution comes into force; Formation of USSR

Section E: Important Terms

Bolsheviks: The majority faction of the Russian Social Democratic Workers Party led by Lenin and Trotsky.

Mensheviks: The minority faction led by Alexander Kerensky who formed the provisional government.

Soviets: Workers' councils formed throughout Russia to organise strikes and revolutionary activities.

Petrograd: Former name of St. Petersburg, the capital city where major revolutionary events took place.

Proletariat: The working class in Marxist theory, which the Bolsheviks believed should rule society.