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.

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. Some of them continued to live in villages and went to work daily, to the towns. They were a divided group, socially and professionally, and this showed in their dress and manners too. Metal workers were the "aristocrats" of the working class because their occupation demanded more training and skill. Nevertheless, the working population was united on one front - strikes against work conditions and employer tyranny

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.

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.
The February Revolution had no political party at its forefront. It was led by the people themselves. Petrograd had brought down the monarchy, and thus, gained a significant place in Soviet history. Trade Unions grew in number.

October Revolution:
→ 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.

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.

(i) Kulaks
(i) It is the Russian term for wealthy peasants who Stalin believed were hoarding grains to gain more profit. By 1927-28 the towns of Soviet Russia were facing an acute problem of grain supplies. Kulaks were thought to be partly responsible for this. Also to develop modern farms and run them along industrial lines the Party under the leadership of Stalin thought it was necessary to eliminate Kulaks.

(ii) The Duma
(ii) During 1905 Revolution, the Tsar allowed the creation of an elected consultative parliament in Russia. This elected consultative parliament in Russia was called Duma.

(iii) Women workers between 1900 and 1930.
(iii) 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) The Liberals.
(iv) 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 programme.
(v) Stalin believed that collectivization of agriculture would help in improving grains supplies in Russia. He began collectivization in 1929. All peasants were forced to cultivate in collective farms (kolhoz). The bulk of land and implements were transferred to the ownership of the collective farm. Many peasants protested such attempts and destroyed livestock to show their anger. Collectivization did not bring the desired results in the food supply situation turned even worse in subsequent years

1. Society in 18th century Europe was divided into

(a) castes and classes

(b) estates and orders

(c) liberals, radicals and conservatives

(d) religious groups

2. In 19th century Europe, Conservatives

(а) favoured radical restructure of society

(b) toleration of all religions

(c) opposed uncontrolled dynastic rulers

(d) accepted the idea of gradual change in society

3. Liberals ware opposed to

(a) secularism

(b) rights of individuals

(c) representative form of government

(d) universal adult franchise

4. On which of the following issues did Liberals and Radicals defer?

(a) Property and privileges

(b) Dynastic rule

(c) Individual rights

(d) Representative form of government

5. Which of the following was not a feature of 19th century Europe?

(a) New cities

(b) High wages

(c) Industrial Revolution

(d) Expansion of Railways

6. Socialists

(a) favoured private property

(b) Were against private property

(c) favoured individual controlled property

(d) regarded private property as a solution of all problems

7. Capitalists believed in

(a) control of property by society

(b) workers rights

(c) sharing of profits with workers

(d) profit and private property

8. Which of the following were important socialists of 19th century Europe?

(a) Rousseau and Voltaire

(b) Lenin and Stalin

(c) Charles Darwin and Spencer

(d) Karl Marx and Engels

9. Socialist International body

(a) Socialist Democratic Party

(b) Socialist Party

(c) Labour Party

(d) Second International

10. Which of the following was the ruler of Russia during World War I?

(a) Louis XVI

(b) Tsar Nicholas II

(c) Tsar Nicholas I

(d) Louis XTV

11. The majority religion of Russia was

(a) Greek Orthodox Church

(b) Protestantism

(c) Russian Orthodox Christianity

(d) Catholicism

12. Majority of Russia's population was

(a) industrial workers

(b) craftsmen

(c) artisans

(d) agriculturists

Answers:

1. (b)	2. (d)	3. (d)	4. (a)	5. (b)
6. (b)	7. (d)	8. (d)	9. (d)	10. (b)
11. (c)	12. (d)

13. Which of the following owned majority of the land in Russia?

(a) Peasants, Nobility and Workers

(b) Workers' Crown and Church

(c) Tsar, Peasants and Workers

(d) Nobility, Crown and Church

14. Leader of the Bolsheviks

(a) Kerensky

(b) Vladimir Lenin

(c) Stalin

(d) Gorbachov

15. Which of the following was not a factor in the Revolution of 1905?

(a) October Manifesto

(b) Bloody Sunday

(c) Condition of Workers

(d) Russo-Japanese War

16. Which of the following groups of workers were regarded as aristocrats among workers?

(a) Metal workers

(b) Ship builders

(c) Weavers

(d) Textile workers

17. Party which fought for peasants rights in Russia

(a) Social Democratic Workers Party

(b) Socialist Revolutionary Party

(c) Social Democratic Party

(d) Socialist Party

18. The Russian Parliament:

(a) Reichstag

(b) National Assembly

(c) House of Commons

(d) Duma

19. Which of the following was not a result of Russias' involvement in World War II?

(a) War exposed Russia as incapable of carrying out modern warfare

(b) Breakdown of economy

(c) Discredit of government

(d) Russia became a super power

20. Most significant result of the February Revolution

(a) Suspension of Duma

(b) Abdication of Tsar

(c) Petrogad Soviet

(d) Women's Participation

21. Which of the following was not a feature of the October Manifesto?

(a) Freedom of speech, press and association

(b) Power to make laws conferred on the Duma

(c) Authority of the Tsar was reduced

(d) Final decision-making power was vested in the Tsar

22. International Women's Day is celebrated on

(a) 22nd March

(b) 24th February

(c) 8th May

(d) 22nd February

23. Which of the following was not a part of the 'April Thesis'?

(a) Land to be transferred to the tiller

(b) Banks to be nationalised

(c) Withdrawal from World War I

(d) Establishment of political democracy through constitutional reforms

24. Provisional Government in Russia was led by

(a) Lenin

(b) Stalin

(c) Kerenskii

(d) Bolsheviks

 

ANS :

13. (d)

14. (b)

15. (a)

16. (a)

17. (b)

18. W)

19. (d)

20. (b)

21.(id)

22. (d)

23. (d)

24. (c).