Chapter - 2: Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution
I. Answer the following questions.
1. What were the social, economic, and political conditions in Russia before 1905?
Ans: Before 1905, Russia was characterized by:
- Social Inequality: A rigid social hierarchy with the nobility and clergy enjoying privileges, while peasants and industrial workers faced poverty and oppression.
- Economic Backwardness: Most of the population lived in rural areas, engaged in agriculture under the outdated system of serfdom. Industrialization was slow, and factory workers faced harsh working conditions.
- Political Repression: Russia was ruled by an autocratic Tsarist regime, where the Tsar had absolute power and opposition was suppressed through censorship and secret police.
Ans: The working population in Russia differed from other European countries before 1917 in several ways:
- Large Peasant Population: Unlike in Western Europe, where industrialization led to a shift from agriculture to industry, in Russia, a significant portion of the population remained peasants engaged in agriculture.
- Harsh Working Conditions: Industrial workers in Russia faced extremely harsh working conditions, with long hours, low wages, and minimal rights compared to their counterparts in Western Europe.
- Political Repression: Workers in Russia were subject to severe political repression under the Tsarist regime, which suppressed labor movements and unions.
Ans: The Tsarist autocracy collapsed in 1917 due to a combination of factors:
- World War I: Russia's involvement in World War I led to military failures, economic hardship, and discontent among soldiers and civilians.
- February Revolution: Widespread strikes, food shortages, and military mutinies in February 1917 forced Tsar Nicholas II to abdicate, leading to the collapse of the autocracy.
- Failure to Address Grievances: The Tsarist regime's failure to address social, economic, and political grievances, coupled with growing revolutionary sentiment, undermined its legitimacy.
Ans:
- February Revolution:
- Main Events: Strikes, food shortages, and military mutinies led to Tsar Nicholas II's abdication.
- Effects: Establishment of a provisional government and the formation of soviets (workers' councils), marking the end of Tsarist rule.
- October Revolution:
- Main Events: Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, seized power from the provisional government in a coup d'état.
- Effects: Establishment of a communist government, the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly, and the beginning of Soviet rule.
Ans: After the October Revolution, the Bolsheviks implemented several key changes:
- Land Reforms: Land was confiscated from the nobility and distributed among peasants.
- Nationalization of Industry: Factories and businesses were nationalized, bringing them under state control.
- Peace Treaty: The Bolsheviks signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, ending Russia's involvement in World War I.
- Introduction of War Communism: The Bolsheviks implemented policies of centralized control over the economy and requisitioning of grain from peasants to support the war effort.
Ans:
- Kulaks: Wealthy peasants who opposed collectivization and were targeted by Stalin's policies.
- The Duma: An elected legislative body established by Tsar Nicholas II in 1905, but it had limited powers and was dissolved multiple times.
- Women Workers between 1900 and 1930: Women played a significant role in Russia's industrial workforce during this period, often facing harsh working conditions and discrimination.
- The Liberals: Political group advocating for political reform and constitutional monarchy in Russia.
- Stalin’s Collectivization Programme: Stalin's policy of forcibly consolidating individual farms into collective farms to increase agricultural productivity, which resulted in widespread resistance and famine.