SOCIALISM IN EUROPE AND RUSSIAN REVOLUTION Q N A.docx

COMPLETE AND DETAILS QUESTIONS FOR INTERESTED STUDENTS

1. SOCIALISM IN EUROPE AND RUSSIAN
REVOLUTION
PART 1
20 Questions
(for 1 Mark Each):
1. What were the main industrial areas in Russia
during the late 1800s?
St. Petersburg and Moscow.
2. How many hours did workers often work in
factories?
10 to 12 hours.
3. What was the term used for the peasant
community in Russia?
Commune (mir).
4. Who led the Bolshevik group in Russia?
Vladimir Lenin.
5. Which party struggled for peasants' rights in
1900?
Socialist Revolutionary Party.
6. In Russia, what was the main division among
workers?
Division by skill as a social group.
7. What was the main issue in the 'Bloody Sunday'
i7. incident of 1905?
Workers were attacked while presenting a
petition.
8. Who were the Mensheviks?
A faction of the Russian Social Democratic Workers
Party.
9. What did Russian peasants traditionally divide
among themselves?
Land.
10. What was the Russian Tsar’s attitude toward
parliament in early 20th century?
The Tsar was not responsible to the parliament.
11. What did Lenin believe about the role of
peasants in the revolution?
Peasants would be the main force.
12. Who attacked the workers during the Bloody
Sunday procession?
The police and the Cossacks.
13. In 1904, what happened to the wages of
Russian workers?
Wages decreased by 20 percent.
14. What was the Socialist Revolutionary Party’s
main demand?
Land belonging to nobles be transferred to
peasants.
15. Which group within the Social Democratic
Party believed in mass membership?
Mensheviks.
16. What did the 1905 Revolution demand in
Russia?
A constitution and representative government.
17. Why were most large factories in Russia
controlled by foreigners?
Due to foreign investment.
18. What is a 'commune' in the context of Russian
peasants?
A community of peasants who shared resources.
19. What divided the workers in Russia before
1917?
Skill and social group.
20. Who were the 'Cossacks' in Russian history?
A group of predominantly East Slavic people who
served as military forces.
PART 2
1. Who returned to Russia in April 1917 from exile?
Vladimir Lenin.
2. What did Lenin’s April Theses demand regarding
land?
Land should be transferred to peasants.
3. What did Lenin rename the Bolshevik Party?
The Communist Party.
4. What did Lenin want to end immediately
according to his April Theses?
The war.
5. What role did the Army and Soviets play after
the February Revolution?
They played an important role in the Provisional
Government.
6. What did Lenin propose about banks in his April
Theses?
Banks should be nationalized.
7. Which group resisted the actions of the
Provisional Government in July 1917?
The Bolsheviks.
8. When did the October Revolution take place?
October 1917.
9. Who led the Military Revolutionary Committee
during the October Revolution?
Leon Trotsky.
10. What was the key focus of the October
Revolution?
Seizing power from the Provisional Government.
11. Who did the peasants demand land
redistribution from in 1917?
The nobility.
12. What did the Bolsheviks rename the
Constituent Assembly after dismissing it?
All Russian Congress of Soviets.
13. What treaty did the Bolsheviks sign in 1918 to
end the war with Germany?
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
14. What did the October Revolution mark for the
Bolsheviks?
A shift towards socialism and state control.
15. What major change did the Bolsheviks bring in
November 1917?
Nationalization of banks and industries.
16. What happened to private property after the
October Revolution?
It was opposed and largely abolished.

2. 17. What was the outcome for Bolshevik
supporters by the end of 1917?
They gained control over Moscow and Petrograd.
18. Who played a major role in the Bolshevik Party
after October 1917?
Vladimir Lenin.
19. What were young writers and artists
encouraged to oppose post-1917?
The older social structures and tsarist influence.
20. What did the Bolsheviks believe about the
Congress of Soviets
It was more democratic than the Assembly.
PART 3
10 Questions (for 1 Mark Each):
1. What caused the 1930-33 famine in Soviet
history?
The planned economy and collectivization.
2. What was the estimated death toll during the
1930-33 Soviet famine?
Over 4 million people.
3. Which country was inspired by the Russian
Revolution for socialist policies?
India.
4. Who criticized Stalin's policies in the USSR?
Many within the party.
5. What was a key issue with Stalin's
collectivization?
Confusion in industrial production.
6. Which conference did non-Russians participate
in after the Revolution?
The Conference of the People of the East.
7. What international body did the Bolsheviks
establish for socialist parties?
Comintern.
8. Which Indian poet took interest in Soviet
socialism?
Rabindranath Tagore.
9. What was a major influence of the Russian
Revolution globally?
Encouragement of anti-colonial movements.
10. What were writings on Soviet Russia focused
on in India?
Socialist ideas and Russian policies…
PART 4 3 MARKS
Here are 30 questions and answers based on the
provided passages about social and political
changes in Europe and Russia:
The Age of Social Change
1. Q: What major shift did the French Revolution
introduce in society?
A: The French Revolution introduced the possibility
of creating a new social structure based on
equality and individual rights, moving away from
the traditional estate system controlled by the
aristocracy and the church.
2. Q: Who in India highlighted the significance of
the French Revolution?
A: Indian reformers like Raja Rammohan Roy and
Derozio emphasized the significance of the French
Revolution.
3. Q: Which three main groups emerged in Europe
after the French Revolution?
A: The three main groups that emerged were
Liberals, Radicals, and Conservatives.
Liberals, Radicals, and Conservatives
4. Q: What social changes did Liberals advocate
for?
A: Liberals supported tolerance for all religions,
opposed dynastic rulers' uncontrolled power, and
advocated for individual rights and an elected,
representative parliamentary government.
5. Q: What type of government did Radicals
support?
A: Radicals supported a government based on
majority rule and opposed privileges for
landowners and wealthy factory owners.
6. Q: Did Liberals support universal adult suffrage?
A: No, Liberals did not support universal adult
suffrage and believed in voting rights mainly for
men.
7. Q: What stance did Conservatives take regarding
social change?
A: Conservatives were initially against change but,
by the 19th century, accepted the idea of slow-
paced changes while respecting past traditions.
8. Q: What did Radicals think about private
property?
A: Radicals supported private property but disliked
the concentration of property in the hands of a
few.
Industrial Society and Social Change
9. Q: What major societal changes occurred during
the Industrial Revolution?
A: New cities, industrial regions, and railway lines
were developed, while men, women, and children
worked in factories with poor wages and long
hours.
10. Q: What were some social issues that arose
due to rapid town growth?
A: Rapid town growth led to problems with
housing and sanitation.
11. Q: How did Liberals and Radicals respond to
the problems of industrial society
A: They searched for solutions to improve workers'
conditions and encouraged workers' efforts.
12. Q: What did some Nationalists, Liberals, and
Radicals want to achieve through revolutions in
Europe?
A: They wanted to overthrow monarchies and
establish governments that granted equal rights to
all citizens.

3. 13. Q: Who was Giuseppe Mazzini, and what was
his role?
A: Giuseppe Mazzini was an Italian nationalist who
conspired with others to create a united Italy with
equal rights for citizens.
The Coming of Socialism to Europe
14. Q: When did socialism become a widely
recognized body of ideas in Europe?
A: By the mid-19th century, socialism was well-
known and attracted widespread attention.
15. Q: What was the socialists' main criticism of
private property?
A: Socialists believed that private property allowed
for inequality and exploitation of workers
16. Q: What was Robert Owen's vision for society?
A: Robert Owen envisioned a cooperative
community where resources and profits were
shared among all members.
17. Q: What was Louis Blanc’s proposal for
addressing inequality?
A: Louis Blanc proposed that the government
support cooperatives where workers produced
goods together and shared profits fairly.
18. Q: How did Karl Marx view the relationship
between workers and capitalists?
A: Karl Marx believed that the profits of industrial
society were produced by workers, but the
benefits went to capitalists, causing worker
exploitation.
19. Q: What kind of society did Karl Marx advocate
for?
A: Marx advocated for a socialist society where all
property would be socially controlled.
20. Q: What role did Friedrich Engels play in
socialist thought?
A: Friedrich Engels supported the idea of
overthrowing capitalism and ending private
property to create a fairer society.
Support for Socialism
21. Q: What was the Second International?
A: The Second International was an international
socialist organization that aimed to spread socialist
ideas across Europe.
22. Q: Why were worker associations like the
Social Democratic Party formed?
A: They were formed to improve working and
living conditions for workers and to help members
in times of need.
23. Q: What demands were commonly made by
socialist parties and trade unions?
A: They demanded shorter working hours and the
right to vote.
24. Q: By 1905, what two major political parties
had emerged in Britain and France to support
workers’ rights?
A: In Britain, the Labour Party emerged, and in
France, the Socialist Party was formed.
25. Q: Were socialists successful in forming a
government in Europe by 1914
A: No, by 1914, socialists had not formed a
government, although they were active in
parliamentary politics.
The Russian Revolution
26. Q: What two major events marked the Russian
Revolution?
A: The February Revolution, which marked the
decline of monarchy, and the October Revolution,
when socialists took over the government.
27. Q: Who was the ruler of Russia in 1914?
A: Tsar Nicholas II was the ruler of Russia in 1914.
28. Q: What regions were included in the Russian
Empire in 1914?
A: The empire included present-day Finland,
Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, parts of Poland, Ukraine,
Belarus, and extended to Central Asia.
29. Q: What was the primary source of livelihood
for most Russians at the beginning of the 20th
century?
A: About 55% of the Russian population earned
their living from agriculture.
30. Q: What was the role of Russian grain
production in the empire’s economy?
A: Russia was a major grain exporter, with
cultivators producing both for the market and their
own needs.
PART 5 1 MARK QUESTIONS
1. Q: “The year 1904 was particularly bad for the
Russian workers.” Give reason.
A: In 1904, prices of essential goods rose so quickly
that the real wages declined by 20%.
2. Q: Which incident of the Russian history is
known as ‘Bloody Sunday’?
A: It was an incident in which more than 100
workers were killed and about 300 wounded as
they marched peacefully to the Winter Palace.
3. Q: What was the basic idea of socialism?
A: Socialists were against private property, and
saw it as the root of all social ills of the time.
4. Q: What was the basic idea of a communist
society?
A: All properties should be socially controlled.
5. Q: Who was Karl Marx?
A: Karl Marx was a philosopher who favoured
socialism. He believed that to free themselves
from capitalist exploitation, workers had to
construct a radically socialist society, where all
properties were socially controlled.
6. Q: What was the Second International?
A: It was an international body formed to
coordinate the ideas of socialists.
7. Q: Name the European nation where the first-
ever socialist government was formed.
A: Russia.

4. 8. Q: What was the Russian Revolution?
A: The fall of monarchy in February 1917 and the
events of October are normally called the Russian
Revolution.
9. Q: Who was ruling over Russia when the Russian
Revolution took place?
A: Tsar Nicholas II.
10. Q: What was Bolsheviks?
A: It was a socialist party of Russia which was led
by Lenin.
11. Q: What was Mensheviks?
A: It was a breakaway group of Bolsheviks. It was
also a socialist party like that of Bolshevik.
12. Q: When was the Russian Social Democratic
Workers Party founded, and by whom?
A: In 1898, by the socialists who respected Marx's
ideas.
13. Q: Why was 22nd February celebrated as the
International Women’s Day?
A: Because on this day, women workers of Russia
led a huge strike in the factories.
14. Q: What was Lenin’s ‘April Theses’?
A: In 1917, Lenin declared that the war be brought
to a close, land be transferred to the peasants, and
banks be nationalized. These three demands were
Lenin’s ‘April Theses’.
15. Q: Who were the ‘greens’ and ‘whites’?
A: They were groups of people who were against
the Bolshevik Revolution. They started a civil war
and were supported by French, American, British,
and Japanese troops.
16. Q: Who headed the Communist Party of Russia
after the death of Lenin?
A: Stalin.
17. Q: Who were Kulaks?
A: Kulaks were the well-to-do peasants of Russia.
18. Q: Why did the Stalin government want to
eliminate Kulaks?
A: After 1917, land had been given over to
peasants. These small-sized peasant farms could
not be modernized. To develop modern farms, it
was necessary to ‘eliminate Kulaks,’ take away
land from peasants, and establish state-controlled
large farms.
19. Q: What was collectivization policy? Why was
this policy introduced in Russia?
A: Under collectivization, Kulaks were eliminated,
and land was converted into state-controlled large
farms. This policy was introduced to increase
productivity.
20. Q: Who were the liberals?
A: It was a group of Russian society which wanted
to change Russia. Liberals wanted a nation that
tolerated all religions.
21. Q: Name any two Indian nationalists who
talked of the significance of the French Revolution.
A: (i) Raja Ram Mohan Roy (ii) Derozio.
22. Q: Which was the most important economic
activity of the majority of Russians at the
beginning of the 20th century?
A: Agriculture.