1

CHAPTER
The French Revolution

School Level
The French revolution is considered as the most important landmark in human history. The revolution occurred in
1789 and swept away the existing political institutions, overthrew the French Monarchy and aimed at establishing an
egalitarian society and responsible government. The revolution began with the siege of Bastille on July 14, 1789 and
continued until the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte to power.

French Society During the Late Eighteenth Century

The term ‘Old Regime’ is usually used to describe the society and institutions of France before 1789. French
society before 1789 was divided into three estates; it was called a society of estates . The estates constituted as
follows:
‰In 1744, Louis XVI of the Bourbon family of kings ascended the throne of France at the age of 20 years.
‰Upon his accession he found on empty treasury.
‰To meet its regular expense, such as the cost of maintaining an army the court running government offices or universities,
the state was forced to increase taxes on third state.

Clergy

1st Estate
Privileged Classes by Birth 60% Land owned by them
[Persons with special
function feudl privileges]

Nobility Led a life of Luxury Enjoyed certain Exemption from

privileges by birth paying taxes
2nd Estate
[Persons with special
function feudl privileges]

3rd Estate

Merchants, court officials

Big Businessmen etc. No feudal Privileges

Consist of 90% Peasants and Artisans

Population Landless, Servants, Small All burden of financial activities carried by this class.
Peasants, Labour
 In the context of French society during the late Eighteenth Century
Livre - Unit of currency in France, discontinued in 1974.
™
Clergy - Group of persons invested with special functions in the church.
™
Tithe - A tax levied by the church, comprising one-tenth of the agricultural produce.
™
Taille - Tax to be paid directly to the state.
™
Substance crisis - An extreme situation where the basic means of livelihood are endangered anonymous - one whose
™
name remains unknown.
Treason - Betrayal of one's country or government
™

Causes of the French Revolution

Political Causes
(i) The political structure of the French state was highly unpopular with the people who were burdened with heavy taxes
and insecure conditions of life and property.
(ii) Divine rights of the kings, despotism and tyranny of the French monarchs topped by the extravagance and inefficiency
of the Bourbon Kings.
(iii) Louis XV indulged in a life of ease and pleasure, was not interested in administrative reforms or the welfare of the
people.
(iv) Louis XVI though good natured was completely under the influence of incompetent and corrupt ministers and a
domineering queen, Marie Antoinette.
(v) Absence of any representative body to voice the needs of the people . Local bodies called Parliament were courts of
justice rather than voices of people.
Social Forces
(i) The unfair division of French society and its feudal nature were also responsible for the revolution.
(ii) The first two estates enjoyed all the privileges and benefits in the society. The third estate was fraught with inequalities
and discrimination. Most of the burden of taxation was borne by the least privileged and most impoverished third
estate.
(iii) Middle class was most receptive to new ideas and values as they were educated and had a broader outlook , denied
the whole ideas, rights and privileged existence where the main qualification is that of birth and instead favoured the
criterion of merit.

Economic Unrest
(i) In the 18th century the condition of the common man had become pathetic, problems of subsistence due to failure of
crops, increase in the prices of food grains.
(ii) In the second half of the 18th century the French economy had started expanding. but its financial impact was uneven,
hardest hit were the Third Estate. The population of France rose from 23 million in 1751 to 28 million in 1789.
(iii) Between 1689 and 1783 French fought several long and exhausting wars which proved to be disastrous both in terms
of French Manpower and finances, not only led to mounting debts but interest on these debts also multiplied.
(iv) To meet its mounting costs the government increased taxes. Peasantry was the hardest hit who owned the minimum
land and paid the maximum taxes.
(v) Taxes were Taille the direct land tax, salt tax known as Gabelle, feudal dues or payments were taken by nobility and
taxes known as Tithe were taken by the Church.

164 Class-IX HISTORY PW

A Growing Middle Class Envisages an End to Privileges
(i) In eighteenth century, France witnessed the emergence of social groups, termed the middle class, who earned their
wealth through an expanding overseas trade and from the manufacture of goods.
(ii) All of these were educated and believed that no group in society should be privileged by birth. Rather a persons
social position must depend on his merit.
(iii) The French Revolution drew its strength from the ideas of philosophers and thinkers of the time, groups of intellectuals
classified by scholars according to their thinking,
(iv) Physiocrates, Philosophers and some others were grouped as liberals depending on their ideologies.
(v) Greatest thinkers were Francois Marie, Arouet de Voltaire, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Charles Louis Montesquieu, John
Locke and Diderot to name a few.
(vi) Through their teachings and writings they stirred the people to action, revolutionized the minds of the people and
prepared them for the great changes ahead.
Contribution of the thinkers
(i) Charles Montesquieu – A noble by birth, he became a lawyer and a judge. He preferred constitutional monarchy in
France, he popularized the theory of powers within the government between the legislative , the executive and the
judiciary in his book “The Spirit of the Laws”
(ii) Francis Aronet Voltaire – he was another outstanding philosopher of the revolution. He wanted the people to think
about their material life on earth and forget about heaven. He condemned the Church which supported the ignored the
poor.
(iii) Jean Jacques Rousseau – he is regarded as the architect of the French Revolution . In the famous book “The Social
Contract”, he proved that the government was the result of a social contract between the people on one hand and the
ruler on the other. So if the ruler didn’t fulfill the contract, the people had the right to withdraw their loyalty to him
and bring down the tyranny of the ruler by revolting against him.
(iv) John Locke – he was a great political thinker. He wrote “Two Treatises of Government ``in which he sought to refute
the doctrine of the divine and absolute right of monarch.

The Outbreak of the Revolution

On 5 May 1789, Louis XVI called together an assembly to the Estate General to pass proposals for new taxes. The Estate
General was a political body. The three estates sent their representatives to his body. Each of the three estates had one vote
each. The first estate and the second estate had sent 300 representatives each. They were seated in rows facing each other on
two sides. The third estate had sent 600 representatives. They required standing at the back. Peasants, artisans and women
were denied entry to the assembly. New taxes could be proposed only after the Estate General gave its approval to the king’s
proposal.
Since the first estate and the second estate were exempted from paying taxes, it was a foregone conclusion that the king’s
proposals on new taxes would get the approval of the Estate General.
(a) The Tennis Court Oath
The representatives of the Estate on 20 June assembled in the hall of an indoor tennis court in the grounds of Versailles.
They declared themselves a National Assembly and swore not to disperse till they had drafted a constitution of France that
would limit the powers of the monarch. While the National assembly was busy at Versailles the rest of France seethed with
turmoil, on 14 July the agitated crowd stormed and destroyed the Bastille.

(b) Storming of the Bastille

On the morning of July 14, 1789 the city of Paris was in a state of alarm. a severe winter had meant a bad harvest; the price
of bread rose. Bakers exploited the situation and hoarded supplies. Crowds of angry women stormed into the shops.
The army was ordered by the king to move into the city. It was rumored that the army would be ordered to open fire upon
the citizens. Thousands of people gathered and decided to form a people’s militia. They broke into a number of government

The French Revolution 165

buildings in search of arms. Bastille was a dreaded fortress-prison. it was hated by all because it stood for the despotic power
of the king. Protestors stormed into the Bastille in search of arms. The commander of Bastille was killed; the prisoners were
released. The fortress was demolished .Louis XVI finally accorded recognition to the National Assembly and accepted the
principle that his powers would from now on be checked by a constitution. On the Night of 4 August 1789, the Assembly
passed a decree abolishing the feudal system of obligations and taxes.
(c) France becomes a Constitutional Monarchy
(i) The National Assembly completed the drafting of
the constitution in 1791. Power was now separated
and assigned to different institutions-the legislature,
executive and judiciary making France a constitutional
monarchy.
(ii) The Constitution of 1791 vested the power to make
laws in the National Assembly, which was indirectly
elected.
(iii) The Constitution began with a Declaration of the
Rights of Man and Citizen. Rights such as the Right
of life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion,
equality before law were established as ‘natural and
inalienable’ rights.
(iv) Only men above 25 years of age who paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of a Labourer's wage, were given the status
of active citizens that is, they were entiled to vote.
(v) The remaining men and all women were classed as a passive citizens.

The Constitution of 1791

France became Fedual privileges Active citizen Constitution took shape

constitutional withdrawn land of got the right to with the declaration of
monarchy church seized vote. man citizen.

National Assembly Division of power between Freedom of speech, Right to life,

to make laws legislature, Executive and Judiciary equality before law established
as natural and inalienable rights.

(d) The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen

U Men are born and remain free and equal in rights.
U The aim of every political association is the preservation of the natural and inalienable rights of man; these are liberty,
property, security and resistance to oppression.
U The source of all sovereignty resides in the nation; no group or individual may exercise authority that does not come
from the people.
U Liberty consists of the power to do whatever is not injurious to others.
U The law has the right to forbid only actions that are injurious to society.
U Law is the expression of the general will. All citizens have the right to participate in its formation, personally or
through their representatives. All citizens are equal before it.

166 Class-IX HISTORY PW

 U No man be accused, arrested or detained, except in cases determined by the law.
U Every citizen may speak, write and print freely; he must take responsibility for the abuse of such liberty in cases
determined by the law.
U For the maintenance of the public force and the expenses of administration a common tax is indispensable ; it must
be assessed equally on all citizens in proportion to their means.
U Since property is a sacred and inviolable right, no one may be deprived of it, unless a legally established public
necessity requires it. in that case a just compensation must be given in advance
Le-Barbier painted the declaration of the rights of man and citizens in 1790. Majority of people at that time could not read
and write, so he used many symbols to convey the content of the declaration of rights.
U Figure on the right represented France and figure on the left symbolized the law
U The broken chain - Stands for the act of becoming free.
U The bundle of rods - it implies that strength lies in unity as one can be easily broken but not an entire bundle.
U The eye within a triangle radiating light - Eye stand for knowledge, the rays of sun will drive away the clouds of
ignorance
U Scepter - It is a symbol of royal power.
U Snake biting its tail to form a ring, a symbol of eternity.
U Red cap - Cap worn by a slave upon becoming free.
U Blue, White, Red - these are National colours of France.
U Winged woman - Personification of the law.
U The law tablet - the law is the same for all.

France Abolishes Monarchy and Becomes a Republic

U Although Louis XVI had signed the constitution, he entered into secret negotiations with the king of Prussia.
U Neighbouring countries were worried by the development in France and made plans to send troops to put down the
events.
U French National Assembly voted to declare war against Prussia and Austria.
U The Marseillaise became the National anthem of France.
U Constitution of 1791 gave political rights only to the richer sections of society.
U Political clubs became an important rallying point for people who wished to discuss government policies and plan
their own forms of action.

Jacobian Club

Leader was Got the name Were striped trousers Members belonged to less
Maximilian from convent of red cap (symbol of prosperous sections
Robespierre St. Jacob liberty)

called sons - culottes

The French Revolution 167

‰In 1792, the Jacobin planned an insurrection of a large number of Parisians who were angered by the short supplies and
high prices of food.
‰On 10 August 1792 in tuileries, Jacobins, massacred the king's guards and kept the king in hostage.
‰National Assembly was abolished and newly elected body called the convention was formed.
‰Louis XVI was charged with treason and sentenced to death, 12st Jan 1973, Queen met the same fate shortly.
‰Now people got voting rights with age 21 and above

New elected assembly convention

Elected by all men 21 Abolished monarchy 21 Sep 1792 New Declaration of France
years body was formed as republic

(a) The Reign of Terror

‰Robespierre followed a policy of severe control and punishment.
‰Those, whose were 'enemies' of the republic, ennobles and clergy, member of other political parties, were imprisoned
arrested.
‰If they were found guilty, they were guillotined.

Guillotined

A device, consist of two poles and a It was named after Dr. Guillotin, who
blade with which a person is beheaded invented it.

Robespierre's government's laws

Maximum ceiliny Citizens were required Churches Meat and Equality, through
on wages and to eat the pain shut down bread forms of speech
prices (equality bread) rationed and address

Every one to be Peasants were forced to sell their Expensive white flour was
called as citizen crops on fix prices. forbidden

(b) A Directory Rules France

The reign of terror ended in 1794. The Jacobin government fell, and a new constitution was prepared by an elected
convention providing for a republican from a government with a legislature and an executive body called the Directory.
Directory was an executive made up of five members. Directors often clashed with the legislative councils, who then
sought to dismiss them. The political instability of the Directory paved the way for the rise of a military dictator,
Napoleon Bonaparte.

168 Class-IX HISTORY PW

Did Woman have a Revolution
(i) Most women of the third estate had to work for a living, and did not have access to education or job training. Working
women had also to for their families; their wages were lower than those of men.
(ii) In order to discuss and voice their interests women started their own political clubs and newspapers. about sixty
women’s clubs came up in different French cities. One of their main demands was that women enjoy the same political
rights as men.
(iii) In the early years, the revolutionary government did introduce laws that helped to improve the lives of women, creation
of state schools, schooling made compulsory for all girls, could no longer be forced to get into marriage against their
will, Divorce could be applied for by both women and men. Women could now train for jobs, could become artists or
run small businesses.
(iv) During the Reign of Terror, the new government issued laws ordering closure of women’s clubs and banning their
political activities.
(v) The fight for the vote was carried out through an International suffrage movement during the late nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries. It was finally in 1946 that women in France won the right to vote.

The Abolition of Slavery

(i) Slavery was rampant in the European colonies of the Caribbean and the Americans. The slaves were mostly used on
sugar, coffee, indigo and tobacco plantations. Their demand was because of their availability and low costs.
(ii) in a debate in the Constituent Assembly in October 1790, to safeguard commercial interests of ‘planters’ two parties
holding opposite views emerged . The group that safeguarded planters’ interests but pledged to maintain order in the
colonies came up around the Massaic Club founded in August 1789 and their adversaries were the Society of the
Friends of the Blacks founded in 1783. The outcome of the debate was that I served the purpose of drawing attention
to the condition of slaves and sowing seeds of future political divisions.
(iii) On February 4, 1794 the Convention (National Assembly) ended slavery in the France Colonies. Napoleon Bonaparte
revoked the decree in 1802, slavery was finally abolished from the France Colonies in 1848.
The French Revolution produced great effects not only in France but also on the whole of Europe.

(a) Effect on France

The French Revolution put an end to the arbitrary rule in France and paved the way for the establishment of a republic there.
The special privileges of the high order were abolished and led to the regeneration of France on the basis of social equality.
The declaration of the right of man granted freedom and individual liberty to all without any distraction of class or creed.
Many reforms were introduced in the administration. The higher and important posts in the state were opened to talented
people. All were granted religious freedom. The Napoleonic code introduced an uniform system of law for France and made
it quite clear and simple.

(b) Effects on Europe

(i) Equality - The France Revolution had a great influence on Europe. Equality was one of the main principles of the
French Revolution. it implied the equality of all before law and abolition of privileges enjoyed by the upper order in
the society. It established social, economic and political equality in European countries.
(ii) Liberty - Revolutionary idea of liberty was hailed all over Europe. it implied social, political and religious freedom.
The declaration of rights made people understand the importance of personal liberty and rights.
(iii) Sovereignty - The France revolution emphasized the fact that sovereignty recites in the general public and law should
be based on the will of the people. It infused the spirit of nationalism and patriotism in the people.

The French Revolution 169

(c) Global Impact
(i) The French Revolution had a global impact which was felt in India.
(ii) The UN charter of Human Right also embodies the principles of the Revolution as laid down in the Declaration of
Right of Man and Citizens.

The Rise and Fall of Napoleon

In 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte himself became Emperor of France. He set out to conquer neighbouring European
countries, dispossessing dynasties and creating kingdoms where he placed members of his family. Napoleon saw his
role as a moderniser of Europe. He introduced many laws such as the protection of private property and a uniform
system of weight and measures provided by the decimal system. Initially, many saw Napoleon as a liberation who
would bring freedom for the people. But soon the Napoleonic armies came to be viewed everywhere as an invading
force. He was finally defeated at Waterloo in 1815.

Key Dates
Important Dates
1. 14th July 1789: the king of Paris ordered the troops to move into the city.
2. 1774: Louis XVI of Bourbon family ascended The Throne of France
3. 1614: the monarch for the last time could decide when to call a meeting of his body.
4. 5th May 1759: Louis XVI called together and assembly of the estates general to pass proposals for new taxes
5. 28 June 1789: the representatives of the third estate assembled in the Hall Of an indoor tennis court in the grounds
of Versailles.
6. 14th July 1789: the agitated crowd stormed and destroyed the bastille.
7. 4th August 1789: the Assembly passed a decree abolishing the feudal system of obligation and Taxes
8. 1791: the national assembly completed the draught of the Constitution in 1791
9. 1792: the national assembly voted to declare war against Prussia and Austria
10. Summer of 1792: the Jacobins planned and insurrection of the large number of Parisians who when a angered by
the short supplies and high prices of food.
11. 21st September 1792: the newly elected assembly abolished the monarchy and declared France as a Republic
12. 21st January 1793: Louis XVI was executed publicly at the place de la Concorde.
13. Period between 1793 and 94: regarded as the reign of terror.
14. 1791: declaration of the rights of women and citizen was written by olympe de Gouges
15. 1794: all the slaves were freed in French
16. 1848: slavery was finally abolished in France
17. 1815: the battle of Waterloo.

170 Class-IX HISTORY PW

 NCERT Exercise
1. Describe the circumstances leading to the outbreak of 2. Which groups of French society benefited from the
revolutionary protest in France? revolution? Which groups were forced to relinquish
power? Which sections of society would have been
Ans. The following circumstances led to the outbreak of
disappointed with the outcome of the revolution?
revolutionary protest in France:
Ans. (i) The wealthy class of the third estate which came
(i) Louis XVI was an autocratic ruler who could not
to be known as the new middle class of France
compromise with his luxurious life. He also lacked benefited the most from the revolution. This group
farsightedness. comprised of big businessmen, petty officers,
(ii) When he ascended the throne the royal treasury was lawyers, teachers, doctors and traders. Previously,
empty. Long years of war had drained the financial these people had to pay state taxes and they did
resources of France. Added to this was the cost of not enjoy equal status. But after the revolution they
maintaining an extravagant court at the immense began to be treated equally with the upper sections
palace of Versailles. of the society.
(iii) Under Louis XVI France helped the thirteen (ii) With the abolition of feudal system of obligation
American colonies to gain their independence from and taxes, the clergy and the nobility came on the
Britain the war added more than a billion livres to same level with the middle class. They were forced
to give up their privileges. Their executive powers
a dept credit, now began to charge 10% interest
were also taken away from them.
on loans. So the French government was obliged
(iii) The poorer sections of the society, i.e. small
to spend an increasing percentage of its budget on
peasants, landless labourers, servants, daily wage
interest payments alone.
earners would have been disappointed with the
(iv) The state finally increased taxes to meet its regular outcome of the revolution. Women also would
expenses such as the cost of maintaining an army, have been highly discontented.
running government offices and universities. 3. Describe the legacy of the French Revolution for the
(v) The French society was divided into three estates peoples of the world during the nineteenth and the
but only members of the first two estates i.e,, the twentieth centuries.
clergy and the nobles were exempted to pay taxes. Ans. The French Revolution proved to be the most important
They belonged to privileged class. Thus the burden event in the history of the world.
of financing activities of the state through taxes (i) The ideas of liberty and democratic rights were the
was borne by the third estate only. most important legacy of the French Revolution.
(vi) The middle class that emerged in the 18th century These ideas became an umpiring force for the
France was educated and enlightened. They refuted political movements in the world in the 19th and
the theory of divine rights of the kings and absolute 20th centuries.
monarchy. They believed that a person’s social (ii) The ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity spread
position must depend on his merit. They had from France to the rest of Europe, where feudal
access to the various ideas of equality and freedom system was finally abolished.
proposed by philosophers like John Locke, Jean (iii) Colonised people reworked on the idea of freedom
Jacques Rousseau, Montesquieu etc. Their ideas from bondage into their movements to Create a
sovereign nation-state.
got popularised among the common mass as a
(iv) The idea of Nationalism that emerged after
result of intensive discussions and debates in
the French Revolution started becoming mass
saloons and coffee houses and through books and
movements all over the world. Now people began
newspapers. to question the absolute power.
(vii) The French administration was extremely corrupt. (v) The impact of the French Revolution would be
It did not give weightage to the French Common seen in India too. Tipu Sultan and Raja Rammohan
man. Roy got deeply influenced by the ideas of the

The French Revolution 171

 revolution. In the end, we can say that after the men enjoyed. They did not have the right to liberty,
French Revolution people all over the world property, security and above all, the resistance to
became aware of their rights. oppression. In the formulation of laws, women did
4. Draw up a list of democratic rights we enjoy today not have any representation. Women were not entitled
whose origins could be traced to the French Revolution. to all the honours and public employment, according
to their abilities.
Ans. The list of democratic rights are
6. How would you explain the rise of Napoleon?
(i) Freedom of speech (ii) Freedom of expression
(iii) Freedom of press (iv) Abolition of censorship Ans. Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor
(v) Right to vote (vi) Abolition of slavery of France. He started conquering neighbouring
(vii) Right to liberty (viii) Right to property countries by waging wars against them. He saw
himself as a moderniser of Europe. He introduced
(ix) Right to security (x) Right to education
many laws, such as the protection of private
(xi) Divorce laws
property and a uniform system of weights and
5. Would you agree with the view that the message measures provided by the decimal system. Many
of universal rights was beset with contradictions? of his measures carried the revolutionary ideas of
Explain. liberty and modern laws to the other parts of Europe.
Ans. Though it says ‘Universal Rights’, women were This had a positive impact on people long after he
unfortunately left out from the basic rights that was dethroned as an emperor when he was finally
were promised. They did not have equal rights that defeated in the Battle of Waterloo.

Quick Recall
(a) P-(iii), Q-(ii), R-(iv), S-(i)
Fill in the Blanks (b) P-(i), Q-(iii), R-(ii), S-(iv)
1. In 1774, Louis XVI of the Bourbon family of Kings (c) P-(iv), Q-(i), R-(iii), S-(ii)
ascended the throne of __________. (d) P-(ii), Q-(iv), R-(i), S-(iii)
2. The burden of financial activities of state during the 2. List-I List-II
Old Regime was borne by the ________.
P. 1804 (i) Robes pierre made a speech
3. The American constitution and its guarantee of
at the convention, which was
individual rights was an important example for
carried by the newspaper.
political thinkers in _________.
Q. 1815 (ii) Nepolean was defeated at
4. Constitution of 1791 gave political rights only to Water loo
_________ sections of society.
R. 1793-1794 (iii) Napoleon become emperor of
5. On 21 January 1793_________ I was executed France
publicly at the Place de la Concorde. The queen Marie
S. 7 Feb, 1794 (iv) Period, referred as the Reign
Antoinette met with the same fate shortly after.
of Terror.
Match the Following (a) P-(ii), Q-(iii), R-(i), S-(iv)
(b) P-(i), Q-(ii), R-(iv), S-(iii)
1. List-I List-II (c) P-(iii), Q-(ii), R-(iv), S-(i)
P. 1774 (i) Louis XVI becomes king of France (d) P-(iv), Q-(iii), R-(i), S-(ii)
Q. 1789 (ii) A constitution is framed to limit
the powers of the king Assertion & Reason Type Questions
R. 1791 (iii) Convocation of Estates General.
Direction: In the following questions, a statement of
S. 1792- (iv) France becomes a republic, the Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R).
93 king be headed Mark the correct choice.

172 Class-IX HISTORY PW

(a) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true 5. Assertion (A): The National Assembly completed the
and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of draft of the Constitution in 1791.
Assertion (A). Reason (R): The main objective of this constitution
was to increase the powers of the monarch.
(b) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and
Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Statement Type Questions
Assertion (A). Read the following statements and select the correct
(c) Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false. options.
(d) Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true. (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct.
1. Assertion (A): The period from 1795 to 1798 is (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are incorrect.
referred as the Reign of Terror. (c) Statement-I is correct & Statement-II is incorrect.
Reason (R): Robespierre followed a policy of severe (d) Statement-I is incorrect & Statement-II is correct.
control and punishment. 1. Statement-I: In the summer of 1792 the Jacobins
2. Assertion (A): In 1774, Louis XVI of the Bourbon planned an insurrection of a large number of Parisians
family of kings ascended the throne of France. who were angered by the short supplies and high
Reason (R): Under Louis XVI, France helped fifteen prices of food.
German colonies to gain their independence from Statement-II: the Assembly voted to imprison the
Britain. royal family. Elections were held. From now on all
3. Assertion (A): On the Morning of 14th July 1789, the men of 21 years and above, regardless of wealth, got
city of Paris was in a State of alarm. the right to vote.
Reason (R): Some 7,000 men and women gathered in 2. Statement-I: The newly elected assembly was called
front of the town hall and decided to form a people’s the Convention.
Militia. Statement-II: On 21 September 1792 it abolished the
4. Assertion (A): The formation of the National monarchy and declared France a republic.
Assembly was one of the most important events in 3. Statement-I: In The Spirit of the Laws, Montesquieu
late 18th century France. proposed a division of power within the government
Reason (R): Ever since the National Assembly was between the legislative, the executive and the judiciary.
formed, people started gathering cut side the Palace Statement-II: This model of government was put into
of Versailles where leaders like Mirabeau gave some force in the USA, after the thirteen colonies declared
very powerful speeches. their independence from Britain.

1. The various groups in France society were known as: 4. A kind of tax called Taille was a/an:
(a) Caster (b) Classes (a) Direct tax
(c) Estates (d) Tribes (b) Indirect tax
2. The term old regime used to describe the society and (c) indiscriminate tax
institution of France: (d) Custom duty
(a) Before 1879 (b) Before 1689 5. The population of France rose from ____________ in
(c) Before 1789 (d) Before 1859 1751 to ____________ in 1789:
3. Peasants made about _______ Percent of the France (a) 20 million to 30 million
population at the time of revolution: (b) 23 million to 28 million
(a) 70% (b) 80% (c) 18 million to 24 million
(c) 50% (d) 90% (d) 13 million to 18 million

The French Revolution 173

 6. Montesquieu wrote: 11. The constitution begins with a declaration of the –
(a) The social control (a) Rights of Church (b) Rights of the king
(b) Two treatises of government (c) Rights of feudal lords (d) Rights of man
(c) The spirit of laws 12. After signing the constitution the king of France entered
(d) From monarchy to diarchy into secret negotiations with the -
7. The agitated crowd stormed and destroyed the Bastille (a) King of Russia (b) King of England
on: (c) King of Prussia (d) King of lately
(a) 4 July 1789 (b) 5 May 1789 13. Which of the following was a patriotic song of France
(c) 14 July 1789 (d) 24 July 1789 during the revolution?
8. The National Assembly completed the drafting of (a) Long live King (b) Long live Robespierre
constitution in – (c) Versailles (d) Marseillaise
(a) 1791 (b) 1779
14. France become a republic after abolishing the
(c) 1782 (d) 1792 monarchy on –
9. The members of National Assembly were – (a) 11 Sept.-1792 (b) 1st Sept. 1792
(a) Nominated (b) indirectly elected (c) 21 Sept. 1792 (d) 31 Aug. 1792
(c) Directly elected (d) Appointed by the king 15. Who of the following are the examples of individuals
10. To quality as an elector and then as member of the who represented the ideas coming from revolutionary
assembly a man had to belong to the – France?
(a) Lowest bracket of taxpayers (a) Gandhi and Nehru
(b) Middle bracket of taxpayers (b) Tilak and Gokhale
(c) Highest bracket of taxpayers (c) Tipu Sultan and Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(d) Not to be a taxpayers (d) Tagore and V Vivekananda

9. What was the composition of the Estate General of

Very Short Answer Type Questions May 5, 1789?
1. What was the main aim of the National Assembly?
2. What was the National Anthem of France? Who
Short Answer Type Questions
composed it? 1. What was the Tennis Court Oath?
3. What is a guillotine? Who invented it? 2. What was the Bastille? What do you understand by
4. State any two laws passed by Napoleon. ‘Storming of the Bastille’?
5. Mention two activities of French assembly which 3. Explain how the new political system worked?
hastened the Revolution 4. Who were Jacobins? What role did they play in the
6. How was French society organized during the Old emergence of the republic in France?
Regime? 5. What was Directory? What were its consequences?
7. What do you mean by ‘subsistence crisis’? Why did it 6. What role did the philosophers play in bridging the
occur frequently during the old Regime in France? France Revolution?
8. Why did Louis XVI want to raise taxes? Why was he 7. Why is the declaration of the Rights of man regarded
opposed? as a revolutionary document?

174 Class-IX HISTORY PW

 8. Give an estimate of Napoleon Bonaparte as the First In the armed fight that followed, the commander of the
Consul. Bastille was killed and the prisoners released – though
9. What was the impact of the French Revolution on the there were only seven of them. Yet the Bastille was hated
world? by all because it stood for the despotic power of the king.
The fortress was demolished and its stone fragments were
10. Which groups of French society benefited from the sold in the markets to all those who wished to keep a
Revolution? Which groups were forced to relinquish souvenir of its destruction. The days that followed saw
power? Which sections of society would have been more rioting both in Paris and the countryside. Most
disappointed with the outcome of the Revolution? people were protesting against the high price of bread.
Much later, when historians looked back upon this time,
Long Answer Type Questions they saw it as the beginning of a chain of events that
ultimately led to the execution of the king in France,
1. What was the impact of the French Revolution of though most people at the time did not anticipate this
France? outcome.
2. Write short notes on 1. ________ men and women gathered in front of the
(i) France slave trade town hall and decided to form a peoples’ militia.
(ii) Reign of Terror 2. Why people hate Bastille?
(iii) Fall of Napoleon. 3. What was situation in France on 14th July 1789?
3. What was the importance of slavery to France? Case Study-II
4. Discuss the impact of abolition of censorship in France.
Read the information below and answer the questions
5. How did the teaching of Rousseau lay the foundation that follow.
of democracy? The Constitution of 1791 vested the power to make laws
6. List the accomplishments of the National Assembly of in the National Assembly, which was indirectly elected.
France from 1789 to 1791. That is, citizens voted for a group of electors, who in
turn chose the Assembly. Not all citizens, however,
7. How did France become a constitutional monarchy?
had the right to vote. Only men above 25 years of age
8. Discuss the role of women in the revolutionary who paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of a labourers
movement in France. When did women gain political wage were given the status of active citizens, that is,
equality in France? they were entitled to vote. The remaining men and all
women were classed as passive citizens. To qualify as
Case-Based Type Questions an elector and then as a member of the Assembly, a man
had to belong to the highest bracket of taxpayers. The
Case Study-I Constitution began with a Declaration of the Rights of
Man and Citizen. Rights such as the right to life, freedom
Read the information below and answer the questions of speech, freedom of opinion, equality before law, were
that follow. established as natural and inalienable rights, that is, they
On the morning of 14 July 1789, the city of Paris was in a belonged to each human being by birth and could not be
state of alarm. The king had commanded troops to move taken away. It was the duty of the state to protect each
into the city. Rumours spread that he would soon order citizen’s natural rights.
the army to open fire upon the citizens. Some 7,000 men
1. The Constitution of ______ vested the power to make
and women gathered in front of the town hall and decided
laws in the National Assembly, which was indirectly
to form a peoples’ militia. They broke into a number of
elected.
government buildings in search of arms. Finally, a group
of several hundred people marched towards the eastern 2. What was criteria for voting?
part of the city and stormed the fortress-prison, the 3. Which types of rights were established as natural and
Bastille, where they hoped to find hoarded ammunition. inalienable rights?

The French Revolution 175

 2. Which of the following options best signifies this
Image Based Type Questions picture?
1. Who is in this picture?

(a) Demolition of Bastille

(b) Democracy of People
(a) Karl Marx (b) Napoleon Bonaparte (c) People Revolt against the king
(c) Vladimir Lenin (d) Tsar Nicholas II (d) None of the above

Competitive Level

Competitive Corner
1. The greatest achievement of the National Assembly (c) Each Estate should have one vote
convened in France in 1789 was: (d) None of the above
(a) Issuing of Declaration of Rights. 5. What did Louis XVI do, seeing the power of his
(b) The passing of laws checking the power of the revolting subjects?
monarch. (a) He accorded recognition to the National Assembly
(c) Establishment of a new judiciary. (b) Accepted checks on his powers
(d) Establishment of a new legislature. (c) Ordered his army to crush the revolt
2. As a result of elections held after the Jacobins’ (d) Both (a) and (b)
revolt in 1792, which of these steps were taken in 6. Guillotine was
France?
(a) A device consisting of two poles and a blade with
(a) Elections were held
which a person is beheaded
(b) Monarchy was abolished
(b) A sword by which the person is beheaded
(c) France was declared a Republic
(c) A tool by which the person is hanged with the rope
(d) All of the above
(d) To shoot the person in front of the people
3. What was the effect of the rise of population of France
from about 23 million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789 ? In the questions given below, (07-11) there are two
(a) Education became difficult Statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R).
(b) Rapid increase in the demand for foodgrains Read the Statements and Choose the correct option:
(c) Housing problem occurred Options are:
(d) All of the above (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct
4. In the meeting of the Estates General, the members of explanation of (A).
the Third Estate demanded that (b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct
(a) All the three Estates should have one vote explanation of (A).
altogether
(c) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
(b) Each member of the three Estates should have one
vote (d) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.

176 Class-IX HISTORY PW

 7. Assertion (A): The period from 1795 to 1798 is 12. On 20th June, the representatives of the third
referred as the Reign of Terror. Estate assembled in the indoor tenis court of
Reason (R): Robespierre followed a policy of severe Versailles for
control and punishment. (a) Drafting a constitution for France which limited
8. Assertion (A): In 1774, Louis XVI of the Bourbon the king power.
family of kings ascended the throne of France. (b) Making an appeal to support the king in times of
Reason (R): Under Louis XVI, France helped fifteen need.
German colonies to gain their independence from (c) Declaring a revolt.
Britain. (d) Hunger strike.
9. Assertion (A): On the Morning of 14th July 1789, the 13. Society based on freedom ,equal laws and opportunities
city of Paris was in a State of alarm. was advocated by
Reason (R): Some 7,000 men and women gathered in (a) Philosophers such as John Locke and Rousseau
front of the town hall and decided to form a people’s (b) Middle class and people of the third estate
Militia. (c) Clergy and nobility
10. Assertion (A): The revolutionary wars brought losses (d) Englishmen George Danton and Arthur Young
and economic difficulties to the people. 14. Who was the leader of the Jacobin club during the
Reason (R): While the men were away fighting at Reign of Terror?
the front, women were left to cope with the tasks of (a) Maximilien Robespierre
earning a living and looking after their families. (b) Jean-Paul Marat
11. Which of the following statements is untrue about the (c) Louis XVI
Third Estate (d) Napoleon Bonaparte
(a) The Third Estate was made of the poor only 15. What was the main reason for the financial crisis in
(b) Within the Third Estate some were rich and some France before the revolution?
were poor (a) Excessive military spending
(c) Richer members of the Third Estate owned lands (b) High taxes on the nobility
(d) Peasants were obliged to serve in the army, or build (c) Economic exploitation of the colonies
roads (d) Lavish spending of the clergy

The French Revolution 177

 Explanations

2. Because it stood for the despotic power of the king.

School Level The fortress was demolished and its stone fragments
were sold in the markets to all those who wished to
keep a souvenir of its destruction.
Quick Recall 3. On the morning of 14 July 1789, the city of Paris was
in a state of alarm. The king had commanded troops
Fill in the Blanks to move into the city. Rumours spread that he would
soon order the army to open fire upon the citizens.
1. France
2. Third estate Case Study-II
3. France
1. 1791
4. Richer section
2. Only men above 25 years of age who paid taxes equal
5. Louis XVI
to at least 3 days of a labourers wage were given the
status of active citizens, that is, they were entitled to
Match the Following vote.
1. (b) 2. (c)
3. The Constitution began with a Declaration of the
Rights of Man and Citizen. Rights such as the right to
Assertion & Reason Type Questions life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, equality
1. (d) 2. (b) 3. (b) 4. (d) 5. (c) before law, were established as natural and inalienable
rights, that is, they belonged to each human being by
Statement Type Questions birth and could not be taken away.
1. (a) 2. (a) 3. (a)
Image Based Type Questions
Multiple Choice Questions
1. (b) 2. (a)
1. (c) 2. (c) 3. (d) 4. (a) 5. (b)
6. (c) 7. (c) 8. (a) 9. (b) 10. (c) Competitive Level
11. (d) 12. (c) 13. (d) 14. (c) 15. (c)

Case-Based Type Questions Competitive Corner

1. (a) 2. (d) 3. (b) 4. (a) 5. (d)
Case Study-I 6. (a) 7. (d) 8. (c) 9. (b) 10. (a)
1. Some 7,000 11. (a) 12. (a) 13. (a) 14. (a) 15. (a)

178 Class-IX HISTORY PW

 2
CHAPTER
Socialism in Europe and
the Russian Revolution

School Level

Introduction
In Russia, the government headed by Tsar Nicholas II was very oppressive. The common people began to hate him. Popular
discontent rose to a new height when Russia was defeated by Japan (1904-05). In the awake of this defeat a large number
of secret revolutionary parties sprang up. In March 1917, the Tsar was forced to abdicate and a provisional government of
moderate social revolutionaries was formed. On November 7, 1917, the Bolsheviks under Lenin brought the downfall of the
Menshevik government and established a Soviet Republic.

The Age of Social Change

The French revolution opened up the possibility of creating a dramatic change in the way in which society was structured.
Before the eighteenth century, society was broadly divided into estates and orders and it was the aristocracy and church
which controlled economic and social power. Suddenly after the revolution, it seemed possible to change this. In many parts
of the world including Europe and Asia, new ideas about individual rights and who controlled social power began to be
discussed. The development in the colonies, in turn, reshaped these ideas of societal change.
Not everyone in Europe, however, wanted a complete transformation of society. Responses varied from those who accepted
that some change was necessary but wished for a gradual shift, to those who wanted to restructure society radically. Some
were ‘conservatives’, others were ‘liberals’ or ‘radicals’.

Liberals, Radicals and Conservatives

Liberals: Liberals looked to change society, they wanted a nation which tolerates all religions. They opposed the
uncontrolled power of dynastic rulers. They wanted to safeguard the rights of individuals against governments. They argued
for a representative, elected parliamentary government, subject to laws interpreted by a well-trained judiciary that was
independent of rules and officials. They did not believe in Universal Adult Franchise, felt men of property mainly should
have the vote, and also did not want the vote for women.
Radicals: Radicals wanted a nation in which the government was based on the majority of the country’s population. They
supported women’s suffrage movements. They opposed the privileges of great landowners and wealthy factory owners. They
were not against the existence of private property but disliked concentration of property in the hands of a few.
Conservative: Conservative opposed to radicals and liberals. After the French revolution, however , even conservatives
had opened their minds to the need for change. In the eighteenth century, conservatives had been generally opposed to the
idea of change. By the nineteenth century, they accepted that some change was inevitable but believed that the past had to
be respected and change had to be brought about through a slow process.

Industrial Society and Social Change

‰New cities came up and new industrialised regions developed, railways expanded and the Industrial Revolution occurred.
‰Working hours were often long, wages were poor, unemployment was common, and problems of housing and sanitation
were growing rapidly. Liberals and radicals searched for solutions to these issues.
‰ Liberals and radicals who themselves were often property owners and employers firmly believed in the values of
individual effort, labour and enterprise. If freedom of individuals was ensured, if the poor could labour, and those with
capital could operate without restraint, they believed that societies would develop.
‰Some nationalists, liberals and radicals wanted revolution to put an end to the kind of governments established in Europe
in 1815.
‰Nationalists talked of revolutions that would create ‘nations’ where all citizens would have equal rights. After 1815,
Giuseppe Mazzini, an Italian nationalist, conspired with others to achieve this in Italy.
The Coming of Socialism to Europe
It was a well know body of Ideas that attracted widespread attention

Socialists were against private Centrelisation of property, considered as

property. Socialism the root of all social evils of the time.

Robert Owen (1991-1858) Lolis Blanc (1813-1882) Karl Marks (1818-1883)

Sought to build a cooperative Wanted the government to encourage Argued that Industrial society was
community called new harmony in cooperatives and replace capitalist capitalist. Workers had to overthrow
Indiana (USA) enterprises. capitalism and the rule of private property

Support for socialism: By the 1870’s, socialist ideas spread through Europe. An international body was formed-namely
the Second International. Workers in England and Germany began forming associations to fight for better living and working
conditions, set up funds to help members in times of distress and demanded a reduction of working hours and the right to
vote. In Germany, the Social Democratic Party won parliamentary seats. By 1905, socialists and trade unionists formed a
Labor Party in Britain and a Socialist Party in France. Their ideas did shape legislation, but governments continued to be
run by conservatives, liberals and radicals.

Knowledge Hub
Industrial Revolution - Started in England more goods at low costs to make higher profits.
™
1st may is celebrated as world's labour day originated from this concept.
™

The Russian Revolution

Background of Russian Revolution
Culmination of a long period of Repression and arrest

Autocratic power of Tsar Out come of tussle

Nicholas II frustrated the Background of Russian between peasants and
people Revolution workers

Influence of socialism which culminated after French Revolution by philosophers made more prominent.

180 Class-IX HISTORY PW

The Russian Empire in 1914
In 1914, Tsar Nicholas II ruled Russia and its empire. Besides the territory around Moscow, the Russian empire included
current-day Finland, Lithuania, and Estonia, parts of Poland, Ukraine and Belarus. It stretched to the Pacific and comprised
today’s Central Asian states, as well as Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The majority religion was Russian Orthodox
Christianity – which had grown out of the Greek Orthodox Church – but the empire also included Catholics, Protestants,
Muslims and Buddhists.

Figure: Europe in 1914

(a) Economic and Social conditions of Russia before the revolution

(i) Peasants and workers formed most of the Czarist Russia’s population including the non-Russian nationalities. Their
condition was miserable.
(ii) Russia was industrially a backward country. The condition of the workers was bad. They were forced to work for long
hours on low wages.
(iii) Both the workers and peasants had no meaningful place in the society. They had no political rights. In contrast, the
nobility at the top enjoyed all the privileges in the state.
(iv) Corruption was widespread at all levels. The condition of the soldiers was also not satisfactory.

(b) Political conditions

(i) The Russian Czars continued to enjoy unlimited powers and were cruel and irresponsible as before. They never cared
for the welfare of their people.
(ii) Czar Nicholas II still believed in the old ‘Divine of Kings’.
(iii) People were taxed heavily to maintain the armed forces. Only the nobility supported the Czar as all important positions in the state
were occupied by it.
(iv) All right officials were recruited from the upper classes only. They were corrupt and inefficient.
(v) The Royal family was also corrupt and immoral.
(vi) The Russian Czars had built a vast empire by conquering diverse nationalities in Asia and Europe. The Czars forced
the people there to adopt the Russian language and culture.
(vii) The Czar’s policy of expansion also brought them in conflict or wars with other major imperialist powers.

Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution 181

(c) Two classes of the Russian Society
(i) The king, the nobles and the clergy were at the top. This privileged class consisted of just ten percent of the total
population. They enjoyed all the benefits and occupied all important jobs or posts.
(ii) The serfs (farmers) who stood at the bottom formed about ninety percent of the Russian population. They led a
miserable life. They had to pay heavily for years to own the small holdings they had got.

Socialism in Russia
George Plekhanov, a follower of Karl Marx formed the Russian Social Democratic Party in 1883. Many there socialist
groups later joined this organization and were known as the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party in 1898. However,
the party soon split into two groups over issues of organisation and policy. They were known as the Mensheviks and the
Bolsheviks. Differences between these two groups were as follows:
(i) The minority group, led by Plekhanov, was known as the Mensheviks. They wanted to bring changes through peaceful
and constitutional means, and favoured the Parliamentary system of government.
(ii) The majority group consisted of extreme socialists who were called the Bolsheviks. Lenin was their leader.
(iii) Social Democratic Party (1898) - by socialists who respected marx ideas (Social Democrats)
(iv) Social Revolutionary Party (1900) - Struggled for peasant's right and demanded land transfer to peasants from
nobles (Social Revolutionaries)
(v) But lerin felt that peasants were not one united group.
Division of Parties
Social Democratic Workers Party 1898

Bolsheviks Mensheviks
‰Leader - Vladimir Lenin U Leader - Julius Martov
‰They were majority Party
U Minority Party
‰They thought Party should be disciplined and controlled.
U This party was open all members.
‰Limited Members

A Turbulent time: the 1905 Revolution

The Tsar was not subject to parliament. Liberals, Social Democrats and Socialist revolutionaries worked with peasants and
workers during the Revolution of 1905 to demand a constitution. They were supported by nationalists and in Muslim –
dominated areas by Jadadists. Prices of essential goods rose, 110,000 workers in St. Petersburg went on strike demanding a
reduction in the working day to eight hours, an increase in wages and improvement in working conditions.
(a) Bloody Sunday
On January 9, 1905 a body of peaceful workers led by Father Gapon, with their wives and children was fired at in St.
Petersburg. They were on their way to present a petition to the Czar. Over a thousand of them were killed and many more
wounded in the firing. This day came to be known as ‘Bloody Sunday’ as the massacre had taken place on Sunday.
(b) A Dress Rehearsal
The 1905 revolution proved to be a dress rehearsal of the revolution that came in 1917. The incident of Bloody Sunday
caused widespread disturbances all over Russia. Strikes took place in many Russian towns. Mutinies or rebellions broke out
in the navy and the army. The sailors of the battleship ‘Potemkin’ joined the revolutionaries. The work in trade and industry
came to a standstill. Workers in factories, docks and railways also went on a strike. The soldiers and the representatives of
the non-Russian nationalities came into close contact with the revolutionaries (Bolsheviks) in the country.

182 Class-IX HISTORY PW

The Czar’s Manifesto
Forced by the revolution, Czar issued a manifesto in October, 1905. He promised to grant freedom of speech, press and
assembly. Also promised a constitution and an elected body called the ‘Duma’ to make the laws. The implementations of the
proposals given in the manifesto were not implemented effectively and the Czar reversed his decision.

Formation of Soviets
The 1905 revolution gave birth to a new form of organisation, called the ‘Soviet’. It was the council of workers representatives
to conduct strikes, but soon it became the instruments of political power. The Soviets played a decisive role, particularly in
the 1917 October Revolution.
The Tsar dismissed the first Duma within 75 days and re-elected second Duma within three months. He changed the voting
laws and packed the third Duma with conservative politicians. Liberals and revolutionaries were kept out.

Knowledge Hub
Jadidists- Muslim Retormers within Russian Empire
™
Nationalists- Who supported in 1905 by Poland
™
Real wages- Reflects the quantities of goods which the wages will actually buy.
™

The First World War and the Russian Empire

‰In Russia, the war was initially popular and people rallied around Tsar Nicholas II. Later the Tsar refused to consult the
main parties in the Duma. The common people’s support also declined.
‰The Tsarina Alexandra’s German origins and poor advisors, especially a monk called Rasputin, made the autocracy
unpopular.
‰Though Russia gained initial success in the war but later lost badly in Germany and Austria between 1914 and 1916.
The situation discredited the government and the Tsar.
‰Soldiers did not wish to fight such a war. Industries suffered a setback, railway lines began to break down. As most of
the men were fighting on the front, there were labour shortages.
‰Large supplies of grain were sent to feed the army. By the winter of 1916, riots at bread shops were common.

The February Revolution in Petrograd

‰In the winter of 1917, conditions in the capital Petrograd were grim. In February 1917, food shortages were deeply felt.
‰On 22 February, a lockout took place at a factory on the right bank of the river Nava. Workers in fifty factories called a
strike in sympathy. In many factories, women led the way to strikes. This came to be called the International Women’s day.
‰As the fashionable quarters and official buildings were surrounded by workers, the government imposed a curfew. The
government called out the cavalry and police to keep an eye on them.
‰On Sunday, 25th February, the government suspended the Duma .Demonstrations returned in force to the streets of the
left bank on the 26th On the 27th, the Police Headquarters were ransacked.
‰The government tried to control the situation and called out the cavalry, who refused to fire on the demonstrators.
By that evening, soldiers and striking workers had gathered to form a ‘soviet’ or ‘council’. This was the Petrograd
Soviet.

Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution 183

‰Military commanders advised the Tsar to abdicate. He followed their advice and abdicated on 2 March. Soviet leaders
and Duma leaders formed a provisional government to run the country. Petrograd led the February revolution that
brought down the monarchy in February 1917.

Knowledge Hub
The February Revolution in Petrograde
™7 march 1917 - steel workers on strike
™8 march 1917 - bread riots/International women's day.
™11 march 1917 - Tsar dissolves the Duma.
™Rasputin - Monk, who made autocracy unpopular
™Transsi berian railway - 1904.

After February
Through the summer, the workers movement spread in industrial areas, factories were formed which began questioning
the way industrialists run their factories. Trade unions grew in number. Soldiers committees were formed in the army.
In June, about 500 Soviets sent representatives to an All Russian Congress of Soviets . As the provisional government
saw its power reduced and Bolshevik influence grew, it decided to take stern measures against the spreading discontent.
It resisted attempts by workers to run factories and began arresting leaders. Popular demonstrations staged by the
Bolsheviks in July 1917 were seemingly repressed. Many Bolsheviks leaders had to go into hiding or flee. Meanwhile
in the countryside, peasants and their socialist revolutionary leaders pressed for a redistribution of land. Land
committees were formed to handle this. Encouraged by the socialist revolutionaries, peasants seized land between
July and September 1917.

Contribution of Lenin in the Russian Revolution

The Valdimir Ilyich Ulyanov popularly known as Lenin is regarded as one of the socialist revolutionists after Marx and
Angels. His name has become inseparable from the revolution of 1917.
(i) He organised the Bolshevik party as an instrument for bringing about revolution.
(ii) He set forth ‘the fundamental laws for a successful revolution’.
(iii) Under Lenin’s leadership, Bolshevik party put forward clear policies to end the war and transfer land to the peasants
and advance the slogan “ All power to the soviets”.
(iv) Lenin proclaimed the right of all people, including those under the Russian empire to self determination.
(v) Under the able leadership of Lenin, Russia and other soviets were united into the USSR and it emerged as a superpower.

Lenin’s “Fundamental Law for a Successful Revolution"

(i) The people should fully understand that revolution is necessary and be ready to sacrifice their lives for it.
(ii) Existing government should be in a state of crisis to make it possible for it to be overthrown rapidly.

April Theses
Three demands of Lenin that war to brought to close land to be transferred to peasents, nationalisation of bank.

The Revolution of October 1917

‰Lenin feared the Provisional government would set up a dictatorship.
‰He began discussion for an uprising against the government. On 16 October 1917, Lenin persuaded the Petrograd Soviet
and the Bolshevik Party to agree to a socialist seizure of power.

184 Class-IX HISTORY PW

‰A Military Revolutionary Committee was appointed by the Soviet under Leon Trotsky to organize the seizure. The
uprising began on 24 October. Military men loyal to the government seized the buildings of two Bolshevik newspapers.
The Military Revolutionary Committee ordered its supporters to seize government offices and arrest ministers.
‰The ship Aurora shelled the Winter Place. The city was taken under the control committee’s and the ministers surrendered.
‰At a meeting of the All Russian Congress of Soviets in Petrograd, the majority approved the Bolshevik action. Uprising
took place in other cities.
‰By december, moscow was under Bolsheviks control and finally lenin became the leader after revolution.

Knowledge Hub
Date of the Russian Revolution: Russia followed the Jullian calender until 1 feb 1918. The country then
changed to the Gregorian Calendar, which is followed everywhere today. The Gregorian dates are 13 days
ahead of the Jullian dates. So by our calendar, the february Revolution took Place on 12th March and the
'October' Revolution took place on 7th November.

What Changed after October?

Congress of the soviets met on the day after the October Revolution and issued a proclamation.
(i) It appealed to all peoples and states participating in the war to open negotiations for just peace. It opposed annexation
and paying for war damages.
(ii) Russia withdrew from the war, signed a peace treaty with Germany. It surrendered all its territories which it had
acquired since the time of Peter the Great.
(iii) As a result of the decree on land, the estates of the Czar, the Church and the landlords were taken over and transferred
to the soviets of the peasants.
(iv) The control of industries was passed over to shop committees or soviets of workers.
(v) Banks/insurances, large industries, mines, water transport and railways were nationalised by 1918.
(vi) The new government disowned the foreign debts. It also took possession of foreign investments without payment.
(vii) A declaration of the ‘Rights of People’ was also issued. it gave the right to self-determination to all non-Russian
nationalities living within Russian territories.
(viii) The new revolutionary government that came into being was called the Council of People’s Commissars. It was
headed by Lenin. Its first act marked the beginning of the era of socialism in Russia. It later spread to many other
countries.

Knowledge Hub
October Revolution was also know as red October.
™
Military committee formed under Trotsky; it was also called as red guards.
™
Budenovka - Name of the hat after Revolution.
™
Aristocracy - The class of people implied as 'upper class' who possess a heredity rank and title.
™

Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution 185

Civil War (1917 – 20)
Reasons of Civil war in Russia 1918-1921

Bolsheviks had enemies which united against In khiva, In central Asia, Bolsheviks colonies
them brutally massacred by local nationalist in the
‰Social Revolutionaries (greens) name of defending socialism.
‰Pro-Government official As a result many were confused about what the
Bolshevik government represented.
‰Nobles
(Nobles Lands were taken by peasants)

Making a Socialist Society

Bolsheviks kept Indus thrice and banks nationalised, permitted peasants to cultivate the land that had been socialised.
A process of centralised planning was introduced. Centralised planning led to economic growth. However, rapid
construction leads to poor working conditions. An extended schooling system developed and arrangements were made
for factory workers and persons to enter universities. Cheap public health care was provided. Modal living quarters
were set up for workers.

Stalinism and Collectivization

‰By 1927-28, the towns in Soviet Russia were facing an acute problem of grain supplies . Stalin believed that the rich
people and traders in the countryside were holding stocks in the hope of higher prices. Raids were made on ‘Kulaks’ the
well-to-do peasants.
‰As shortages continued, the decision was taken to collectivise farms. From 1929, the party forced all peasants to cultivate
in collective forms (kolkhoz). The bulk of land and implements were transferred to the ownership of collective farms.
‰Those who resisted collectivization were severely punished. Many inside the party criticised the confusion in industrial
production under the planned economy and the consequences of collectivization, but were charged with conspiracy
against socialism.
‰A large number were forced to make false confessions under torture and were executed , several among them were
talented professionals.

Consequence of the Russian Revolution on Russia

The immediate consequence of the Russian Revolution were as follows:
‰The autocratic rule of the Czar ended forever. The revolution destroyed the power of both aristocracy and the church.
‰Russia became the world’s first socialist society. The Czarist Empire changed into a new state called the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics or the Soviet Union.
‰It withdrew from the First World War.
‰The new government signed a peace treaty with Germany. it concedes the territories demanded by its old enemy as a
price for peace.
‰In order to establish peace, law and order in the new society, Lenin was forced to adopt some drastic measures. These
steps were taken under a policy called ‘War Communism’.
‰It was during this period (1917-20) that a large-scale nationalisation of various enterprises, as described under the
proclamation of the Congress of Soviets, took place.

186 Class-IX HISTORY PW

The Global Influence, the Russian Revolution and the Ussr
‰The possibility of a worker’s state, fired people’s imagination across the world. In many countries, communist parties
were formed-like the Communist Party of Great Britain.
‰The Bolsheviks encouraged colonial peoples to follow their experiment. Many non-Russians from outside the USSR
participated in the conference of the peoples of the East (1920) and the Bolsheviks socialist parties. Some received
education in the USSR’s Communists University of the Workers of the East.
‰By the time of the outbreak of the Second World War, the USSR had given socialism a global face and world stature.
‰The Bolshevik revolution contributed greatly to the liquidation of imperialism. The Bolshevik government granted
freedom to all its colonies immediately after coming to power.
‰The new Soviet Union came forward as a friend of the subjugated people and proved to be a source of great inspiration
to the freedom movements of various Asian and African countries.

Key Dates
Important Dates
1. 1850-1880-Debates over socialism in Russia
2. 1898 Formation of the Russian socialist democratic workers party
3. Feb 1904-Sept 1905- Russo Japanese war, Russia loses against Japan
4. 22nd Jan 1905 - Bloody Sunday: the revolution of 1905 start 22-27 Feb 1917-February revolution
5. 2nd March 1917-Tsar abdicates
6. 3rd April 1917- Lenin returns to Russia from exile
7. 4th April 1917-Lenin declares his April Thesis
8. 24th October 1917-Bolshevik uprising in Petrograd
9. 3rd march 1918-Russia withdraws from first world war after signing Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany
10. 1918-1920-Civil war in Russia
11. 1919-Formation of Comintern
12. 1929-Beginning of collectivisation in farming.

Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution 187

 NCERT Exercise
1. What were the social, economic and political parties themselves. The Labour Party in Britain and
conditions in Russia before 1905? a Socialist Party in France are examples of political
Ans. The following were the social, economic, and political parties formed by socialists and trade unionists.
conditions in Russia before 1905. In total contrast to the working population in Europe,
(a) Social Conditions: The majority religion was the Russian workers were not united. Workers were
Russian Orthodox Christianity which had grown divided on the basis of their occupation. Workers
out of the Greek Orthodox Church. But the empire whose jobs needed skill and training considered
also included Catholics, Protestants, Muslims and themselves on a higher plane than the untrained
Buddhists. The non-Russian nationalities were not workers. Workers had strong links to the villages they
treated equal to that of Russian nationalities. They came from and this also caused a social divide among
were not given the freedom to follow their culture workers. Workers’ associations rose dramatically in
and language. Workers were divided into group Russia also, as in Europe. They demanded reduced
on the basis of skill and training. Peasants formed working hours and higher wages. The workers were
their group called commune or mir. suppressed by the government.
(b) Economic conditions: The majority of Russians 3. Why did the Tsarist autocracy collapse in 1917?
were agriculturists. Grain was the main item Ans. Anti-German sentiments in Russia were high owing
of export from Russia. Industries were few. to the First World War. Further, Tsarina Alexandra’s
Prominent industrial areas were St Petersburg and German origin and poor advisors made the autocracy
Moscow. Much of the production was done by the unpopular. Russia suffered shocking defeats on
craftsmen. There were large factories alongside the the waterfront with millions of casualties. Crops
craft workshops. With the expansion of the Russian and buildings were destroyed by the Russian army
rail network, foreign investment in factories grew. to prevent enemy having any advantage. It led to
There were huge coal, iron and steel production. millions of refugees. Tsar was being cursed for this
There were equal numbers of factory workers situation. Food shortage led to people rioting for food.
and craftsmen. The workers were exploited by The Russian army too shifted its loyalty and began
capitalists who made their life miserable. supporting the revolutionaries.
(c) Political Conditions: Russia was a monarchy. (Tsar A lockout took place at a factory on the right bank
Nicholas II ruled Russia and its empire that extended of Neva river in sympathy with the workers on the
to current-day Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, left bank on 22nd February. Women-led the way to
parts of Poland, Ukraine and Belarus. It stretched strikes. The government imposed a curfew. Later
to the Pacific and comprised today’s Central Asian the government suspended the Duma which resulted
states, as well as Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan). in sharp protests. The demonstrators ransacked the
The Tsars believed in the divine rights of kings. They Police Headquarters and raised slogans about bread,
were not responsible to the Parliament. All political wages, better hours and democracy.
parties were illegal in Russia. The government called the cavalry but they refused
2. In what ways was the working population in Russia to fire on the demonstrators. Soldiers and the striking
different from other countries in Europe, before 1917? workers gathered to form a ‘Soviet’ or ‘council’ in the
Ans. The working population in European countries was building where the Duma met. This was the Petrograd
a more united lot than those in Russia. Workers in Soviet. The very next day, when a delegation went to
England and Germany formed associations and fought see the Tsar, the military commanders advised the Tsar
for better living and working conditions. Funds were to abdicate. Soviet leaders and Duma leaders formed
set up by these Associations to help workers in distress. a Provisional Government to run the country. The
The workers in European countries were united in Tsarist autocracy thus collapsed in February 1917.
their demand for a reduction of working hours and 4. Make two lists: one with the main events and the
the right to vote. Workers association also supported effects of the February Revolution and the other with
political parties and ultimately formed political the main events and effects of the October Revolution.

188 Class-IX HISTORY PW

 Write a paragraph on who was involved in each, who arrest ministers. A ship named Aurora bombed the
were the leaders and what was the impact of each on Winter Palace, other ships sailed down the Neva and
Soviet history. took over various military positions.
Ans. Main events of February Revolution: Effects of the October Revolution:
(i) In February 1917, there was a shortage of food (i) Industries and banks were nationalised by
items in workers quarters. November 1917; Government took over ownership
(ii) On February 23, a lockout took place at a factory and management.
on the right bank. The workers in fifty factories (ii) The land was declared social property and peasants
called a strike and women played a very critical were allowed to seize the land of the nobility.
role in these strikes. (iii) In the cities, the Bolsheviks enforced the partition
(iii) On February 25, the government suspended the of large houses according to family requirements.
Duma. (iv) Old titles of the aristocracy were banned.
(iv) On February 27, Police headquarters were (v) New uniforms were designed for the army and
ransacked, people were demonstrating and raising officials.
slogans about bread, wages, better hours and (vi) Bolshevik Party was renamed as the Russian
democracy. Communist Party (Bolshevik)
(v) Petrograd Soviet was formed. (vii) Bolsheviks conducted elections to the constituent
(vi) The Tsar abdicated in March 1917, bringing an assembly; however, they failed to attain the
end to the Monarchy. majority. The assembly rejected the Bolshevik
Effects of the February Revolution: measures, and Lenin dismissed the assembly.
(i) Restrictions on public meetings and associations (viii) All Russian Congress of Soviets became the
were removed. Parliament of the country. Russia became a one-
party state.
(ii) ‘Soviets’ like the Petrograd Soviet, were set up
everywhere, though no common system of election 5. What were the main changes brought about by the
was followed. Bolsheviks immediately after the October Revolution?
Answer:
(iii) The number of trade unions increased.
(iv) In Industrial areas, factory committees were Ans. Soon after the October Revolution the following
formed to question the way industrialists ran their changes were introduced by the Bolsheviks. There
factories. was complete opposition to private property by the
(v) Soldiers’ committees were formed in the Army. Bolsheviks. Peasants were allowed to seize the land
(vi) The Bolsheviks’ influence kept growing, and the of the nobles. There was a declaration that land was
provisional government saw its power reducing. a social property. In November 1917, most of the
banks and industries were nationalized. The above
Main events of the October Revolution:
action meant that the management of the industries
As the conflict between the provisional government and the ownership of industries were taken over by
and the Bolsheviks grew, Lenin feared the Provisional the Government. As per family requirements, large
Government would set up a dictatorship. Lenin began houses were partitioned in the cities by the Bolsheviks.
discussions for an uprising against the government. Usage of the old titles of aristocracy was banned. New
Bolshevik supporters in the Army, Soviets and uniforms were designed and introduced for officials
factories were brought together. On 16th October and the army.
1917, Lenin persuaded the Petrograd Soviet and the
Trade unions were kept under party control, the Secret
Bolshevik Party to agree to a socialist seizure of power.
Police punished anyone who criticised the Bolsheviks.
A military revolutionary committee was appointed by
Many young artists and writers continued to support
the Soviet under Leon Trotsky to organize the seizure.
the Party as it stood for Socialism.
The uprising began on 24th October 1917. Military
6. Write a few lines to show what you know about:
men who were loyal to the government seized
the buildings of two Bolshevik newspapers. Pro- (a) Kulaks
Government troops were sent to take over telephone (b) The Duma
and telegraph offices and protect the Winter Palace. (c) Women workers between 1900 and 1930
In retaliation, the Military Revolutionary Committee (d) The Liberals
ordered its supporters to seize government offices and (e) Stalin’s collectivisation programme.

Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution 189

Ans. (a) Kulaks (c) Women workers between 1900 and 1930
(i) Wealthy peasants who Stalin believed were Their wages were less than the wages of men.
hoarding the grains to gain more profit. They formed 31% of the factory workforce.
(ii) When the towns faced acute shortage of grains, (d) The Liberals
Kulaks were thought to be responsible for it. (i) They considered all religions as equal.
(iii) Stalin thought it was necessary to eliminate them (ii) They believed only men who have property had
so that farms could be modernised. the right to vote
(b) The Duma (iii) They wanted an elected form of Parliamentary
In 1905, Tsar allowed the creation of an elected governance.
consultative Parliament or Duma. The Tsar (e) Stalin’s collectivisation programme.
dismissed the first Duma within 75 days and (i) He began this programme in 1929.
relected the second Duma within three months. The (ii) He believed this programme would help in
Tsar did not want anyone to question his authority improving grain supplies.
or undermine and reduce his powers. The Tsar (iii) All peasants were forced to cultivate in collective
changed the voting laws and packed the Third farms called ‘Kolkhoz’.
Duma with conservative politicians. Liberals and (iv) On the contrary, this worsened the food supply
revolutionaries were kept out. situation.

(a) P-(ii), Q-(iv), R-(iii), S-(i)

Fill in the Blanks (b) P-(iii), Q-(ii), R-(i), S-(iv)
1. About ________of the Russian empire’s population (c) P-(i), Q-(iii), R-(iv), S-(ii)
earned their living from agriculture. (d) P-(ii), Q-(i), R-(iv), S-(iii)
2. Workers Party was founded in __________ by 2. List-I List-II
socialists who respected Marx’s ideas. P. Bloody Sunday (i) February 1917
3. Socialists were active in the countryside through the Q. Civil war in Russia (ii) z1905
late nineteenth century. They formed the Socialist R. Lelin Return to Russia (iii) 1918-20
Revolutionary Party in __________. S. February revolt (iv) April 1917
4. Tsar Nicholas II ruled Russia and its empire in
(a) P-(i), Q-(ii), R-(iii), S-(iv)
________. (b) P-(iv), Q-(iii), R-(ii), S-(i)
5. In Russia, the war was initially popular and people (c) P-(iii), Q-(i), R-(iv), S-(ii)
rallied around ________ . (d) P-(ii), Q-(iii), R-(iv), S-(i)

Match the Following Assertion & Reason Type Questions

Direction: In the following questions, a statement of
1. List-I List-II Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R).
P. A mass of Peaceful (i) Sezied buildings Mark the correct choice.
workers was fired upon of Bolshevik
by the Russia troops (a) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and
Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
Q. Provisional (ii) Bloody Sunday
Government (b) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and
R. 1898 (iii) Duma Suspended Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of
Assertion (A).
S. 25th February (iv) Formation of
Russian Democratic (c) Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false.
Labour Party. (d) Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.

190 Class-IX HISTORY PW

1. Assertion (A): The Tsar dismissed the first Duma
with 25 days and re-elected the second Duma within
Statement Type Questions
two months. Read the following statements and select the
Reason (R): Liberals and revolutionaries were kept correct options.
out. (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct.
2. Assertion (A): Industrialization brought men, women (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are incorrect.
and children to factories. (c) Statement-I is correct & Statement-II is incorrect.
Reason (R): Working hours were often long and (d) Statement-I is incorrect & Statement-II is correct.
wages were poor. 1. Statement-I: Marx argued that industrial society
3. Assertion (A): The Liberals wanted to Safeguard the was ‘capitalistic’. Capitalists owned the capital
invested in factories, and the profit of capitalists
rights of individuals against government.
was produced by workers.
Reason (R): They wanted a nation in which Statement-II: By 1905, socialists and trade unionists
government was based on the majority of a country’s formed a Labour Party in Britain and a Socialist
population. Party in France. However, till 1914, socialists never
4. Assertion (A): Capitalists were against private succeeded in forming a government in Europe.
property, and saw it as the root of all social ills of the 2. Statement-I: Some Russian socialists felt that the
Russian peasant custom of dividing land periodically
time.
made them natural socialists.
Reason (R): Individuals owned the property that Statement-II In the countryside, peasants cultivated
gave employment but the propertied were concerned most of the land. But the Nobility, the crown and the
only with personal gain and not with the welfare of Orthodox Church owned large Properties.
those who made the property productive. 3. Statement-I: Some nationalists, liberals and radicals
wanted revolutions to put an end to the kind of
5. Assertion (A): Production increased rapidly due to
governments established in Europe in 1815.
Stalin’s Collectivization Programme.
Statement-II: In France, Italy, Germany and Russia,
Reason (R): There was a bad harvest during 1930- they became revolutionaries and worked to overthrow
1933. existing monarchs.

1. The Russian revolution which affected the course of 4. One of the greatest thinker of the Socialist movement,
world history broke out in and the leader of the Bolsheviks was
(a) 1915 (b) 1917 (a) Karl Marx (b) Engels
(c) 1919 (d) 1920 (c) Lenin (d) George Plekhanov
2. 1833, the Russian Social Democratic Party was 5. A new form or organisation developed in the 1905
formed by revolution was called as
(a) Karl Marx (b) Engels (a) Trade Union (b) Triple Alliance
(c) Lenin (d) George Plekhanov (c) Soviets (d) Mensheviks
3. The Russian revolution broke out during the reign of 6. Rasputin was
(a) Peter (a) popularly called the ‘holy devil’
(b) Fredrick (b) a minister of the Tsar’s cabinet
(c) Rasputin (c) a friend of the Tsar
(d) Tsar Nicholas II (d) an advisor to the Tsar

Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution 191

 7. After the fall of the Tsar Nicholas II, provisional 8. The Russian Parliament under the Tsars was called
government was established under the leadership of
(a) Congress (b) Duma
(a) Lenin (b) Stalin
(c) Kerensky (d) Mayakovsky (c) Diet (d) Nassat

Very Short Answer Type Questions Long Answer Type Questions

1. Socialist were against private property, and saw it as 1. What were the effects of the October Revolution?
the root of all social evils of the time. Why?
2. Discuss the impact of the Russian Revolution on the
2. What was Second International?
world.
3. Describe Bloody Sunday.
3. Describe the social and economic conditions of Russia
4. Describe the immediate cause of the Russian
Revolution of 1905. before the Revolution of 1917.
4. In what ways did the working population in Russia
Short Answer Type Questions different from other countries in Europe, before
1917?
1. How did the revolution of 1905 prove to be a dress
5. Name the political parties of Russia that represented
rehearsal for the 1917 revolution?
the industrial workers. How did they differ in their
2. Examine the role of Lenin in the Russian policies?
Revolution.
6. Give an account of the rise of socialism in Europe.
3. Write a few lines to describe the women workers in
Russia. 7. Discuss the developments between 1905 and 1916 that
4. Why was the Tsar Nicholas II of Russia unpopular? led to the Russian Revolution of 1917.
Give two reasons. 8. Describe four major demands of the Russian
5. Differentiate between the two classes into which the revolutions before the October revolution of 1917.
Russian society was divided in the 19th century.
9. Describe the immediate consequence of the October
6. Which event in Russian history is known as ‘Bloody
revolution on Russia’s participation in the First World
Sunday’?
War, the ownership of land, and position of the non-
7. Describe two reforms introduced by the Russian Tsar Russian nationalities of the Russian empire.
Nicholas II after the 1905 Revolution.
10. Describe the immediate consequences of the Russian
8. What new form of organisation developed in the 1905
revolution? What role did it played as an instrument evolution, 1917 on Russia.
of power in future?
9. What wrong decision of Tsar Nicholas II finally ends Case-Based Type Questions
the power of the Russian autocracy?
10. What two conditions according to Lenin were necessary Case Study-I
to make the Russian Revolution a success? Read the information below and answer the
11. Write two basic demands of the Russian Revolution questions that follow.
in 1917. By the 1870s, socialist ideas spread through Europe. To
12. What were the causes of the failure of the interim coordinate their efforts, socialists formed an international
government formed in 1917 under the leadership of body ñ namely, the Second International. Workers in
Kerensky? Mention any two. England and Germany began forming associations to
13. Why did Russia withdraw from the First World War? fight for better living and working conditions. They

192 Class-IX HISTORY PW

set up funds to help members in times of distress and
demanded a reduction of working hours and the right
Image Based Type Questions
to vote. In Germany, these associations worked closely 1. Who is in this picture?
with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and helped it win
parliamentary seats. By 1905, socialists and trade unionists
formed a Labour Party in Britain and a Socialist Party in
France. However, till 1914, socialists never succeeded
in forming a government in Europe. Represented by
strong figures in parliamentary politics, their ideas did
shape legislation, but governments continued to be run
by conservatives, liberals and radicals.
1. Socialists formed an international body namely,
___________.
2. Which party was formed by socialist and trade
unionist?
3. Who continued to run government?

Case Study-II
Read the information below and answer the
questions that follow.
(a) Karl Marx
All political parties were illegal in Russia before 1914. The
(b) Joseph Stalin
Russian Social Democratic Workers Party was founded in
1898 by socialists who respected Marxist ideas. However, (c) Vladimir Lenin
because of government policing, it had to operate as an (d) Tsar Nicholas II
illegal organisation. It set up a newspaper, mobilised 2. Who is in this picture?
workers and organised strikes. Some Russian socialists
felt that the Russian peasant custom of dividing land
periodically made them natural socialists. So peasants,
not workers, would be the main force of the revolution,
and Russia could become socialist more quickly than
other countries. Socialists were active in the countryside
through the late nineteenth century. They formed the
Socialist Revolutionary Party in 1900. This party struggled
for peasants rights and demanded that land belonging
to nobles be transferred to peasants. Social Democrats
disagreed with Socialist Revolutionaries about peasants.
Lenin felt that peasants were not one united group. Some
were poor and others rich, some worked as labourers
while others were capitalists who employed workers.
Given this differentiation within them, they could not all
be part of a socialist movement.
1. The Russian Democratic Workers party was founded
in __________. (a) Karl Marx
2. Socialist Revolutionary party was set up in? (b) Joseph Stalin
3. Which activities were done by Socialist Revolutionary (c) Tsar Nicholas II
Party? (d) Vladimir Lenin

Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution 193

 Competitive Level

Competitive Corner
1. What did the liberals want during the early 19th 9. In what year did the Russian Social Democratic
century in Europe? Workers Party experience a split into the Bolshevik
(a) A nation tolerating all religions and Menshevik factions?
(b) A democratic form of government (a) 1898 (b) 1903
(c) Complete abolition of monarchy (c) 1917 (d) 1924
(d) Equal rights for women 10. What major event in Russian history occurred in 1905,
2. Who were against private property according to leading to significant political changes?
socialist beliefs in Europe? (a) The Bolshevik Revolution
(a) Liberals (b) Radicals (b) The February Revolution
(c) Conservatives (d) Socialists (c) The October Revolution
3. What did Robert Owen, a leading English manufacturer, (d) The 1905 Revolution
attempt to build in the USA? 11. Which event in 1914 led to a change in the attitude of
(a) A liberal society (b) A capitalist enterprise workers in Russia towards the Tsar?
(c) A socialist community (d) A religious commune (a) The February Revolution
4. What did Karl Marx believe was necessary for the (b) The October Revolution
liberation of workers?
(c) The start of World War I
(a) Reforming capitalist society (d) The formation of the Duma
(b) Overthrowing capitalism and private property 12. What was the main demand of the Soviet formed by
(c) Establishing a liberal government the Petrograd workers in 1917?
(d) Promoting religious tolerance
(a) The end of World War I
5. Which political party was founded in Russia in 1898
(b) The abdication of Tsar Nicholas II
by Marxists?
(c) The redistribution of land
(a) The Liberal Party
(d) Better working conditions and wages
(b) The Socialist Revolutionary Party
13. Which group was known as ‘kulaks’ in the Russian
(c) The Russian Social Democratic Workers Party
countryside?
(d) The Conservative Party
6. What was a significant belief of the Socialist (a) Peasant laborers
Revolutionaries in Russia around 1900? (b) Landowning peasants
(a) Supporting the Tsar (c) Bolshevik supporters
(b) Transferring land from nobles to peasants (d) Military officials
(c) Promoting industrialization 14. How did the Russian government try to resolve the
(d) Establishing a constitutional monarchy problem of grain shortages in the late 1920s?
7. What was the primary form of industry in Russia (a) By importing grain
before 1917? (b) By enforcing grain collections
(a) Automotive (b) Textile (c) By encouraging private farming
(c) Agriculture (d) Steel (d) By reducing grain exports
8. What was the primary cause of worker strikes in St. 15. What was the result of the collectivization policy in
Petersburg in the late 19th and early 20th centuries? the Soviet Union?
(a) Demand for political rights (a) Increase in agricultural productivity
(b) Poor working conditions and low wages (b) Widespread famine
(c) Opposition to the Tsar’s policies (c) Rapid industrialization
(d) Support for socialist ideas (d) Political stability

194 Class-IX HISTORY PW

 Explanations

Case-Based Type Questions

School Level
Case Study-I
Quick Recall 1. The Second International
2. A Labor Party in Britain and a Socialist Party in
Fill in the Blanks France.
1. 85 percentage 3. Conservatives
2. 1898
3. 1900 Case Study-II
4. 1914
1. 1898
5. Tsar Nicholas 2nd
2. 1900
Match the Following 3. This party struggled for peasants rights and demanded
1. (d) that land belonging to nobles be transferred to
2. (d) peasants. Social Democrats disagreed with Socialist
Revolutionaries about peasants. Lenin felt that
Assertion & Reason Type Questions peasants were not one united group. Some were poor
and others rich, some worked as laborers while others
1. (d)
were capitalists who employed workers.
2. (b)
3. (c)
4. (d) Image Based Type Questions
5. (d) 1. (b) 2. (c)

Statement Type Questions

1. (a) Competitive Level
2. (a)
3. (a)
Competitive Corner
Multiple Choice Questions 1. (a) 2. (d) 3. (c) 4. (b) 5. (c)
1. (b) 2. (d) 3. (d) 4. (c) 5. (c) 6. (b) 7. (c) 8. (b) 9. (b) 10. (c)
6. (a) 7. (c) 8. (b) 11. (c) 12. (b) 13. (b) 14. (b) 15. (b)

Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution 195