IX History Ch2 Socialism in Europe & the Russian revolution
Socialism in Europe & the Russian revolution
Social, economic, and political conditions in Russia before 1905
v Nicholas II ruled Russia and its empire in 1914.
v The Russian empire included current-day Finland, Latvia, Lithuiania, Estonia, parts of Poland,and Belarus.
v It also included today’s Central Asian states, as well as Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
v Political conditions: Nobles got their power and position through their services to the Tsar, not through local popularity. This was unlike France where peasants respected nobles and fought for them.
v Russia was an autocracy.
v The Tsar was not subject to parliament. Liberals in Russia campaigned to end this state of affairs.
Diverse Social conditions:
v People of different social status, classes, religions and diverse nationalities were there.
v Imposition of Russian language was made to belittle the cultures of these people.
v Main groups of Russian population were farmers, workers, landowners, capitalists, industrialists and traders.
v 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.
Economic conditions:
v In the beginning of the 20th century about 85% of the Russian empire’s population were agriculturalist.
v This proportion was higher than in most European countries.
v In the empire the cultivator produced for the market as well as for their own needs and Russia was a major exporter of grain.
v Land was owned by the nobility, the crown and the Orthodox Church.
v Peasants cultivated most of the land. They were also divided into social groups. But except in a few cases they had no respect for nobility.
v They wanted land from the nobles. Frequently, they refused to pay rent and even murdered landlords.
v Russian peasants also pooled their land together periodically and their commune (mir) divided it according to the needs of individuals families.
v Industries were found in pockets. Many factories had been set up, railway lines expanded. The production of coal doubled and that of iron and steel quadrupled. Foreign investment increased.
v Craftsmen undertook much of the work. Industries were privately owned. Large factories were supervised by factory inspectors who could not always monitor rules and prevent them from being broken.
v Workers were a divided social group — some came from villages, while others from towns. Workers were also divided according to their skills.
v Wherever these workers disagreed with employers about dismissals or work conditions they united and stopped work. Such strikes took place frequently, especially in the textile industry.
v The year 1904 was a particularly bad one for Russian workers. Prices of essential goods rose so quickly that real wages declined by 20%. The membership of workers associations rose dramatically.
Questions
2. What were the social, economic and political conditions in Russia before 1905?
3. Discuss the relationship between peasants and nobles in Russia during early 19th century. [2010
4. In what ways was the working population in Russia different from other countries in Europe, before 1917?
5. How were the peasants in Russia different from that of other European Countries?
Ideas of the liberals and radicals in Europe
Liberals
v The liberals did not believe in universal franchise.
v Liberals felt men of prosperity mainly should have the vote. They did not want the vote for women.
v The liberals opposed the uncontrolled power of dynastic rulers and wanted to safeguard the rights of individuals against governments.
v They also argued for a representative, elected parliamentary government, subject to laws interpreted by a well-trained judiciary that was independent of rulers and officials.
v But, however, they could not be called democrats.
v They did not believe in universal adult franchise and also did not want the vote for women. They felt right to vote should only be for men of property.
Radicals
v In contrast, radicals wanted a nation in which government was based on the majority of a country’s population.
v The radicals supported women’s suffragette movements and opposed the privileges of great landowners and wealthy factory owners.
v Universal adult faranchise
v They were not against the existence of private property but disliked concentration of property in the hands of a few.
Conservatives
v Conservatives opposed radicals and liberals.
v They believed that the past had to be respected and change had to be brought about through a slow process.
Socialists
v Socialists saw private property as the root of all social ills of the time. Individuals owned the property that gave employment but the propertied were concerned only with personal gain and not with the welfare of those who made the property productive.
v So, according to them, if society as a whole rather than single individuals controlled property, more attention would be paid to collective social interests.
Socialist visions of the future
v Socialists had different visions of the future. Some such as Robert Owen, a leading English manufacturer, sought to build a co-operative community called New Harmony in Indiana (USA).
v Other socialists felt that co-operatives could not be built on a wide scale only through individual initiative. They wanted that governments must encourage co-operatives and replace capitalist enterprise.
v This was propagated by Louis Blanc in France. They said that cooperatives were to be associations of people who produced goods together and divided the profits according to the work done by members.
v More ideas were added to this body of arguments. These ideas were added by Karl Marx and Fredrich Engels.
v According to socialists The people who propagated socialism said that individuals, who owned property, did provide employment to many people but they were concerned with personal gains only. They did not bother about the welfare of the people.
v They felt that if society controlled property, more attention would be paid to collective social interests
Why were socialists against private property and saw it as the root of all social ills?
Describe the incident known as ‘Bloody Sunday’
Marxist theory
v Marx argued that industrial society was capitalist. Capitalists owned the capital invested in factories. The profit which came to them through these factories was produced by the workers.
v The workers contributed to the profits but did not gain anything. Their condition could improve only if the workers freed themselves from capitalists exploitation.
v Marx believed that the condition of workers could not improve as long as profit was accumulated by private capitalists. Workers had to overthrow capitalism and the rule of private property. Workers must construct a radically socialist society where all property was socially controlled.
v This would be a communist society and a Communist Party was the natural society of the future.
Questions
1. What was the basic principle of the Marxist theory? 2010)
2. Why were socialists against private property and saw it as the root of all social ills? [2010
3. What were the views of socialists on private property ? Name the international body set up to coordinate their efforts? 2010)
4. In the context of Russia, which group was the supporter of women’s ‘Suffragette Movements’? [2010 (T-1)]
5. Explain how a society, according to socialists, can operate without property. What would be the basis of socialist society? 2010)
6. Why do we say that liberals during this time could not be called ‘democrats’?
Socialism in Europe
v The International Workingmen’s Association — the First International–was formed in 1864.
v With its formation “Socialism stepped on the stage of history as a World Movement”. Its slogan was “proletarians of all countries unite”.
v It worked for the emancipation of the workers and laid stress on the ‘‘abolition of all class rule”. It continued up to 1872.
v In 1889, the socialists formed the Second International to coordinate their efforts. Associations were formed by workers in Germany and England for better living and working conditions.
v They set up funds to help members in times of distress. By 1905, socialists and trade unionists formed a Labour Party in Britain and a Socialist Party in France.
How did socialism spread in Europe?
Russian Revolution
‘Bloody Sunday’
v When four members of the Assembly of Russian Workers were dismissed, there was a call for industrial action.
v Over 110,000 workers in St. Petersburg went on strike in 1905, demanding a reduction in the working day to eight hours, an increase in wages and improvement in working conditions.
v When this procession reached the Winter Palace it was attacked by the police and the Cossacks.
v Over 100 workers were killed and about 300 wounded. This incident, known as Bloody Sunday, started a series of events that became known as the 1905 Revolution.
1. Describe the incident known as ‘Bloody Sunday’. 2010
2. Mention the demands of the workers who went on strike at St. Petersburg in 1904. [2010
3. What was the Bloody Sunday?
Impact of the First World War on the Russian economy
v The war caused large supplies of grain to be sent to feed the army. For the people in the cities, bread and flour became scarce.
v By the writer of 1916, riots at bread shops were common.
v The workers in Leningrad were the worst sufferers as a severe winter added to their miserable conditions. The economic crisis led to Revolutions.
Effects of the war on the industry of Russia
v The First World War had a devastating impact on industries. Russian industries were very few in number and the country was cut off from other suppliers of industrial goods by German control of the Baltic Sea.
v Industrial equipment disintegrated more rapidly in Russia than elsewhere in Europe. By 1916 railway lines began to break down. Able bodied men were called up to the war.
v As a result, there were labour shortages and small workshops producing essential commodities were shut down.
1. What effect did the war have on the industry of Russia. (CBSE 2010)
2. What was the impact of the First World War on the Russian economy?
3. How did the destruction of Russian industries after the First World War become one of the causes of resentment of people? [2010
Collapse of Tsarist autocracy 1917
v The First World War was a war that was fought outside Europe as well as in Europe. In Russia, the war was initially popular and people rallied around Tsar Nicholas II.
v As the war continued, the tsar refused to consult the main parties in the Duma. Support from all sides became thin.
v Anti-German sentiments became high and St. Petersburg (which was a German name) was renamed as Petrograd. The Tsarina Alexandra’s German origins and poor advisors, especially a monk called Rasputin, made the autocracy unpopular. The defeats in the war were shocking and demoralising. Russian armies lost badly.
v There were about 7 million casualties by 1917 and almost 3 million refugees. The situation discredited the government and the Tsar.
v The war also had a severe impact on industry and contributed to the food shortage in the country. The people were rioting as bread and flour became scarce. There was resentment all over the country.
v The Imperial Russian army was the largest armed force in the world. It came to be known as the ‘Russian steamroller’. When this army shifted its loyalty and began supporting the revolutionaries, Tsarist power collapsed.
1. Why did the Tsarist autocracy collapse in 1917? 2010)
2. How did Russia's participation in the World War cause the fall of the Tsar? [2010
February Revolution
Effects
v Restrictions on public meetings and associations were removed.
v Soviets were set up everywhere.
v In individual areas, factory committees were formed which began questioning the way industrialists ran their factories.
v Soldiers’ committees were formed in the army.
v The provisional government saw its power declining and Bolshevik influence grew. It decided to take stern measures against the spreading discontent.
v It resisted attempts by workers to run factories and arrested leaders.
v Peasants and the socialist revolutionary leaders pressed for a redistribution of land. Land committees were formed and peasants seized land between July and September 1917.
Kerensky government
v The Kerensky government tried to suppress the workers movement and the Bolshevik influence. It suppressed all demonstrations staged by Bolsheviks in July 1917.
v Many Bolsheviks had to go into hiding. Peasants in the countryside had started demanding redistribution of land. Kerensky was suspected of setting up a dictatorship and Lenin persuaded Petrograd Soviet and Bolshevik Party to agree to a socialist seizure of power. Kerensky had to leave the city to summon troops.
1. Why did the Kerensky government become unpopular in Russia? (CBSE 2010)
2. Describe the political condition in Russia prior to the october revolution of 1917.(CBSE 2010)
Lenin's "April Theses"
v The three demands of Vladimir Lenin, after his return to Russia in April 1917' were
Ø He and the Bolsheviks had opposed the war since 1914. He felt in 1917 that was should be brought to a close.
Ø Land should be transferred to the peasants.
Ø The banks should be nationalised and the party should be renamed "Communist Party".
v These three demands were called Lenin's "April Theses".
v Most of the members of the Bolshevik were initially surprised as they thought the time was not yet ripe for a socialist revolution and the provisional government needed to be supported.
v The developments of the subsequent months made the party change its attitude the workers movement spread, trade divisions grew in number the power of the provisional government grew weaker factories and reprised them. In the countryside peasants pressed for redistribution of land and encouraged by socialist revolution's ideas peasants seized land between July and september 1917. This led to the change of view and the Bolsheviks decided to size power.
1. What was Lenin's April Theses? Why were some members of the Bolshevik Party surprised by the April Theses? What made them change their attitude? (CBSE 2010)
2. What were the main objectives of the Russian Revolutionaries?
3. In the context of Russia who launched the slogan-‘‘Peace, Land and Bread’’? [2010 (T-1)]
Causes of the Revolution of 1917.
v Russian peasantry was in a miserable condition. Feudalism and serfdom prevailed till 1861.
v The capitalist industrialists exploited the workers by making them work 12-14 hours, for low wages.
v The despotic rule of the Tsar Nicholas II. The bureaucracy was corrupt, rigid and inefficient. The common people were fed up with the absolute rule of the Tsar.
v Karl Marx propagated scientific socialism. Liberal ideas of the west through literature entered Russia plus Tolstoy and other thinkers infused revolutionary thoughts in the youth.
1. Discuss the causes that led to the Revolution of 1917.
2. Describe the circumstances which were responsible for Russian Revolution.[2010 (T-1)]
October Revolution
v 16th October 1917 — Lenin persuaded the Petrograd Soviet and Bolshevik Party to agree to a socialist seizure of power. A Military Revolutionary Committee was appointed by the Soviet to organise seizure.
v Uprising began on 24th October. Prime Minister Kerenskii left the city to summon troops.
v Military men loyal to the government seized the buildings of two Bolshevik newspapers.
v Pro government troops were sent to take over telephone and telegraph offices and protect the Winter Palace.
v In response Military Revolutionary Committee ordered to seize government offices and arrest the ministers.
v The ‘Aurora’ ship shelled the Winter Palace. Other ships took over strategic points.
v by night the city had been taken over and ministers had surrendered.
v All Russian Congress of Soviets in Petrograd approved the Bolshevik action.
v Heavy fighting in Moscow — by December, the Bolsheviks controlled the Moscow -Petrograd area.
Effects (changes brought by the Bolsheviks )
v Most industries and banks were nationalised in November 1917. This meant that the government took over ownership and management
v Land was declared social property and peasants were allowed to seize the land of the nobility. Bolsheviks enforced the partition of large houses according to family requirements
o Use of old titles was banned.
v To assert the change New uniforms were designed for the army and officials.
v Russia became a one-party state. The Bolshevik Party was renamed the Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik).
o Trade unions were kept under party control.
v A process of centralised planning was introduced. This led to economic growth.
v Industrial production increased.
v An extended schooling system developed.
v Collectivisation of farms started.
What were the main changes brought about by the Bolsheviks immediately after the October Revolution? (CBSE 2010)
What were the immediate consequences of the Russian Revolution? (CBSE 2010)
What were the impacts of the Russian Revolution on Russia? [2010 (T-1)]
Civil War in 1918-1920
Civil war after the October Revolution
v When the Bolsheviks ordered land redistribution the Russian army began to break up. Non Bolshevik socialists, liberals and supporters or autocracy condemned the Bolshevik uprising.
v They were supported by the French, American, British and Japanese troops. The Bolsheviks kept industries and banks nationalised during the civil war.
v A process of centralised planning was introduced.
v Rapid construction and industrialisation started. An extended schooling system developed. Stalin introduced collectivisation of the farms so that no shortage of grain should occur.
v The Bolsheviks controlled most of the farmer of Russian Empire.
Causes of the Russian Civil War in 1918-1920
(i) The Russian army began to break up after Bolsheviks ordered land redistribution. Soldiers who were mostly peasants wished to go home for the land and deserted.
(ii) Now Bolshevik Socialists, Liberals and supporters of autocracy condemned the Bolshevik uprising. Their leaders organised the troops to fight the Bolsheviks.
(iii) During 1918 and 1919, the ‘greens’ (Socialist Revolutionaries) and ‘whites’ (pro-Tsarists) controlled most of the Russian empire. They were backed by French, American, British and Japanese troops. As these troops and the Bolsheviks fought a civil war, looting,banditry and famine became common.
(iv) Supporters of private property among ‘whites’ took harsh steps with peasants who had seized land
What conditions led to the Russian Civil War in 1918-1920? Any four points. [2010
Discuss the civil war that took place in Russia after the October Revolution and its consequences.
Effects of civil war on workers and farmers
v Five year plans were made to promote industrial growth. Industrial production was increased by 100 percent in oil, coal and steel. New factories were built. In Magnitogarsk a new steel plant was built in three years. Extended schooling system developed, creches were established
v in factories for the children of women workers, cheap public health care was provided. Model
v living quarters were built up for workers.
What steps were taken to improve the condition of factory workers and peasants in Russia after the civil war? (CBSE 2010)
Collectivisation of farms – why
v It was thought that rich peasants and traders in the countryside were holding stocks in the hope of higher prices.
v This created a shortage. As shortage continued, the decision was taken to
v collectivise farms as Lenin felt that the small size of farms caused the shortage. They also felt that these small size farms could not be modernised.
v They felt that the need of the hour was to develop modern farms and run them along industrial lines with machinery.
v Stalin felt that collectivisation would definitely solve the problem of shortage. From 1929 the Party forced the peasants to cultivate in collective farms (Kolkhoz).
v The bulk of land and implements were transferred to the ownership of collective farms. Peasants worked on the land and the Kolkhoz profit was shared.
v Enraged peasants resisted the authorities and destroyed their livestock. Between 1929 and 1931 the number of cattle fell by 1/3.
v Those who resisted collectivisation were severely punished. Many were exiled and deported. The peasants argued that they were not rich and were not against socialism but they opposed collectivisation for a variety of reasons.
v Some independent cultivation was allowed by Stalin’s government but such cultivators were treated unsympathetically.
o In spite of all these measures production did not increase immediately.
Why was the decision to collectivise farms taken?
Discuss Stalin’s collectivisation programme. (CBSE 2010)
What was Collectivisation? How did stalin use this programme? [2010 (T-1)]
Five Years Plans
v A process of centralised planning was introduced. Officials assessed how the economy could work and set targets for a five-year period, on this basis they made the five-year plans.
v The government fixed all prices to promote industrial growth during the first two plans (1927-32 and 1933-38) centralised planning led to economic growth.
Discuss briefly the Five Years Plans.
Role of Lenin
v In April 1917, the Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin returned to Russia from the exile. Vladimir Lenin played an important part in the Russian Revolution of 1917. He led the revolutionaries after the fall of the Tsar.
v He said it was time for the Soviets to take over power. He declared that the war be brought to a close, land be transferred to peasants, banks be nationalised. These three demands were Lenin’s ‘April Theses’.
v He advanced the slogan ‘All power to the Soviets’.
v He argued that Bolshevik Party be renamed the Communist Party. In January 1918, Lenin dismissed the Constituent Assembly. There was only one party — the All Russian Congress of Soviets. It also became the Parliament of the country.
v The secret police OGPU and NKVD punished those who criticised the Bolsheviks. By 1920, the Bolsheviks controlled most of the former empire. The Bolsheviks created the USSR from the Russian Empire in December 1922.
Contribution in economic policy.
v Lenin nationalized most industries and banks. He ordered land redistribution. He permitted peasants to cultivate the land that had been socialised centralised planning was introduced.
v Five year plans were made. The government fixed all price during the First two year "plans".
v There was increased production of oil, coal and steel. An extended schooling system developed, factory workers and peasants could go to universities. Communes were set up, members ate in a communal dining hall and income was divided according to the principles of "cooperative commission".
v That is why Lenin’s name has become inseparable from the Russian Revolution.
Questions
Mention the important steps taken by Lenin to improve the agriculture and economy of Russia. (CBSE 2010)
Discuss the role and importance of Lenin in the history of the USSR.
Examine the role of Lenin in Russian Revolution. [2010
Comment on the role of Vladimir Lenin in the revolution and his contribution to the economic policy. 2010)
Role of Stalin
v Stalin introduced the collectivisation. All peasants had to cultivate collective farms (Kolkohz)from 1929. The profit was shared by the peasants working on the land. Before collectivisation, Stalin took steps to eliminate 'Kulaks' – the well to do peasants. He took away land from them and established large state kbn controlled farms.
v Stalin severely punished the critics of his programme. Many were deported and exiled. He charged his critics with conspiracy against socialism. By 1939, 2 million were put in prisons or labour camps. A large number were forced to make false statements under torture and were executed. Several among them were talented professionals.
Mention any two changes introduced by Stalin in the Russian economy. How did Stalin deal with the critics? (CBSE 2010)
Legacy of Russian Revolution
v Existing socialist parties in Europe did not wholly approve of the way the Bolsheviks tookpower and kept it. Still the possibility of a workers’ state fired their imagination across the world.
v In many countries communist parties were formed. Bolsheviks encouraged colonial people to follow their example.
v Many non-Russians received education in the USSR’s University of the Peoples of the East.
v By the time the Second World War broke out, the USSR had given socialism a global face and world stature
Comment on the global influence of the Russian Revolution. (CBSE 2010)
What were the international consequences of the Russian Revolution? [2010
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