NCERT 9th Class (CBSE) Social Science: Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution

Question: What were the main changes brought about by the Bolsheviks immediately after the October Revolution?

Answer: Many changes were brought about by the Bolsheviks after the October Revolution.

They were:

1. Banks and Industries were nationalized.
2. Land was declared social property.
3. Peasants seized land from the nobility.
4. Large houses were partitioned according to family requirements.
5. Use of old titles by aristocrats was banned.
6. New uniforms were introduced for the army and officials. The famous soviet hat (budeonovka) was introduced.

Question: Write a few lines to show what you know about:

(i) Kulaks
(ii) The Duma
(iii) Women workers between 1900 and 1930
(iv) The Liberals
(v) Stalins collectivization programme

Answer:

1. Kulaks: Well-to-do peasants were called ‘kulaks’ during Stalin’s leadership. As food shortage continued Stalin decided to introduce the Collectivization Programme. Under this programme, ‘kulaks’ were eliminated. That is, land from these well-to-do peasants was forcibly taken and large state- controlled farms were established. This was done to modernize farming and increase production.
2. The Duma: The Duma is an elected consultative Parliament, which was set up during the 1905 Revolution. Though the Duma was accepted by the Tsar, they were constantly dismissed by the Tsar and new ones were set up. After the February Revolution when the Monarchy was over thrown , Duma leaders and Soviet leaders formed a Provisional Government in Russia.
3. Women workers between 1900 and 1930: Women workers made up 31% of the factory labor in the 1900s. They were paid only half or three quarters of the men’s wages. During the February Revolution in 1917 , many women worker led the strikes. The condition of the women workers continued to be grim until the 1930s. Slowly conditions improved and creches were set up in factories for the children of women workers.
4. The Liberals: After the French Revolution people wanted a transformation in the society. Many groups were formed with this intention. One such group was the ‘Liberals’. The Liberals wanted a nation with religious tolerance and individual rights. Though they wanted an elected parliamentary government, they wanted only men of property to have the right to vote. They were against women voting.
5. Stalins collectivization programme: Stalin believed that collectivization of agriculture would help in improving grains supplies in Russia. He began collectivization in 1929. All peasants were forced to cultivate in collective farms (kolhoz). The bulk of land and implements were transferred to the ownership of the collective farm. Many peasants protested such attempts and destroyed livestock to show their anger. Collectivization did not bring the desired results in the food supply situation turned even worse in subsequent years.