Page 60 - Understanding NCERT Histroy 09th

l Under Lenin’s leadership, the Bolshevik Party put forward clear policies to end the war,
transfer the land to the peasants and advance the slogan ‘All power to the Soviets’.
l He had described the Russian empire as a Prison of Nations and had declared that no
genuine democracy could be established unless all the non-Russian people were given
Goyal Brothers Prakashan
equal rights.
3. What were the main objectives of the Russian Revolutionaries?
Ans. The main objectives of the Russian Revolutionaries were as follows :
l The Tsar had thrown Russia into the First World War to fulfill his imperialistic desires.
It was the demand of the revolutionaries that Russia should withdraw from the war. So,
it withdrew from the First World War in 1917 after the Revolution.
l After the Revolution, the land was given to the tillers. The landlords had to give the
land to the government. Kolkhoz farms were established. In Kolkhoz farms, the peasants
worked collectively.
l The revolutionaries had demanded an improvement in the conditions of the industrial
workers. They demanded better wages, good working conditions and removal of
exploitation. After 1917, the industries were nationalised and the dream of workers was
fulfilled.
l The next aim of the revolutionaries was that the non-Russians should be given equal
status. Lenin believed that without this status these people could never become real
Russians.

4. What was the global impact of the Russian Revolution?
Ans. The global impact of the Russian Revolution were as follows :
l The Bolshevik Revolution helped in the spread of Socialist and Communist ideas all
over the world. Communist Governments were established in many European countries.
l Most of the Bolshevik leaders believed that a series of revolutions will sweep other
countries of the world along with revolution in Russia. Many non-Russians from outside
the USSR participated in the conference of the people of the east and the Bolshevik-
founded Comintern, an international union of Pro-Bolshevik socialist parties.
l The Bolshevik government ‘granted freedom to all its colonies immediately after coming
to power. Thus, the new Soviet State 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.
l By the end of the 20th century, the international reputation of the USSR as a socialist
country had declined through it was recognised that socialist ideals still enjoyed respect
among its people.
5. How did Russia’s participation in the World War cause the fall of the Tsar ?
Ans. (a) The war was initially popular, and people rallied around Tsar Nicholas II.
(b) As the war continued, support became thin and Tsar’s popularity declined. Anti-German
sentiments became high.
(c) The Tsarina Alexandra’s German origins and poor advisers, especially a monk called
Rasputin, made the autocracy unpopular.
(d) Defeats were shocking and demoralising. Russia’s armies lost badly in Germany and
Austria between 1914 and 1916. There were over 7 million casualties by 1917.
(e) The destruction of crops and buildings led to over 3 million refugees in Russia. The
situation discredited the government and the Tsar. Soldiers did not wish to fight such a
war.

History Class IX H-51