Page 46 - Understanding NCERT Histroy 09th

forced to give up their lands and join the large collective farms. The lands which we
owned and looked after for years are now not under our control. In addition to this, we
are also facing the problem of rapid industrialization. Collectivization is considered to be
desirable and socialistic to some. But the actual scenario here is only known to us. As a
Goyal Brothers Prakashan
result of collectivization, many leaders are forcing us to produce more crops using modern
farming methods and are selling our crops at low price. We are feeling very disinclined
to abandon our individual farms. Kindly understand our situation and do the needful.
stalin’s response :
Dear XYZ,
I understand your plight and I will definitely help you all to get you out of this situation.

TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS

1. What were the social, economic and political conditions in Russia before 1905?
Ans. Nicholas II ruled Russia and its empire in 1914. In addition to the territory around Moscow,
the Russian empire included current-day Finland, Latvia, Lithuiania, Estonia, parts of Poland,
Ukraine and Belarus. It also included 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.
In the beginning of the 20th century about 85% of the Russian empire’s population were
agriculturalist. This proportion was higher than in most European countries. In the empire the
cultivator produced for the market as well as for their own needs and Russia was a major
exporter of grain.
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. 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. Workers were a divided social group — some came from
villages, while others from towns. Workers were also divided according to their skills.
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.
Land was owned by the nobility, the crown and the Orthodox Church. 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. They wanted land from the nobles. Frequently, they refused to
pay rent and even murdered landlords.
Russian peasants also pooled their land together periodically and their commune (mir) divided
it according to the needs of individuals families.
Russia was an autocracy. The Tsar was not subject to parliament. Liberals in Russia
campaigned to end this state of affairs.
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.
2. In what ways was the working population in Russia different from other countries in Europe,
before 1917?
Ans. The working population in Russia was different from other countries in Europe before
1917. In the beginning of the twentieth century the vast majority of Russia’s people were
agriculturalists. This proportion was higher than in most European countries. For instance, in
France and Germany the proportion was between 40% and 50%. In the empire, cultivators
produced for the markets as well as for their own needs and Russia was a major exporter

History Class IX H-39