Page 47 - Understanding NCERT Histroy 09th

of grain. Workers were a divided social group. They were divided by skill. Some workers
formed associations to help members in times of unemployment or financial hardship but
such associations were few. Workers also did unite to strike work or stop work when they
were dissatisfied with employers about work conditions or dismissals. Peasants in Russia had
no respect for the nobility. Nobles got their power and position through the Tsar and not
Goyal Brothers Prakashan
through local popularity. The Russian peasants demanded that the land of the nobles be given
to them. They even murdered landlords and refused to pay rent. The Russian peasants were
different in another way. They pooled their land together periodically and their commune
(mir) divided it according to the needs of individuals families.

3. Why did the Tsarist autocracy collapse in 1917?
Ans. 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. As the war
continued, the tsar refused to consult the main parties in the Duma. Support from all sides
became thin. 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. There were about 7 million casualties
by 1917 and almost 3 million refugees. The situation discredited the government and the
Tsar. 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. 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.

4. Make two lists: one with the main events and the effects of the February Revolution and
the other with the main events and effects of the October Revolution. Write a paragraph on
who was involved in each, who were the leaders and what was the impact of each on Soviet
history.
Ans. February Revolution
Events

• In the winter of 1917, Petrograd was grim. There was food shortage in the workers
quarters.
• 22 February : a lockout took place at a factory. Workers of 50 other factories joined
in sympathy. Women also led and participated in the strikes. This came to be called
the International Women’s Day.
• The government imposed a curfew as the quarters of the fashionable area and official
buildings were surrounded by workers.
• On the 24th and 25th, the government called out the cavalry and police to keep an eye
on them.
• On the 25th February, the government suspended the Duma and politicians spoke against
this measure. The people were out with force once again.
• On the 27th, the police headquarters were ransacked.
• Cavalry was called out again.
• An officer was shot at the barracks of a regiment and other regiments mutinied, voting
to join the striking workers gathered to form a soviet or council. This was the Petrograd
Soviet.
• A delegation went to meet the Tsar. The military commanders advised him to abdicate.
• The Tsar abdicated on 2nd March.
• A provisional government was formed by the Soviet and Duma leaders to run the
country.

H-40 History Class IX