Page 57 - Understanding NCERT Histroy 09th

l The economic and military power of the Soviet Union was enhanced rapidly.
l The unemployment and economic backwardness was controlled to some extent.
l The international position of the Soviet Union became much better than the previous
one and it became one of the super powers of the world.
Goyal Brothers Prakashan
10. How was the bad condition of women responsible for Russian Revolution?
Ans. The bad condition of women responsible for Russian Revolution because :
l Most of the women were working in small factories.
l Women made up about 31% of the factory labour force by 1914.
l They were paid less wages and were forced to work for long hours.
l When they launched an agitation, they were fired by the police.

11. Why were socialists against private property and saw it as the root of all social ills?
Ans. 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. They felt that if society- controlled property,
more attention would be paid to collective social interests. Socialists wanted this change
and campaigned for it.
12. Differentiate between the ideas of the liberals and radicals in Europe.
Ans. (a) The liberals did not believe in universal franchise. In contrast, radicals wanted a nation
in which government was based on most of a country’s population.
(b) Liberals felt men of prosperity mainly should have the vote. They did not want the vote
for women. On the other hand, the radicals supported women’s suffragette movements
and opposed the privileges of great landowners and wealthy factory owners.
(c) Radicals were not against the existence of private property but disliked concentration
of property in the hands of a few.

VI. Long Answer Questions

1. Describe the circumstances which were responsible for the Russian Revolution.
Ans. The circumstances which were responsible for the Russian Revolution as given below :
l The Russian peasantry was in a miserable condition. The farmers could not get even
two square meals a day. Their land holdings were very small and they had to pay heavy
taxes.
l The Russian as well as the foreign capitalist industrialists exploited the workers by
taking 12-14 hours of work and paying very low wages to them. The workers had no
right to form trade unions or seek reforms. They led a miserable life.
l The Tsar Nicholas II was a despotic and autocratic ruler. He enjoyed unlimited powers
and rights. The people of the higher strata enjoyed great privileges. The bureaucracy
was corrupt and inefficient. The common people who suffered most, were fed up with
the absolute rule of the Tsar and wanted to get rid of him.
l Karl Marx, strongly opposed capitalism which meant untold exploitation of the common
men.
2. Explain in brief Lenin’s contribution to the Russian Revolution of 1917.
Ans. l Lenin had played an important part in the Russian Revolution of 1917. It is true that
after the fall of Tsar, Lenin led the revolutionaries. Really, it was the beginning of the
revolution.
l The Provisional Government, under the leadership of Kerenskii, could not implement
the demand of the people and they failed.
H-50 History Class IX