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What is Democracy?
Why Democracy?
 What is Democracy ? :

I. A form of government in which the rulers are elected by

the people

II. However every elected government is not democratic

 Features of Democracy:
(i) Final decisions to rest with the representatives of the people

(a) In Pakistan General Musharraf organised Military Coup in 1999

(b) In 2002 held Referendum and issued 'Legal Framework Order by which
he and National Security Council gained powers over national and
provincial assemblies
(ii) Conduction of free and fair elections

(a) In China, Communist Party is the only ruling party

(b) Elections are conducted but only candidates of Communist Party or

parties allied to it are elected
(c) In Mexico, PRI won every election since 2000

(d) PRI adopted dirty tricks such as govt employees to attend party
meetings, shifting of polling booths, large sum spent on campaign
(e) No choice in reality in Mexico or China
(iii) One person, one vote, one value-

(a) Saudi Arabia-No right to vote to women

(b) Estonia-Russian minority difficult to get right to vote

(c) Fiji-Vote of an indigenous Fiji more value than Indian Fijian

 Rule of Law and respect for rights :

(a) In Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe's Party always won the elections

(b) He made changes in Constitution and increased his powers

(c) Demonstrations and opposition were declared illegal; no criticism of the

President and no respect for rights and rule of law for minorities
particularly

(d) So popular govt. but undemocratic

 Features of Democracy :

(i) Decisions by elected rulers

(ii) Choice in elections

(iii) Opportunity to all on equal basis

(iv) Government to be limited by constitution and citizens' rights

 Why Democracy ? :

Arguments against democracy

(i) Instability-changing leaders;

(ii) Competition and power play

(iii) No scope for morality

(iv) Leaders - no knowledge about interest of the people

(v) Delay in decisions

 Arguments in favour

(i) More accountable

(ii) Quality in decision-making

(iii) A method to deal with differences and conflicts

(iv) Enhances the dignity of citizens

(v) Allows to correct its own mistakes

 Broader Meaning:

(i) Modern democracy as a representative democracy

(ii) Democracy in various spheres of life

(iii) Home and example of Gram Sabha

(iv) No country a perfect democracy but political participation by all

citizens
Subjective questions
Q1: How elections in India are different from Mexico?
Ans: Both the countries have a multi-party system.
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* In case of India, political parties in power often loose elections whereas in

case of Mexico PRI did not loose a single election for more than 70 years.

* Elections in India are held after every 5 years whereas in case of Mexico
elections are held after 6 years.

* Government officials work under the Election Commission during the

election days whereas this is not true for Mexico.
Q2: Why was every election won by the party called PRI in China? Explain
any three reasons.
Ans: Every election won by the party called PRI in China because: Learn Practically
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* Until 2000, every election was won by the dominant party called PRI.

* In its presence, opposition parties did contest elections, but never

managed to win.

* The PRI was known to use many dirty tricks to win elections.
Q3: “Elections in China do not represent people’s verdict”. Explain.
Ans: In China, elections are regularly held after every five years, for electing
the country’s Parliament, called Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (National Learn Practically
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People’s Congress).
* The National People’s Congress has the power to appoint the President of
the country.
* It has nearly 3,000 members elected from all over China. Some members
are elected by the army.
* Before contesting elections, a candidate needs the approval of the
Chinese Communist Party.
* Only those, who are member’s of the Chinese Communist Party or eight
smaller parties allied to it were allowed to contest elections held in 2002-
03.
* The government is always formed by the Communist Party.
Q4: Distinguish between democratic and non-democratic elections. Learn Practically
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Ans:
s.no. Democratic elections Non-democratic elections

1 Under democratic Under this, all citizens are

elections, all citizens not given right to vote.
have one vote with equal
value

2 Elections are held at Elections are not held at

regular intervals. regular intervals.
3 Free and fair elections Free and fair elections are
are conducted. not conducted.
Q5: Write any five arguments in favour and five against democracy as a form of
government. Learn Practically
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Ans: Arguments in Favour of Democracy:

 Democratic form of government is accountable.
 It improves the quality of decision making.
 It provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts.
 It enhances the dignity of citizen.
 It allows us to correct our mistakes.
Arguments Against Democracy:
 Change of leaders lead to instability.
 It involves only political competition with no scope for morality.
 Consulting more people leads to delays.
 It leads to corruption.
 Ordinary people don’t know that what is good for them.
Q6: Why is Zimbabwe not considered a democratic country?
Ans:
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i) Same Party Ruling: Zimbabwe attained independence from white minority

rule in 1980. Since then the country has been ruled by the party ZANU-PF. Its
leader Robert Mugabe, has been ruling the country since independence.

(ii) Unfair Elections: Elections have been held regularly and . always won by
the ruling party. They have not been free and fair.

(iii) Change of Constitution to Favour the Government: President Mugabe

appears to be popular but also uses unfair practices in elections. His
government has changed the Constitution several times to increase the power
of the President and make him less accountable.
(iv) Suppression of Opposition: Opposition party workers are often Learn Practically
harassed and their meetings disrupted by ruling party. Learn Practically

(v) Right to Freedom Missing: Public protests and demonstrations

against the government are declared illegal. There is a law that limits
the right to criticise the President. Television and radio are controlled
by the government.

(vi) Absence of Independent Judiciary: The government has ignored

some court judgements that went against it and has pressurised
judges.
 Learn Practically
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CONSTITUTIONAL DESIGN
 Importance of a Constitution

 It generates trusts among different kinds of people living together

 Specifies the composition of the government

 Lays down the powers of the government

 Reflects the wishes of the people

SYSTEM OF APARTHIED
 Process of making of the Indian Constitution

A. Background

i. Large and diverse country

ii. Partition of India in which millions died

iii. Problem of merging the princely states to Indian Union

B. Factors which influenced the Indian Constitution

I. National Movement
II. Drafting of a constitution by Motilal Nehru and eight others
in 1928
III. Resolution of Karachi Congress session in 1931
IV. Provincial elections of 1937
V. Government of India Act, 1935
VI. French Revolution, American Revolution and Russian
Revolution
C. The Constituent Assembly

I. Had 299 members

II. Drafted by the elected representatives of the provincial
legislatures
III. Adopted constitution on 26 November 1949
IV. Chairman of the Drafting Committee was Dr B.R. Ambedkar
D. Guiding Values of the Indian Constitution

Preamble - sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, republic, justice,

liberty, equality and fraternity

E. Institutional Design

I. A long and detailed constitution

II. Constitutional amendments to incorporate changes
III. Description of elections, rights of the citizens etc.
Subjective Questions
Q7: Explain the term Apartheid. What were its implications?
Ans. Apartheid was the name Of a system of racial discrimination unique to
South Africa. Learn Practically
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Implications:
• White Europeans imposed this system on South Africa.
• White rulers treated non-whites as inferiors.
• Non-whites did not have right to vote.
• They were forbidden to live in white areas.
• They were allowed to work there only with permit.
• Trains, buses, hospitals, schools, cinemas, public places and public
toilets were all separate for the whites and blacks
Q8: With reference to the Indian Constitution answer the following questions:(i)
When was it passed?
(ii) When was it enforced?. Learn Practically
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(iii) Why was this date chosen?

Ans: (i) The Constitution was passed by the Constituent Assembly on 26th
November, 1949.

(ii) The Constitution was enforced on 26th January, 1950.

(iii) In December, 1929, the Congress in its Lahore Session had decided to fight for
Poorna Swaraj or Complete Independence, and 26th January, 1930 was celebrated
as the Independence Day, since then. That is why our leaders decided to celebrate
26th January, 1950 as the day to enforce the Constitution of India.
Q9: Explain the major factors which contributed to the making of our Constitution.
Ans.
• National Movement: Our national movement was not merely a struggle against a Learn Practically
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foreign rule. It was also a struggle to rejuvenate our country, and to transform our
society and politics.
• Role of Leaders: Leaders like Moti Lal Nehru, Jawahar Lai Nehru and others had
played very important role in making of Indian Constitution. In 1928, Moti Lai Nehru
Drafted a Constitution for India.
• Role of British Rule: The familiarity with political institutions of colonial rule also
helped develop an agreement over the institutional design.
• British Rule and the Legislative Institutions: The experience gained by Indians in the
working of the legislative institutions proved to be very useful for the country in
setting up its own institutions.
• World Event or Revolutions: Many of our leaders were inspired by the ideals of
French Revolution, the practice of Parliamentary democracy in Britain and the Bill of
Rights in USA. So they incorporated some good points of the Constitutions of these
countries in the Indian Constitution.
Q10: Why should we accept the Constitution made by the Constituent
Assembly more than 60 years ago?
Ans. Learn Practically
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Constituent Assembly, a Galaxy of Indians: The Constituent Assembly

represented the people of India. There was no universal adult franchise at
that time, so it was elected mainly by the members of the existing
Provincial Legislatures. This ensured a fair geographical share of members
from all the regions of the country. The Assembly was dominated by the
Indian National Congress but with leaders having different opinions. In
social terms too, the Assembly represented members from different
language groups, castes, classes, religions and occupations.

Elected Members: The drafting of the document called the Constitution was
done by an assembly of elected representatives called the Constituent
Assembly.
Working Pattern of the Assembly:

 The Constituent Assembly worked in a systematic, open and consensual Learn Practically
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manner.
 First some basic principles were decided, and agreed upon.
 Then a Drafting Committee chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar prepared a
Draft Constitution for discussion.
 Several rounds of thorough discussions took place on the Draft
Constitution clause by clause.
Q11: Describe any five values / goals of the Indian Constitution included in
the Preamble.
Ans. (i) Sovereign: People have supreme right to make decisions on internal Learn Practically
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as well as external matters. No external power can dictate the government

of India.

(ii) Socialist: Wealth is generated socially and should be shared equally by

society. Government should regulate the ownership of land and industry to
reduce socio-economic inequalities.

(iii) Secular: Citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion. But
there is no official religion. Government treats all religious beliefs and
practices with equal respect.

(iv) Republic: The head of the state is an elected person and not a
hereditary position.
(v) Liberty: There are no unreasonable restrictions on the citizens in what
they think, how they wish to express their thoughts and the way they wish
to follow up their thoughts in action. Learn Practically
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(vi) Equality: All are equal before the law. The traditional social inequalities
have to be ended. The government should ensure equal opportunity for all.

(vii) Fraternity: All of us should behave as if we are members of the same

family. No one should treat a fellow citizen as inferior.

(viii) Justice: Citizens cannot be discriminated on the grounds of caste,

religion and gender. Social inequalities have to be reduced. Government
should work for the welfare of all, especially of the disadvantaged groups.
Q12: Mention any three provisions of a Model Code of Conduct for election campaigns.

Ans: According to this- Learn Practically

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 No party or candidate can use any place of worship for election propaganda.

 Use government vehicles, air crafts and officials for elections; and

 Once elections are announced, Ministers shall not lay foundation stones of any
projects, take any big policy decisions or make any promises of providing public
facilities.
The French revolution
A. France during Old Regime (Society and Institutions before 1789)

1. Empty Treasury: Louis XVI on accession to the throne faced the problem of
empty treasury due to the following reasons:

(a) Expenditure on war such as participation in American War Of Independence

against Britain strained the resources

(b) Payment of high interest on loans by the State

(c) Heavy expenditure on the maintenance of palace at Versailles

(d) Expenditure on maintaining an army, courts, government offices

2. Division of the society into three estates:

(a)First Estate Clergymen

• Exemption from paying taxes
• Collected taxes called tithes from peasants

(b)Second Estate - Nobility.

• Collected feudal dues from the peasants
• Enjoyed other privileges

(c) Third Estate - Peasants, artisans, merchants and professionals

• Peasants paid tax to the church known as tithes,
• Had to work in the house of the feudal lords.
• Had to serve in the army Had to participate in building roads
• Third Estate had to pay a tax known as taille and taxes on consumer goods such
as salt and tobacco
3. Subsistence Crisis

(a) Rise in population leading to the rise in demand for food grains

(b) However not much rise in the production of food grains which led to the
increase in the price of bread

(c) There was no increase in the wages of the workers and thus could not afford
to purchase bread

(d) Due to calamities like drought or hail there could be reduction in the
production of food grains

(e) This resulted in food riots, starvation and deaths for the poor classes
4. Rise of new ideas

(a) John Lock

• Wrote a book Two Treatises of Government
• Disproved the theory that the ruler was the representative of God and thus
could enjoy absolute authority over the people

(b) Jean Jacques Rousseau

• Proposed social contract between people and their representatives to form
the government.

(c) Montesquieu
• Wrote a book The Spirit of the Laws
• Proposed division of powers within the government between executive,
legislature and judiciary
5. Convening of Estate General by Louis XVI to increase taxes on 5 May 1789

a) Attended by members of first estate, second estate and educated middle class
state of third

b) No representation of peasants, artisans and women

c) Rejection of the proposal by the king that voting to be done by each member
rather than by the whole estate

6. Events at Tennis Court at Versailles-20 June 1789

(a) Assembly of the members of the representatives of the Third Estate under the
leadership
(b) They declared themselves as National Assembly and pledged to frame a new
constitution of Mirabeau and Abbe Sieyes
7. Protests in Paris by Women and outbreak of French Revolution

(a) Rise in prices of bread due to bad harvest

(b) Hoarding of supplies of bread by the bakery shops

(c) Storming of women into shops for bread

(d) Marching of the royal troops into Paris on King's orders

(e) Attack on Bastille by the people in retaliation and simultaneously in the

country side peasants attacked castles of feudal lords leading to the beginning
of French Revolution
8. Convening of the National Assembly

(a) Recognition to the National Assembly

(b) Abolition of feudal system by Louis XVI

(c) Clergies gave up their privileges

(d) Confiscation of the land owned by the churches

(e) Abolition of Tithes Drafting of the new constitution by the

National Assembly
B. Provisions of the Constitution of 1791

(a) Establishment of Constitutional Monarchy in France

(b) Division of powers into executive (King), legislature (National
Assembly) and Judiciary(Courts)
(c) Laws to be made by National Assembly
(d) National Assembly was elected by electors
(e) Electors were elected by active citizens who were men of
above 25 years of age and who paid taxes equivalent to the
three days wages of labourer
(f) Passive citizens included non-taxpayers and women
(g) All the citizens of the country were bestowed with Rights in
accordance with Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens
C. Circumstances leading to the establishment of Convention of 1792

1. Franco Prussian War of 1792

(a) Secret negotiations between Louis XVI and kings of Europe to disestablish the
constitutional monarchy, established in France

(b) Declaration of war by the National Assembly against Prussia and Austria

(c) The war increased the problems for people of France

2. Dissatisfaction with the gains made by the National Assembly

(d) People realised that National Assembly had granted political rights only to the
rich classes
(b) Rise of political clubs to hold public discussions Jacobin club, whose
members were people from less prosperous class

(c) Rise of Jacobins, who wore long striped trousers and came to be
known as sans – culottes

3. Storming of the Palace of Tuileries by Jacobins

(a) Massacred the king's guards and held king as hostage.

(b) Imprisonment of the Royal family.

(c) All men above 21 years were given right to vote by the newly elected
Convention
4. Achievements of the Convention of 1792

(a) Abolition of Monarchy

(b) France declared as a republic

(c) Execution of Louis XVI on 21 January 1793 at Place de la Concorde

D. Reign of Terror -1793 to 1794 1. Robespierre introduced control and

punishment

(d) The people who opposed his policies were tried by revolutionary
tribunal

(e) They were guillotined in case they were found guilty

2 . Introduction of the concept of equality

(a) Maximum ceiling on prices and wages

(b) Rationing of meat and bread

(c) Selling of the grains by the farmers at a price fixed by the government

(d) All citizens had to eat equality bread

(e) All French men and women were to be addressed as Citoyen and
Citoyenne

(f) Conversion of Churches into barracks or offices

3. Robespierre was guillotined in 1794

E. Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte

1. Rule of Directory
(a) Power seized by wealthy middle class
(b) Introduction of new constitution by which the non-propertied classes
were denied right to vote
(c) Appointment of Directory, which consisted of five members
(d) One of the Directors - Napoleon Bonaparte was able to assert himself
and became the military dictator of France

2. Role played by Napoleon Bonaparte

(e) Conquered various parts of Europe
(f) Introduced laws like protection of private property and uniformity of
weights and measures
3. Fall of Napoleon Bonaparte
(a) Became unpopular among people due to his policies
(b) Faced defeat in the battle of Waterloo in 1815

F. Role of Women in French Revolution

1. Women before the French Revolution
(a) Women of third estate worked as seamstresses, sold flowers and employed as
(b) (b) Women of third estate did not have access to education. Only women of
rich classes could domestic servants study at convent
(c) The wages of working women were lower than those of men

2. Role of women during French Revolution

(d) Formation of Clubs like Society of Revolutionary and Republican Women
(e) During the period of French Revolution schooling was made compulsory for
girls. marriages were registered and divorce was made legal
(c) However disappointed with the constitution of 1791 by which they were
reduced status of passive citizens
(d) During reign of terror all political activities by women were banned
(e) It was only in 1946 that women of France won the Right to vote

G. Impact of French Revolution

1. Abolition of censorship and granted right to express views through papers,
pamphlets, book sand printed pictures

2. Abolition of Slavery
(a) The French colonies in the Caribbean - Martinique, Guadeloupe and San
Domingo supplied tobacco, Indigo, sugar and coffee.
(b) The French traders bought slaves from Africa, who were forced to work on
the plantation areas
(C) The convention of 1794 abolished slavery in the French overseas colonies

(d) Reintroduction of Slavery by Napoleon

(e) Abolition of Slavery in French colonies in 1848

Subjective questions
Q1: What was the state of society in France during ancient regime?
Ans: The French society was divided into three estates: first estate, second
estate and third estate. Learn Practically
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1. First Estate:
The members of the first estate that is, the clergy enjoyed certain privileges by
birth. The Church extracted its share of taxes called tithes from the peasants.

2. Second Estate:
The nobles enjoyed feudal privileges too. These included feudal dues, which
they extracted from the peasants. Peasants were obliged to render services to
the lord- to work in his house and fields-to serve in the army or to participate
in building roads.
3. Third Estate:

It consisted of small peasants, landless labour, artisans, professionals and Learn Practically
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big businessmen. The burden of financing activities of the state through

taxes was borne by the third estate alone. The peasants not only paid taxes
to the church- taille but also paid feudal dues to the feudal lords. Other
taxes paid were a direct tax, called taille, and a number of indirect taxes,
which were levied on articles of everyday consumption like salt or tobacco.
Q2:What was the role-played by the philosophers in the French
Revolution?
Ans: An Various philosophers through their writings, were able to make the Learn Practically
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members of third estate aware of the social, political and economic

conditions in France:
1. John Locke:
In his Two Treatises of Government, Locke sought to refute the doctrine of
the divine and absolute right of the monarch.
2. Rousseau:
He proposed a form of government based on a social contract between
people and their representatives.
3. Montesquieu:
In The Spirit of the Laws, Montesquieu was proposed a division of power
within the government between the legislative, the executive and the
judiciary.
Q3: What were the drawbacks of the Constitution of 1791?
Ans: 1. Voting rights were not granted to all the people. Only active citizens
who paid taxes equal to at least three days of a labourer's wage had the Learn Practically
Learn Practically

right to vote.

2. The powers of the king were to be limited by the constitution. But he still
had the right to veto.

3. The political rights were to be enjoyed by the rich classes only the acts of
National Assembly.
Q4: Discuss the rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Ans: 1. After the fall of the Jacobin government, a new constitution was
introduced which provided for a Directory, an executive made up of five Learn Practically
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members. However, the political instability of the Directory paved the way
for the rise of a military dictator, Napoleon Bonaparte

2. In 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself as the Emperor of France.

He conquered neighbouring European countries. Napoleon as a modernizer
of Europe introduced many laws such as the protection of private property
and a uniform system of weights and measures provided by the decimal
system.

3. Initially, many saw Napoleon as a liberator. But soon the Napoleonic

armies came to be viewed everywhere as an invading force. He was finally
defeated at Waterloo in 1815.
Q5: What was triangular trade?
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Ans: 1. The French had colonies in the Caribbean - Martinique, Guadeloupe and
San Domingo. The Europeans were reluctant to go to these colonies to work.

2. Thus the French obtained slaves from Africa to work on the plantation areas
of Caribbean colonies.

3. As a result, these colonies became suppliers of commodities such as tobacco,

indigo, sugar and coffee, which were exported to European countries.
Q6: What were the immediate circumstances, which led to the outbreak of French
Revolution?
Ans: (i) On 5 May 1789 Louis XVI called an assembly of the Estates General to pass Learn Practically
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proposals for new taxes as he was not able to meet the expenses of the State.

(ii) The voting in the Estates General in the past had been conducted according to the
principle that each estate had one vote. This time the members of the third estate
demanded that each member would have one vote. This demand was rejected by the
king therefore the representatives of the third estate walked out of the assembly in
protests.

(iii). The members of the third estate assembled in the hall of an indoor tennis court in
the grounds of Versailles. Under the leadership of Mirabeau and Abbé Sieyes they
declared themselves as National Assembly. They took an oath not to disperse till they
had drafted a constitution for France. It is known as Tennis Court Oath.
(iv) While the National Assembly was busy at Versailles drafting
constitution; the rest of France was facing hardships due to the
Learn Practically
onset of severe winters. As a result the price of bread rose. The Learn Practically

bakers hoarded supplies. Thus the crowds of angry women stormed

into the shops. At the same time, the king ordered troops to move
into Paris. Rumors spread that he would soon order the army to
open fire upon the citizens.

(v) Finally, a group of several hundred people marched towards the

eastern part of the city and stormed the fortress-prison, the
Bastille, where they hoped to find hoarded ammunition. In the
armed fight that followed, the prisoners were released. The Bastille
was hated by all, because it stood for the despotic power of the
king. The fortress was demolished. This symbolised the beginning of
French Revolution On 14 July 1789.
9th

Socialism in EUROPE
AND
The Russian revolution
A. Political Traditions of the nineteenth century:

1. Liberals
(a) Freedom of religion
(b) Representative elected parliamentary government
(c) Independent Judiciary
(d) Right to vote to be limited to property holders

2. Radicals
(e) Supported Women's right to vote
(f) Opposed concentration of property in few hands

3. Conservatives
(g) Believed in changes to be introduced through slow process
(h) Respect to be given to past traditions process
4. Nationalists
(a) Establishment of nations through revolutions
(b) Equal rights for citizens

5. Socialists
(a)Utopian Socialists
(i) Believed in cooperatives where profits were to be shared on the basis of work
done by the members
(ii) Robert Owen built New Harmony in Indiana
(iii) Louis Blanc wanted government to build cooperatives

(b) Scientific Socialism

(iv) Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels viewed industrial society as capitalist society
which made profits
(v) These profits were made from the work done by the workers
(vi) Workers should overthrow capitalism and establish a communist society
B. Conditions of Russia before the Revolution of 1905

1. The Russian Empire

Tsar Nicholas who was autocratic, ruled over a huge empire, which consisted of
different cultures. Similarly people followed various religions such as Christianity,
Islam and people from Buddhism

2. Conditions of workers
(a) The Russian empire had industrial pockets like St. Petersburg and privately
owned Moscow. They were privately owned
(b) Workers in the crafts units had to work for fifteen hours. They were paid low
wages too
(c) Workers of textile and metal industries organised strikes against exploitation
3. Conditions of Peasants
(a) Mir divided land among the peasants according to their needs
(b) Peasants did not have any respect for the landlords and refused to pay rents
too

4. Rise of Political Parties

(c) The Russian Social Democratic Workers Party was founded in 1898, which
believed that workers will be the main force of revolution
(d) Russian Revolutionary Party, formed in 1900 believed in the strength of
peasants for organising revolution
(e) On the basis of organisation of strategy party was divide into Bolsheviks and
Mensheviks
(f) Liberals, Nationalists, Social Democrats, Socialist Revolutionaries and Jadidists
demanded parliamentary democracy
5. Outbreak of Revolution of 1905
(a) With the rising prices and decline in real wages group of workers under Father
Gapon marched to Winter Palace. They were attacked by the police leading to
deaths of many workers. This incident came to be known as "Bloody Sunday
and led to the beginning of Revolution of 1905
(b) Tsar allowed the creation of Duma
(c) Soon they were declared illegal and began controlling Duma by changing the
voting laws
C. February Revolution of 19171.

1. Participation in the First World War

(a) Czar Nicholas II decided to participate in the First World War without
consulting the Duma
(b) Losses faced by Russia in Germany and Austria between 1914 and 1916
(c) 7 million causalities; destruction of property and 3 million refugees in Russia
(d) Decline in industrial production, shortage of labour as men were sent to fight
the war
(e) Shortage of grains as food was sent to feed the army for

2. Protests by the factory workers

(a) Lock outs in the factories in protest against food shortages in February and
demand bread, wages, better hours and democracy
(b) Suspension of Duma by the Czar
(c) Refusal of Cavalry to shoot at the protesters and formation of Soviets by the
Soldiers and Workers

3. Outbreak of the February Revolution of 1917

(d) Abdication of throne by Czar Nicholas II and formation of Provisional
Government under Kerenskii, which was dominated by army officials,
landowners and industrialists
(b)Formation of Constituent Assembly on the basis of Universal Adult Franchise
(c)Establishment of Soviets through out Russia but no common system of
election

D. October Revolution of 19171.

1. April Thesis by Lenin

Lenin issued April Thesis by which he demanded withdrawal from the war, land
to be transferred to peasants and banks to be nationalized

2. Rising power of the Bolsheviks

(a) Formation of soldier's Committees in the army and rising influence of the
trade unions
(b) Suppression of the Bolsheviks protests by the Provisional Government
3. Role of Peasantry
Under the leadership of Socialist Revolutionary Party peasants forcibly seized
land

4. March to Winter Palace

(a) Formation of Soviet Revolutionary Committee under Leon Trotskii which
planned to seize power from the Provisional Government
(b) On 24th October the ship Aurora bombed the Winter Palace
(c) By December the Bolsheviks brought Moscow and Petrograd under their
control
(d) This marked the seizure of power by the Bolsheviks

E. Effects of October Revolution

1. All Russian Congress of Soviets became the parliament and Bolshevik Party
became the single party of Russia
2 . Bolshevik Party came to be known as Russian Communist Party

3. Outbreak of Civil War between the Socialist Revolutionaries and pro-Tsarist

and Bolsheviks Eventually Bolsheviks were victorious

4. Steps taken by the Communist Party

(a) Nationalisation of banks
(b) Seizure of land by the peasants
(c) Withdrawal from the First World War by signing the Treaty of Brest Litovsk
with Germany
(d) The secret Police Cheka controlled all opposition to Bolsheviks
(e) Establishment of United Soviet Socialist Republic in 1922 and granting of
political autonomy to non Russian nationalities
(f) Introduction of Five Year Planning
(g) Provision for education and health facilities for the people of Soviet Union
F. Rise of Stalin
1. Introduction of collectivisation program
(a) Creation of collective farms known as Kolkhoz
(b) Peasants worked on these collective farms and shared the profits
(c) (c) Peasants, who resisted collectivisation were punished
2. Establishment of labour camps
People who criticised policies of collectivisation and policies of communist
government were tortured and executed

G. Global influence of Russian Revolution

1. Formation of Communist parties all over the world like Communist Party of
Great Britain
2. 2. Formation of Communist International (Comintern)
3. 3. Encouraged freedom movements in colonial regions
4. 4. However repressive policies followed by USSR became known worldwide
F. Rise of Stalin
1. Introduction of collectivisation program
(a) Creation of collective farms known as Kolkhoz
(b) Peasants worked on these collective farms and shared the profits
(c) (c) Peasants, who resisted collectivisation were punished
2. Establishment of labour camps
People who criticised policies of collectivisation and policies of communist
government were tortured and executed

G. Global influence of Russian Revolution

1. Formation of Communist parties all over the world like Communist Party of
Great Britain
2. 2. Formation of Communist International (Comintern)
3. 3. Encouraged freedom movements in colonial regions
4. 4. However repressive policies followed by USSR became known worldwide
Subjective questions
Q1: What were the social, economic and political conditions in
Russia before 1905 ?
Ans. (a) Social Condition: (i) Vast majority of people were Learn
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Practically

agriculturists: (ii) Production for the market and export of grain. Learn Practically

(iii) Women made up of 31 per cent of the factory labour but paid
less than men. (iv) Large properties held by nobility, the crown,
and Church. (v) Peasants religious but divided group. (v) No
respect for nobility.
(b) Economic Condition:
(i) Main occupation was agriculture. (ii) Industrial areas were St.
Petersburg and Moscow. (iii) Industries- private property of the
industrialists.(iv) There was government supervision but long
hours of work and poor wages. (v) In 1905 rise in prices and
decline in wages.

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(c) Political Condition:
(i) Tsar Nicholas II ruled Russia and its empire. (ii) Religion of the
majority was Russian Orthodox Christianity. (iii) Russian Socialist Learn
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Practically

Revolutionary Party in 1898 but operated as illegal organisation. Learn Practically

(iv) Formation of Socialist Revolutionary Party in 1900 and it

struggled for Peasants' rights and demanded transfer of land to
peasants.

76
Q2: Describe the views of liberals about the transformation of society
in the eighteenth century.
Ans: The main features of the views of liberals about the Learn
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Practically

transformation of society were as mentioned below: Learn Practically

(i)A nation with policy of religious toleration.

(ii) Against the uncontrolled powers of dynastic rulers.

(iii) In favour of rights of the individuals against the government.

(iv) In favour of representative elected parliamentary government and

independent judiciary for the interpretation of laws.

(v) Not in favour of universal adult franchise but only men of property
to have right to vote. Not in favour of right to vote for women too.

77
Q3: Describe main views of early socialists.
Ans. The main features of early socialists are:
Private property: Learn
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Practically
Socialists were against private property. They considered it as the root of Learn Practically

all social ills because the capitalists or owners of property were

concerned with personal gain only. They did not care about the welfare of
the workers. They, therefore, wanted control of society over the property
so that it might be used for the benefit of the society.
(ii) Basis of socialist society:
(a) Cooperatives: Some socialists such as Robert Owen, a leading English
manufacturer, sought to build a cooperative community called New
Harmony in Indiana (USA)
(b) Governments to encourage cooperatives: Socialists like Louis Blanc
wanted the governments to encourage cooperatives and replace capitalist
enterprises.
(c) Nature of cooperatives: The cooperatives were to be associations of
people who produced goods together and divided the profits according to
the work done by members.
78
Q4: Describe the main ideas of Karl Marx (1818-1883)
Ans.
(i) Marx argued that industrial society was capitalist society’ Learn
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Practically
Learn Practically

(ii) Capitalists owned the capital investment in factories and the

profit of capitalists was produced by workers.

(iii) The condition of workers could not improve as long as this

profit was accumulated by private capitalists. Marx believed that
to free themselves from capitalist exploitation, workers had to
construct a radically socialist society where all property was
socially controlled. This would be a communist society. He was
convinced that workers would triumph in their conflict with
capitalists A communist society was the natural society of the
future

79
Q5: What was the condition of peasants in Russia?
Ans. (i) Peasants cultivated most of the land.
Learn
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Practically

(ii) The nobility, the crown and the Orthodox church owned large Learn Practically

properties.

(iii) Peasants had no respect for nobility. In Russia peasants

wanted the lands of the robles to begiven to them. Frequently
they refused to pay rent and even murdered landlords.

(iv) Russian peasants were different from other Europian

peasants in another way. They pooled their land together
periodically and their commune divided it according to the needs
of individual families.

80
Q6: What were the causes, which led to the outbreak of Revolution of 1905?

Ans (1) In 1914, Tsar Nicholas II ruled over huge Russian empire. Russia was Learn
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Practically
an autocracy. Unlike other European rulers, even at the beginning of the Learn Practically

twentieth century, the Tsar was not subject to parliament.

(2) At the beginning of the twentieth century, the vast majority of Russia's
people were agriculturists. Russian peasants pooled their land together
periodically and their commune (mir) divided it according to the needs of
individual families. Peasants cultivated most of the land. But the nobility, the
crown and the Orthodox Church owned large properties.

(3) Prominent industrial areas of Russia were St. Petersburg and Moscow.
Most industries were the private property of industrialists or foreigners. In
craft units and small workshops, the working day was sometimes 15 hours,
compared with 10 or 12 hours in factories. Workers used to strike work when
they disagreed with employers about dismissals or work conditions.

81
(4) Despite restrictions imposed by the Tsar, there had been rise of political
parties like Social Revolutionary Party and Socialist Democratic Party,
which were mobilising peasants and workers respectively. The Liberals Learn
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Practically
and these parties demanded a constitution. Learn Practically

(5) In the year 1904 real wages declined by 20 per cent as the prices soared
up. The dissatisfied workers at St. Petersburg went on strike demanding a
reduction in the working day to eight hours, an increase in wages and
improvement in working conditions. When the procession of workers led
by Father Gap on reached the Winter Palace, it was attacked by the police
and the Cossacks. Over 100 workers were killed and about 300 wounded.
The incident came to beknown as Bloody Sunday, leading to the outbreak
of 1905 Revolution.

82
Q7:Briefly describe the general impact of First World War on Russia.
Ans. General impact of the First World War was as mentioned below:
(i) Initially the war was popular and people rallied around Tsar. Learn
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Practically
(ii) As the war continued, the support became less as Tsar did not Learn Practically

consult the main parties in the Duma.

(iii) Defeat of Russian armies in Germany and Austria
(iv) By 1917 there were 7 million casualties
(v) As Germany controlled the Baltic Sea, Russian industries could
not get supplies. Similarly there was break down of the railway lines
and shortage of labour as most of them were fighting the First World
War.
(vi) on their retreat, the Russian army destroyed crops and buildings
to prevent the enemy from being able to live off the land. The
destruction of crops and buildings led to over 3 million refugees in
Russia.

83
Q8: What were the main features of Stalin's collectivisation
programme? What were its causes and effects?
Ans. (a) From 1929, the Party forced all peasants to cultivate in Learn
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Practically

collective farms (Kolkhoz). The bulk of land and implements were Learn Practically

transferred to the ownership of collective farms. In Kolkhoz profit

was shared. It was known as collectivization.

(b) The main cause for introduction of collectivisation programme

was the small-holdings of land which could not be modernised.
Secondly, the rich peasants and traders in the countryside were
holding stocks in the hope of higher prices. The government
wanted to stop speculation. Thirdly, there was shortage of
foodgrains and it was argued that it was partly due to small size of
holdings.

84
(c) Effects:

(i) Those peasants who resisted collectivisation, were deported Learn

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Practically
Learn Practically
and exiled.

(ii) The production did not increase immediately. The bad

harvests of 1930-33 led to one of most devastating famines
when over 4 million people died.

(iii) 2 million people were put in prisons or labour camps.

85
Learn
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Practically

86