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This chapter from CBSE Syllabus Class 9 SST Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution explains how new political ideas emerged in Europe during the nineteenth century and how these ideas finally led to a revolutionary transformation in Russia.
These Class 9 History Notes are designed to simplify the chapter, highlight key events and help you write clear, confident answers in exams.
Summary of Class 9 History Chapter 2
This chapter traces the growth of socialist ideas in nineteenth-century Europe as a response to industrialisation.
It also explains the situation in Russia under Tsar Nicholas II, the causes of the 1905 Revolution and the dramatic events of the February and October Revolutions of 1917.
Finally, it discusses how the Bolsheviks attempted to build a socialist society and how the Russian Revolution influenced the rest of the world.
The Age of Social Change
The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were marked by major political and intellectual debates in Europe. The rise of factories, machines and industrial cities changed the way people lived and worked. As inequalities increased, people began questioning old systems of monarchy and privilege.
Ideas of liberty, equality and political rights gained importance, leading to the development of new political ideologies.
Liberals, Radicals and Conservatives
In nineteenth-century Europe, political opinions were broadly divided into three main groups, liberals, radicals, and conservatives, each having a different vision of how society and government should function.
Liberals
- Wanted elected parliaments
- Supported individual rights and freedoms
- Favoured free markets and economic freedom
- Did not support voting rights for all adults, especially workers
Radicals
- Wanted complete political transformation
- Believed all adult men should have the right to vote
- Supported government action to reduce inequality
- Opposed concentration of wealth in a few hands
Conservatives
- Preferred to preserve traditional institutions
- Accepted change only gradually
- Supported reforms that did not disturb long-standing customs
These groups shaped political debates across Europe and influenced how modern societies developed.
Industrial Society and Social Change
The Industrial Revolution brought economic growth but also serious social problems. Society became divided between wealthy industrialists and poor workers.
Problems created by industrialisation:
- Very long working hours
- Low wages
- Unsafe factory conditions
- Widespread child labour
- Overcrowded and unhealthy cities
- No political rights for workers
Reformers like Robert Owen and Louis Blanc argued for better working conditions and government protection for workers. These struggles laid the foundation for socialist ideas.
The Coming of Socialism to Europe
As inequality increased, many thinkers criticised capitalism and proposed socialism as a fairer system.
Core ideas of socialism:
- Wealth should be shared by society as a whole
- Private property leads to inequality
- Means of production should be collectively owned
- Cooperation should replace competition
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels were important thinkers who developed socialist ideas. At the Class 9 level, you mainly need to understand what they believed and why workers supported them.
They believed that in capitalist societies, factory owners and industrialists made profits by exploiting workers. Workers did most of the hard work but received very low wages, while owners became richer. Marx felt this system was unfair and created large inequalities.
According to Karl Marx, workers would eventually realise this exploitation and unite against the capitalist system. He predicted that they would overthrow capitalism through a revolution.
After the revolution, private property would be abolished and a classless society would be created. In this society, there would be no rich or poor, and wealth would be shared equally. Cooperation would replace competition.
Friedrich Engels supported Marx and helped spread these ideas through his writings. Together, their ideas inspired workers’ movements, trade unions, and socialist parties across Europe and later influenced revolutions like the Russian Revolution.
Growth of Socialist Movements
By the late nineteenth century, socialism became a powerful political force.
Key developments:
- Socialist parties formed in countries like Germany and France
- Trade unions grew stronger
- Workers organised strikes to demand rights
- Governments often repressed socialist activities
Despite opposition, socialism spread because it promised justice and equality.
Russia Before the Revolution
In the early twentieth century, Russia was ruled by Tsar Nicholas II, who had absolute power. Political freedoms were almost non-existent.
Features of Russian society:
- Majority were poor peasants
- Nobles owned vast lands
- Workers faced long hours and harsh conditions
- Heavy taxation on peasants
- Limited industrial development
The Tsar ignored demands for reform, increasing dissatisfaction among peasants, workers and soldiers.
The 1905 Revolution and Bloody Sunday
On 22 January 1905, thousands of workers marched peacefully to the Winter Palace with petitions. The Tsar’s soldiers fired on them.
Consequences of Bloody Sunday:
- Hundreds were killed
- Strikes spread across Russia
- Protests erupted nationwide
- Tsar was forced to create the Duma
However, the Duma was frequently dissolved, showing the Tsar’s unwillingness to allow real reform.
The February Revolution of 1917
World War I caused severe hardships in Russia, including food shortages, inflation and military defeats.
Events leading to the revolution:
- Women textile workers in Petrograd went on strike
- Other workers joined them
- Soldiers refused to fire on protestors
- Tsar Nicholas II abdicated on 2 March 1917
A Provisional Government was formed but failed to address key issues like war and land reforms.
Dual Power and Lenin’s April Theses
After February 1917, power was divided between:
- Provisional Government - weak and unpopular
- Soviets - councils of workers and soldiers with real influence
Lenin returned from exile and presented his April Theses, demanding:
- End to the war
- Land to peasants
- Nationalisation of banks
- All power to the Soviets
This greatly increased support for the Bolsheviks.
The October Revolution of 1917
By October, people demanded peace, food and land.
On 24-25 October 1917:
- Bolshevik guards seized key buildings
- Ministers were arrested
- Winter Palace was captured
Lenin declared a new Bolshevik government, marking the beginning of communist rule in Russia.
Changes After October
After the October Revolution of 1917, the Bolsheviks came to power and began introducing major changes to transform Russia into a socialist state.
Major Bolshevik reforms:
- Land redistributed to peasants
- Factories placed under state control
- Banks nationalised
- Russia withdrew from World War I
- Only the Bolshevik Party was allowed
Opposition led to a civil war between the Red Army and White Army, which the Bolsheviks eventually won.
Making of a Socialist Society
After the civil war, the Bolsheviks reshaped society:
- State control over farms and factories
- Central economic planning
- Five-Year Plans under Stalin
- Expansion of education and healthcare
- Greater rights for women
However, political freedom was restricted and opposition was crushed.
Stalinism and Collectivisation
In 1929, Joseph Stalin introduced collectivisation as part of his plan to strengthen the Soviet economy and increase food production. He believed that agriculture should be organised on a large scale and brought under government control to support rapid industrial growth.
Features:
- Peasants forced to give up land
- Collective farms (kolkhoz) created
- Kulaks resisted and were punished
Stalin’s policies, along with strict political control, censorship, and purges, became known as Stalinism. His rule was marked by repression, fear, and lack of political freedom, even though the Soviet Union achieved rapid industrial growth.
Global Impact of the Russian Revolution
The Russian Revolution inspired movements worldwide.
Worldwide influence:
- Growth of socialist parties
- Boost to anti-colonial movements
- USSR emerged as a socialist power
- Communist ideas adopted in China, Vietnam and Cuba
However, dissatisfaction with the Soviet system led to its collapse in 1991.
FAQs
Q1. What was the Russian Revolution of 1917?
Ans. It was a movement in which the people of Russia, led by the Bolsheviks under Lenin, overthrew the Tsarist monarchy and established a socialist government.
Q2. Who were the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks?
Ans. They were two groups of the Russian Social Democratic Workers’ Party. Bolsheviks supported a quick revolution, while Mensheviks wanted gradual reforms.
Q3. What was Karl Marx’s contribution to socialism?
Ans. Karl Marx explained how capitalism exploited workers and argued for a classless society based on equality.
Q4. Who was the Tsar during the Russian Revolution?
Ans. Tsar Nicholas II ruled Russia during this period.
Q5. What caused the February Revolution of 1917?
Ans. Food shortages, military failures in World War I, rising prices and anger against the Tsar led to mass protests and strikes.
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