Chapter 3: The Russian Revolution

Exercises
A. Things to do:
1. Find the meanings:
Explore by yourself and write down the meanings of all the words asked.
B. Think and answer
a) What might have been the reason for Lenin to pull Russia out of WW1?
ANS: Russia’s involvement in World War I alongside its allies, France, and Britain,
had resulted in several heavy losses against Germany, offset only partially by
consistent victories against Austria-Hungary. Defeat on the battlefield fed the
growing discontent among the bulk of Russia’s population, especially the poverty-
stricken workers and peasants, and its hostility towards the imperial regime, led by
the ineffectual Czar Nicholas II. This discontent strengthened the cause of the
Bolsheviks, a radical socialist group led by Vladimir Lenin.

After Lenin’s return from exile in mid-April, Bolsheviks worked quickly to seize
power from the provisional government, led by Alexander Kerensky, Russia’s
minister of war. On November 6, aided by the Russian military, they were
successful. One of Lenin’s first actions as leader was to call a halt to Russian
participation in the war.

b) Make a list of Soviet leaders from Lenin to the present.

Explore by yourself

c) Write a short note on 1905 Revolution.

ANS: Textbook page no. 20- from (military weakness) ‘In 1904, Russia lost the war
to …. Establishment of an elected legislature, the Duma’ (next para).

C. Practice Questions
1. Write an account on the plight of commoners in Russia
ANS: Social Inequality and corruption. From ‘The most serious problem to without
paying bribes (next paragraph)’
2. Mention any two causes of the Russian Revolution.
ANS: write any two causes from the textbook. Explain the causes. DON’T JUST
mention the side-headings.

3. Mention any two books written by Karl Marx.

ANS: Das Kapital and The Communist Manifesto

4. Describe the role of Rasputin played in the affairs of the Russian Empire.
 ANS: Grigori Rasputin, a Siberian peasant, and mystic whose ability to improve the
condition of Aleksey, the hemophiliac heir to the Russian throne, made him an
influential person at Russian Empire.

Rasputin reached the pinnacle of his power at the Russian court after 1915.
During World War I, Nicholas II took personal command of his forces (September
1915) and went to the troops on the front, leaving Alexandra in charge
of Russia’s internal affairs, while Rasputin served as her personal advisor. Rasputin’s
influence ranged from the appointment of church officials to the selection of cabinet
ministers (often incompetent opportunists), and he occasionally intervened in military
matters to Russia’s detriment. Though supporting no political group, Rasputin was a
strong opponent of anyone opposing the autocracy or himself.

5. Explain the incident of Bloody Sunday

ANS: page no. 20, Russian Revolution of 1905- whole paragraph

6. ‘The actions and plunder of the Russian aristocracy led to the birth of the
Revolution.’ How far do you agree with the statement? Explain your answer.

ANS: It is one of the major causes which led to the birth of Russian Revolution but
not the only one. Other causes like Autocratic rule of Tsars (explain from page 18),
military weakness (explain from page no 20), Impact of Marxist ideologies and
Defeat of Russia in WW1 (explain both briefly from pg. no 22) also gave birth to the
Revolution.
NOTE: Explain the causes. DON’T JUST mention the side-headings.