Notes Class 9 History Chapter 2 Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution

Notes For All Chapters History Class 9 CBSE

Chapter 2: Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution

1. The Age of Social Change

• After the French Revolution (1789), people in Europe began to discuss liberty, equality, and fraternity.
• New ideas about freedom, democracy, and equality spread across Europe.
• Industrialization began in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, changing society and economy.
• New social groups like industrialists, businessmen, and working-class people emerged.
• People started questioning monarchy and aristocratic privileges.

2. The Liberal, Radical and Conservative Groups

Liberals

• Believed in freedom for individuals and equality before law.
• Opposed absolute power of monarchs.
• Supported parliamentary form of government.
• Did not believe in universal voting rights — only property-owning men should vote.

Radicals

• Wanted a government based on majority rule.
• Supported universal male suffrage (voting rights for all men).
• Opposed the power of wealthy landowners and churches.

Conservatives

• Wanted to preserve traditional institutions like monarchy and church.
• Believed change should happen slowly and carefully.

3. Industrial Society and Social Change

• Industrialization began first in Britain and then spread to other parts of Europe.
• Industrial Revolution created new cities and industrial working classes.
• Men, women, and children worked long hours for low wages.
• Poor working and living conditions led to unrest among workers.
• Liberals and radicals demanded reforms for better living and working conditions.

Demand for Change

. Workers formed associations and demanded:

• Better wages
• Shorter working hours
• Right to form trade unions

. Some thinkers proposed a new system – Socialism.

4. Socialism and Its Supporters

. Socialists believed that wealth should be shared equally.

. They criticized private property and the unfair control of industries by a few.

. Wanted government control over means of production (land, factories, etc.).

Different Types of Socialists

• Cooperative Socialists – believed in forming cooperatives and sharing profits.
• Revolutionary Socialists – wanted complete change through revolution.
• Utopian Socialists – believed in building ideal communities to show equality and cooperation.

5. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

. Famous revolutionary socialists.

. Wrote the Communist Manifesto (1848).

. Believed that:

• Industrial society is divided into two classes:

1. Capitalists (owners of factories and land)
2. Workers/Proletariat (those who sell labour)

. Class struggle will lead to a revolution.

. A classless society (Communism) will emerge where wealth is shared by all.

6. The Russian Empire in 1914

. The Russian Empire was ruled by the Tsar (Czar).

. It included present-day Russia, Ukraine, Finland, Georgia, Poland, and parts of Central Asia.

. The Tsar had absolute power.

. The Russian society had:

• Aristocrats (nobles and landowners)
• Peasants
• Industrial workers

Peasants

• Majority of population (about 85%).
• Lived miserable lives under landlords.
• Some peasants owned land, others worked for the rich.

Industrial Workers

• Worked long hours for low wages.
• Conditions in factories were very harsh.
• Workers organized strikes to demand better conditions.

Socialist Movement

• By the 1890s, socialist ideas spread in Russia.
• Workers formed socialist groups and discussed Marx’s ideas.

7. The 1905 Revolution

. Russia fought a war with Japan in 1904–05 and was defeated → created anger.

. Workers went on strike demanding better wages and political rights.

. On 9 January 1905, peaceful protestors led by Father Gapon were shot by soldiers.

. This event is called “Bloody Sunday.”

• Tsar was forced to allow a parliament called the Duma.

. However, Tsar soon dissolved it and ruled again with full power.

8. The February Revolution (1917)

Background

• Russia entered World War I (1914).
• Millions of soldiers died; shortage of food and fuel.
• People blamed Tsar Nicholas II for failures.

Events

• In February 1917, workers in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) went on strike.
• Soldiers joined the workers.
• Tsar abdicated (left the throne).
• Provisional Government was formed (temporary government).
• This ended the monarchy in Russia.

9. The October Revolution (1917)

Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks

• Lenin was the leader of the Bolshevik Party.
• Believed in Marxist principles.
• Slogan: “Peace, Land, and Bread.”
• In October 1917, Bolsheviks seized power in Petrograd.
• Provisional Government was overthrown.
• Russia became the world’s first socialist country.

10. What Changed After the Revolution

Immediate Changes

• Land distributed among peasants.
• Banks and industries were nationalized (taken over by the government).
• Private property abolished.
• New flag introduced – red with a hammer and sickle (symbol of workers and peasants).
• Russia withdrew from World War I.

Civil War (1918–1920)

• Civil war between Bolsheviks (Reds) and opponents (Whites).
• Bolsheviks won and formed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1922.

11. Formation of the USSR

• USSR formed in 1922 with Russia and several other republics.
• Government based on Communist ideology.
• Power held by the Communist Party led by Lenin.

12. Lenin’s Death and Stalin’s Rise

• Lenin died in 1924.
• Joseph Stalin became leader.
• He introduced the Five-Year Plans to increase production.

Five-Year Plans

• Focused on heavy industries (coal, steel, electricity).
• Farms were grouped into collective farms (kolkhoz).
• Aimed to make USSR a modern industrial nation.

Results

• Industrial production increased.
• But many peasants were forced to give up land.
• Millions died due to famine and harsh policies.

13. The Global Influence of the Russian Revolution

. Inspired workers and peasants around the world.

. Led to the growth of Communist parties in many countries.

. Soviet Union became a powerful socialist nation.

. Promoted ideas of:

• Equality
• End of exploitation
• State control of resources for public welfare