Class 9 History Chapter 2 Question Answers - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution

Q1: How was society organised in Europe before the eighteenth century?
Ans: Before the eighteenth century, society was broadly divided into estates and orders, with the aristocracy and church holding control over economic and social power.

Q2: Were the people in the eighteenth century—Europe in favour of a complete transformation of society?
Ans: Some people in eighteenth century Europe wanted change, but they advocated for a gradual shift, while others sought radical restructuring.

Q3: Which group in Europe looked to change society?
Ans: The liberals in Europe sought to bring about changes in society.

Q4: Which kind of nation did the liberals want?
Ans: The liberals aimed for a nation that tolerated all religions.

Q5: What was the biggest drawback of the liberals?
Ans: The liberals did not support Universal Adult Franchise; they believed that only men of property should have the voting right and did not advocate for women's suffrage.

Q6: Who were radicals?
Ans: Radicals were a group of people who aimed to thoroughly change society and were critical of the concentration of property in the hands of a few.

Q7: What kind of nation did the radicals want?
Ans: The radicals desired a nation where the government was based on the majority of the country's population.

Q8: Mention one difference between liberals and radicals.
Ans: Radicals opposed the privileges of wealthy landowners and factory owners, while liberals supported these privileges.

Q9: What was suffragette movement?
Ans: The suffragette movement was a movement that advocated for granting women the right to vote.

Q10: Who was Giuseppe Mazzini?
Ans: Giuseppe Mazzini was an Italian nationalist and a leader in the movement for the unification of Italy.

Q11: What was the basic idea of socialism?
Ans: The basic idea of socialism was the opposition to private property, which socialists saw as the root cause of many societal problems.

Q12: What was the basic idea behind building cooperatives? Or How did cooperatives work in the early nineteenth century?
Ans: Cooperatives were associations of people who collaborated in producing goods and shared profits based on the work contributed by members.

Q13: Who was Karl Marx?
Ans: Karl Marx was a German philosopher, economist, and revolutionary socialist, considered one of the most influential thinkers of the nineteenth century.

Q14: What was the Second International?
Ans: The Second International was an international body formed by socialists in the 1870s to coordinate their efforts and promote socialist ideas across Europe.

Q15: When did socialists take over the government in Russia?
Ans: Socialists took over the government in Russia during the October Revolution of 1917.

Q16: Who ruled Russia and its empire in 1914?
Ans: Tsar Nicholas II ruled Russia and its empire in 1914.

Q17: What was the majority religion of Russia at that time?
Ans: The majority religion of Russia at that time was Russian Orthodox Christianity.

Q18: What was the status of political parties in Russia before 1914?
Ans: All political parties were illegal in Russia before 1914.

Q19: Who were Jadidists?
Ans: Jadidists were Muslim reformers within the Russian empire who aimed to modernize Islam and lead their societies.

Q20: Name the two European alliances between which the First World War occurred.
Ans: The Central Powers (e.g., Germany, Austria, Turkey) and The Allies (e.g., France, Britain, Russia) were the two European alliances in the First World War.

Q21: Who was Rasputin?
Ans: Rasputin was a peasant who gained significant influence over Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra of Russia, giving poor advice and contributing to the decline of the autocracy.

Q22: What was Duma?
Ans: Duma was an elected Consultative Parliament in Russia.

Q23: What aggravated workers’ condition in February 1917?
Ans: In February 1917, food shortages and harsh winter conditions worsened the workers' situation.

Q24: What did frustrated workers do on 23 February 1917?
Ans: On 23 February 1917, frustrated workers initiated a strike to draw attention to their grievances.

Q25: What was the Petrograd Soviet?
Ans: The Petrograd Soviet, established after the February Revolution, represented the city's workers and soldiers in Russia.