Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution – Very Short Answer Type Questions
CBSE
CBSE Class 9 — History
Chapter 2: Socialism in Europe & the Russian Revolution — 50 Very Short Answer Questions (NCERT-aligned)
NCERT • Class 9
CBSE Board Examinations — How these VSAQs help
- 50 topic-wise 1–2 mark questions for quick revision and recall.
- Strictly based on NCERT chapter for Class 9 — ideal for board prep.
- Use for rapid-fire drills, quizzes and classroom tests.
Content Bank
The age of social change | The Russian Revolution | The February Revolution in Petrograd | What changed after October | Global influence of the Revolution & the USSR
The Age of Social Change — (Questions 1–10)
1. What is 'socialism' in simple terms?
A political and economic idea advocating collective or state ownership to reduce inequality.
2. Who wrote about class struggle and historical change?
Karl Marx.
3. What is 'Marxism'?
The theory by Marx that history is driven by class conflict and that capitalism will be replaced by socialism.
4. Name one effect of industrialisation in Europe.
Rapid urbanisation and growth of factory-based wage labour.
5. What problems did urban workers often face?
Low wages, long hours, unsafe working conditions and insecurity.
6. What were trade unions?
Organisations of workers formed to protect labour rights and improve conditions.
7. Give one reason socialist ideas spread among workers.
Because workers experienced exploitation and sought ideas to improve conditions and rights.
8. What did reformist socialists prefer to revolution?
Gradual reforms and state intervention to alleviate inequalities.
9. How were pamphlets and clubs important?
They spread socialist ideas and organised political discussion among workers and intellectuals.
10. What is 'class' in Marxist terms?
A group defined by its relation to production, e.g., bourgeoisie (owners) and proletariat (workers).
The Russian Context & Causes of Revolution — (Questions 11–20)
11. Who was the last Tsar of Russia?
Nicholas II.
12. What type of political system did Russia have before 1917?
An autocratic monarchy.
13. Name one economic problem faced by Russian peasants.
Land hunger and heavy peasant obligations.
14. How did World War I affect Russia?
It caused military defeats, heavy casualties and economic strain leading to unrest.
15. What was the 1905 Revolution in Russia?
A series of strikes, peasant unrest and mutinies that forced limited reforms like the Duma.
16. What was the Duma?
A representative assembly created after 1905 as a limited concession to demands for reform.
17. Who were the Bolsheviks?
A radical socialist faction led by Lenin advocating immediate revolution.
18. Who were the Mensheviks?
A more moderate socialist group favouring gradual change and broader membership.
19. What does 'soviet' mean?
A council of workers and soldiers representing local interests.
20. Name one trigger of the 1917 revolution besides war.
Food shortages and strikes in cities like Petrograd.
The February Revolution (Petrograd) — (Questions 21–30)
21. In which month did the February Revolution occur (Gregorian calendar)?
March 1917 (February in the old Russian calendar).
22. What immediate demand did protestors in Petrograd make?
Bread and an end to the war; relief from economic distress.
23. What happened to Tsar Nicholas II during the February Revolution?
He abdicated the throne.
24. Which government replaced the Tsar after February 1917?
The Provisional Government.
25. Who was a prominent leader in the Provisional Government?
Alexander Kerensky.
26. Why did the Provisional Government struggle?
It continued the war and failed to quickly resolve land and economic crises.
27. What role did soldiers' mutinies play in February?
Soldiers' refusals to fire on crowds helped topple the Tsarist regime.
28. How did soviets relate to the Provisional Government?
Soviets acted as parallel power centres, often challenging government decisions.
29. What slogan did many revolutionaries use that appealed to soldiers and workers?
'Peace, Land, and Bread.'
30. Give one short-term outcome of the February Revolution.
End of autocracy and establishment of a provisional democratic authority.
What Changed After October — (Questions 31–40)
31. When did the October Revolution take place (Gregorian calendar)?
November 1917 (October in the old Russian calendar).
32. Who led the Bolshevik takeover?
V.I. Lenin.
33. Name one immediate policy introduced by the Bolsheviks.
Land redistribution from large estates to peasants.
34. What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
A 1918 treaty in which Russia exited World War I, ceding territory to Germany.
35. What was 'War Communism'?
A wartime economic policy of nationalisation and requisitioning to support the Red Army.
36. Which armed conflict followed the October Revolution?
The Russian Civil War (Red vs White armies).
37. What political system emerged after Bolshevik victory?
A one-party socialist state leading to the formation of the USSR.
38. How did the Bolsheviks treat rival political parties?
They suppressed many rivals and centralised political power.
39. What change occurred in industry after October?
Key industries and banks were nationalised under state control.
40. Name one social reform introduced by the Bolsheviks.
Legal rights for workers and attempts at improving education and healthcare access.
Global Influence of the Revolution & the USSR — (Questions 41–50)
41. When was the USSR officially formed?
1922.
42. How did the Russian Revolution influence colonial movements?
It inspired anti-colonial leaders by showing a challenge to imperial powers and promoting ideas of social justice.
43. Name one way the USSR supported international communist movements.
Providing ideological support, training, and sometimes material aid to communist parties abroad.
44. What does 'Soviet' influence mean internationally?
Spread of socialist ideas and support for left-wing movements in other countries.
45. How did some Western intellectuals react to the Revolution?
Many were inspired and saw the USSR as a model for social change; others criticised its authoritarian turn.
46. Give one long-term economic change in the USSR.
State-led industrialisation and centralised planning (Five-Year Plans).
47. What was one political consequence of Soviet rule at home?
Concentration of power in the Communist Party and restricted political pluralism.
48. How did the Revolution affect ideas about rights globally?
It expanded debates on social rights, labour rights and the role of the state in welfare provision.
49. Name one country where communist ideas gained influence in the 20th century.
China (among others).
50. Summarise the overall historical significance of the Russian Revolution in one line.
It transformed Russia politically and socially and inspired global debates and movements about socialism, state power and equality.
Note: These Very Short Answer Questions are strictly aligned with the NCERT chapter and ideal for 1–2 mark quick revision checks. Cross-check answers with the textbook for fuller context.