Russian Revolution | Conditions in Russia MCQs Quiz | Class 9
Class IX History, Unit: Events and Processes. This quiz covers the conditions in Russia before 1917, Tsarist rule, the economy, society, and the 1905 Revolution. Attempt the quiz to test your understanding, view your score, and download the answer PDF for revision.
Overview: The Russian Empire in 1914
Before the revolution of 1917, Russia was a vast empire ruled by Tsar Nicholas II. The empire included current-day Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, parts of Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus. It stretched to the Pacific and comprised Central Asian states.
1. Economy and Society
At the beginning of the 20th century, the vast majority of Russia’s people were agriculturists.
- Agriculture: About 85 percent of the Russian empire’s population earned their living from agriculture. This was higher than in most European countries (e.g., France and Germany were 40-50 percent).
- Industry: Industry was found in pockets. Prominent industrial areas were St. Petersburg and Moscow. Many factories were set up in the 1890s when Russia’s railway network was extended.
- Workers: Workers were a divided social group based on skill. Metalworkers considered themselves aristocrats among other workers. Women made up 31 percent of the factory labor force by 1914 but were paid less than men.
2. Socialism in Russia
All political parties were illegal in Russia before 1914. However, socialist ideas were spreading.
- RSDLP (1898): The Russian Social Democratic Workers Party respected Marx’s ideas. It later split into Bolsheviks (led by Vladimir Lenin) and Mensheviks.
- Socialist Revolutionary Party (1900): This party struggled for peasants’ rights and demanded that land belonging to nobles be transferred to peasants.
3. The 1905 Revolution
Russia was an autocracy. Liberals, Social Democrats, and Socialist Revolutionaries demanded a constitution.
- Bloody Sunday: In 1905, a procession of workers led by Father Gapon was attacked by police at the Winter Palace. Over 100 workers were killed. This event started a series of strikes known as the 1905 Revolution.
- October Manifesto: The Tsar allowed the creation of an elected consultative Parliament or Duma. However, the Tsar dismissed the first Duma within 75 days.
| Group | Key Beliefs | Main Support Base |
|---|---|---|
| Bolsheviks | Discipline, quality over quantity, revolution led by party. | Industrial workers (radical) |
| Mensheviks | Party open to all (like Germany), gradual change. | Urban workers, intellectuals |
| Socialist Revolutionaries | Land to the tiller, peasant rights. | Peasants in countryside |
Quick Revision Points
- Jadidists: Muslim reformers within the Russian Empire who wanted modernized Islam.
- St. Petersburg: Renamed Petrograd during the First World War because the original name sounded German.
- Kulaks: Well-to-do peasants.
- Tsarina Alexandra: Her German origin and poor advisors (like Rasputin) made the autocracy unpopular.
Extra Practice Questions
- Why did the Tsar dismiss the first Duma? (Answer: He did not want any reduction in his power.)
- What was the main demand of workers during the 1905 strikes? (Answer: Reduction in working hours to 8 hours and wage increase.)
- Which war broke out in 1914? (Answer: The First World War.)
- Who led the procession on Bloody Sunday? (Answer: Father Gapon.)
- What percentage of the Russian population was agricultural? (Answer: About 85 percent.)
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