HISTORY
1. Who was the leader of Jacobins club? Describe any four causes for the fall of the Jacobins
government in France.
Ans: Leader of the Jacobins Club: The Jacobins Club in France was led by Maximilian
Robespierre, a prominent figure during the French Revolution. Under his leadership, the
Jacobins played a major role in the radical phase of the revolution, including the Reign of Terror.
Four Causes for the Fall of the Jacobins Government:
1. The Reign of Terror: Robespierre and the Jacobins established a period of extreme
political repression known as the Reign of Terror (1793-1794). Thousands of people,
including political rivals and perceived enemies, were executed by the guillotine. This led
to widespread fear and resentment among the population.
2. Internal Conflicts: The Jacobins faced intense internal disputes and factionalism within
their ranks. Many moderate revolutionaries opposed the extreme policies, creating
instability within the government.
3. Economic Problems: France faced severe economic challenges, such as rising inflation
and food shortages, under the Jacobin government. Their failure to address these
problems worsened public dissatisfaction and unrest.
4. Opposition from Other Revolutionaries: Other revolutionary groups and politicians
grew increasingly wary of Robespierre’s dictatorial control and radical policies. This led
to a coalition of moderates and former allies who plotted against him.
5. Robespierre’s Execution: In July 1794, Robespierre was arrested and executed during
the Thermidorian Reaction. His death marked the end of Jacobin dominance and led to
the dismantling of their government.
These events culminated in the fall of the Jacobins and the end of their influence during the
French Revolution.
2. HOW WAS THE SYSTEM OF ESTATES IN THE FRENCH SOCIETY ORGANIZED? WHO CONSTITUTED THE
MIDDLE CLASS? WHAT WERE THEIR IDEAS ABOUT PRIVILEGE IN SOCIETY?
Ans: 1. System of Estates: French society was divided into three estates:
First Estate: Clergy
Second Estate: Nobility
Third Estate: Commoners (including peasants, city workers, and the middle class)
2. First and Second Estates: The clergy and nobility held privileges like exemption from taxes
and access to high offices, enjoying wealth and influence.
3. Third Estate: This included the majority of the population, from peasants to the emerging
middle class (bourgeoisie), but they had the least political power and paid most taxes.
HISTORY
4. Middle Class: The bourgeoisie (merchants, professionals, lawyers) were part of the Third
Estate but were wealthier and more educated than the peasants.
5. Ideas on Privilege: The middle class believed in equality and merit-based positions. They
opposed the inherited privileges of the clergy and nobility, advocating for a fairer society based
on talent and contribution.
3. Describe the condition of women during the French Revolution and what did they do to voice their
interests?
Ans: 1. Limited Rights and Roles: During the French Revolution, women had limited legal
rights, were excluded from voting, and were expected to focus on domestic roles such as
household work and child-rearing.
2. Economic Hardships: Many women, especially from the lower classes, faced severe
economic hardships, such as rising prices of bread and essential goods, which motivated them to
become politically active.
3.Political Involvement: Women began participating in revolutionary activities, joining clubs
like the Society of Revolutionary and Republican Women to demand equal rights, better
living conditions, and political participation.
4.March to Versailles: One of the most notable actions was the Women’s March to Versailles
in October 1789, where women demanded bread and pressed the monarchy to address their
economic grievances, eventually forcing King Louis XVI to return to Paris.
5. Demands for Equality: Women, like Olympe de Gouges, wrote the Declaration of the
Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen (1791), challenging the male-centric view of
equality and advocating for women's rights, including legal and political equality.
6. Outcome: Despite their efforts, women’s demands were largely ignored, and after the fall of
the Jacobin government, women’s political clubs were banned, and their rights remained limited
until much later reforms.
LESSON-2
SOCIALISM IN EUROPE AND THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
1. Explain Karl Marx's theory of socialism.
Ans: 1. Class Struggle: Marx believed history is driven by the conflict between the bourgeoisie
(owners) and the proletariat (workers).
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2. Abolition of Private Property: He called for the end of private ownership of production,
advocating for collective control of resources.
3. Workers’ Revolution: Marx predicted that the proletariat would overthrow capitalism
through revolution.
4. Dictatorship of the Proletariat: A temporary socialist state led by workers would redistribute
wealth and ensure equality.
5. Classless Society: The ultimate goal was communism, a stateless, classless society with equal
wealth distribution.
6. End of Exploitation: Marx believed socialism would end the exploitation of workers by
ensuring that the wealth they produce is fairly distributed, not concentrated in the hands of a few.
7. Internationalism: Marx’s theory promoted global socialism, where workers of all countries
unite to overthrow capitalist systems worldwide, transcending national boundaries.
2.How did the Conservatives differ from the Radicals and the Liberals?
Ans: Conservatives
1. Tradition and Stability: Conservatives emphasized the importance of tradition, social
hierarchy, and stability, advocating for gradual change rather than radical reforms.
2. Monarchy and Authority: They supported strong, centralized authority, often favoring
monarchies and established institutions like the church as stabilizing forces in society.
3. Resistance to Change: Conservatives were generally resistant to the ideas of democracy
and popular sovereignty, preferring to maintain existing power structures and privileges.
Radicals
1. Immediate and Fundamental Change: Radicals sought profound and immediate social
and political reforms, advocating for the complete overhaul of existing systems.
2. Popular Sovereignty: They emphasized the need for direct democracy and the
empowerment of the working class, often supporting revolutionary actions to achieve
their goals.
3. Equality and Rights: Radicals championed social and economic equality, pushing for
rights and protections for all citizens, particularly the marginalized and oppressed.
Liberals
1. Individual Freedom: Liberals focused on individual rights and freedoms, advocating for
personal liberty, civil rights, and protection from government overreach.
2. Representative Government: They supported constitutional government and
representative democracy, believing that power should derive from the consent of the
governed.
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3. Economic Freedom: Liberals promoted free-market capitalism, emphasizing limited
government intervention in the economy and the importance of private property rights.
3.What do you mean by October Revolution?
1. Date and Context: The October Revolution occurred in October 1917 (Julian calendar) in
Russia, marking the second phase of the Russian Revolution after the February Revolution.
2. Led by Bolsheviks: It was led by the Bolshevik Party under Vladimir Lenin, who sought to
establish a communist state by overthrowing the provisional government.
3.Overthrow of Provisional Government: On October 25, 1917, the Bolsheviks, with the
support of workers and soldiers, stormed the Winter Palace in Petrograd, effectively ending the
provisional government.
4. End of Russian Monarchy: The revolution resulted in the collapse of the Russian Empire
and the establishment of a Soviet government, leading to the creation of the USSR.
5.Global Impact: The October Revolution had a profound influence on global politics,
spreading communist ideology worldwide and leading to the eventual Cold War between the
Soviet Union and Western countries.
4.What triggered Civil War in Russia?
1. Bolshevik Seizure of Power (1917): The Bolshevik takeover during the October
Revolution angered various political factions who opposed Lenin’s authoritarian rule and
communist policies.
2. Opposition to Bolshevik Ideology: Groups like monarchists, capitalists, and
moderate socialists rejected the Bolsheviks’ communist vision, wanting either a return
of the monarchy or a more democratic/socialist government.
3. Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918): The Bolsheviks signed a peace treaty with Germany,
ceding Russian territory, which upset nationalists and the military, fueling opposition
from the White Army.
4. Economic Hardships: Severe food shortages, unemployment, and inflation worsened
after the revolution, causing public discontent and rebellion against the Bolshevik
government.
HISTORY
5. Foreign Intervention: Allied powers (Britain, France, the U.S., and Japan) intervened to
support the anti-Bolshevik White Army, hoping to overthrow the Bolsheviks and re-
engage Russia in World War I.
These factors collectively triggered the Russian Civil War between the Bolshevik Red Army and
various opposition groups.
5.Why didn't Stalin's policy of collectivisation yield immediate results? Explain any three
reasons.
1. Peasant Resistance: Many peasants, especially kulaks (wealthier farmers), resisted
collectivization, often destroying crops and livestock in protest, which decreased agricultural
production.
2. Disruption of Farming Practices: Traditional farming methods were disrupted, and
inexperienced collective farm managers replaced skilled farmers, leading to inefficient farming
techniques and lower productivity.
3. Famine and Poor Planning: Poor planning, along with forced grain exports, caused severe
food shortages and famines (like the Holodomor in Ukraine), further reducing agricultural
output.
6.Explain the impact of Russian Revolution on Russia and the World.
Impact on Russia:
1. Establishment of a Communist Government: The Bolsheviks overthrew the
provisional government, leading to the establishment of a one-party state under Lenin’s
leadership, which aimed to implement communist ideology.
2. Civil War and Political Repression: The revolution sparked a civil war (1917-1922)
between the Red Army (Bolsheviks) and the White Army (anti-Bolsheviks), resulting in
significant loss of life, political repression, and the consolidation of Bolshevik power.
3. Economic Transformation: The revolution led to the nationalization of industry and
land redistribution, aiming to create a socialist economy. This resulted in significant
changes in agricultural and industrial production methods.
4. Social Reforms: The Bolshevik regime introduced various social reforms, including
universal education, women's rights, and improved healthcare, aiming to create a more
equitable society.
5. Formation of the Soviet Union: In 1922, the revolution culminated in the establishment
of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), fundamentally altering Russia's
political structure and paving the way for future Soviet policies.
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Impact on the World:
1. Inspiration for Other Revolutions: The Russian Revolution inspired a wave of
revolutionary movements across the globe, particularly in Europe, Asia, and Latin
America, influencing socialist and communist ideologies.
2. Cold War Dynamics: The revolution set the stage for the Cold War, creating ideological
divisions between the capitalist West and the communist East, leading to political
tensions and conflicts worldwide.
3. Spread of Marxist Ideology: The success of the Bolsheviks popularized Marxist theory,
leading to the formation of communist parties around the world and significantly
impacting global political landscapes.
4. Decolonization Movements: The revolution provided a model for anti-colonial
movements, encouraging colonies to seek independence through revolutionary means and
shaping their ideologies.
5. Changes in Global Alliances: The rise of the Soviet Union as a superpower altered
global alliances, leading to new political dynamics, military pacts, and economic
partnerships that defined international relations throughout the 20th century.
