CBSE
History-1999-Set I
OR
Q. What was the impact of the Russian Revolution of 1917 on the World countries.
Ans. The Russian Revolution had far reaching effects not only on Russia but also on the history of the World. The Russian Revolution ended the despotic rule of Czar Nicholas 11 and the power now came in the hands of the people and the dictatorship of the proletariat or the working class was now set up under Lenin. He established the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic in Russia. The ruling working class party or the Bolshevik party removed the hegemony of the upper privileged class of Landlords and aristocracy. Land, factories, mines, natural resources were nationalized. The new social set up was formed on the basis of equality and justice.
The revolution set an example for all the oppressed nations of the world, giving them hope and inspiration for independence. The Russian society, economy and polity were based on the communist principal where the workers and the unions rejoiced. This idea of socialism and communism was a threat to capitalist nations such as USA, France and Britain whose industries survived on the low wages for workers and long hours of tedious work.
The Russian communism was not confined to Russia alone. The Bolsheviks gave a call for the workers of the world to unite against Capitalism. The message of socialism was spreading in the World in the first half of the 20th century. The success of revolution was a success of socialism in the world. Countries like China, Vietnam, India were influenced by this idea of equality for all and demanded freedom from imperialist rule. On the other hand, the workers of many countries now started to rise against their oppressors namely the capitalists who took the main share of the fruit of worker’s labor.
The World was now divided in two power blocs, namely, the soviet bloc and the American bloc. The cold war started between the two power blocs when, no actual war took place but the race for armaments and increasing military strength in defense against each other kept on increasing.
Q.17. What was the Operation Barbarossa? Why did it fail?(2 marks)
Ans. The German plan to invade Russia in 1940 AD is known as the ‘operation Barbarossa’. It was a code name given to maintain secrecy .The German had visualized an easy victory over Russia but their plan failed as the German army was not fully prepared.
Q.18. When was the United States of America drawn into the Second World War? What was its effect on the course of the War?
(5 marks)
Ans. The Second World War began in 1939. In the beginning US remained neutral to the war which was restricted to Europe. It allowed Britain to buy arms on cash basis. Germany attacked Russian June 1941. . The French and the British were drawn into the war as they supported Russians. President Roosevelt signed the Atlantic Charter with British Prime Minister Churchill to declare the war aim and to destroy Nazi Germany. Russia also became a party to the charter. On December 1941, Japan, which was Germany’s ally, attacked the US naval base at Pearl Harbor. It led to the destruction of many US aircraft’s, battleships, armours and naval bases. US had no option but to retaliate. It declared War on Japan on December 8, 1941. Germany and Italy joined Japanese forces. US declared war with Germany and Italy.
Thus the US entry in the war made it a global war. US made 3,00,000 aircraft’s and 85,000 tankers. It was now called as the ‘arsenal of victory’.
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