Socialism in Europe and The Russian Revolution

Question 1

Who were the liberals? What were their beliefs?

Answer 1

• Believed in
  
  1. A nation that was tolerant of all religions.
  2. A representative elected parliament.
  3. A well-trained independent judiciary.
  4. Power belonged to rich men.
• Did Not Believe In
  
  1. Dynastic rulers
  2. Universal Adult Franchise
  3. Women’s Suffrage

Question 2

Who were the radicals? What were their beliefs?

Answer 2

• Believed In
  
  1. Universal Adult Franchise.
  2. Women’s Suffrage
• Did Not Believe In
  
  1. Concentration of private property in the hands of a
     few.

Question 3

Who were the conservatives? What were their beliefs?

Answer 3

1. Gradual, slow change.

2. Respecting the past

Question 4

What was the consequence of such diverse political opinions?

Answer 4

Such diverse and often clashing views lead to turmoil which proved the potential and limits of each of these ideologies.

Question 5

What were the conditions of the workers after the Industrial Revolution?

Answer 5

The 1800s also marked the Industrial Revolution. The revolution brought men, women and children to factories. These people did not have easy lives. They had long working hours, low wages, unsanitary living conditions and often had to face unemployment when demand was low.

Question 6

What were the opinions of liberals and radicals about the conditions of workers?

Answer 6

The liberals and radicals chose to intervene and try and solve their problems.

Most of them were factory owners themselves. They believed that trade and industrial ventures should be encouraged as they would be beneficial to societies. However, they believed that they would be able to reap the benefits only if the working populace were healthy and educated. They also believed that to bring true change people’s freedom should be ensured, poor people should not be unemployed and those with capital should be able to work without restraint.

Question 7

What did nationalist liberals and radicals want?

Answer 7

Nationalist revolutionary liberals and radicals wanted to put an end to monarchies and establish nation-states where all citizens would be equal.

Question 8

Who was Giseuppe Mazzini?

Answer 8

An Italian nationalist who conspired to end monarchy in Italy. His works were read by everyone.

Question 9

What was socialism?

Answer 9

Socialism was a political ideology. In a socialist society, property is owned and controlled by society as a whole.

Question 10

Name 2 people with differing views about the functioning of cooperatives.

Answer 10

Robert Owens and Louis Blanc

Question 11

What is communism?

Answer 11

Communism is a form of radical socialism where all property is socially controlled.

Question 12

Who proposed communism?

Answer 12

Karl Marx and Frederick Engels.

Question 13

What was a capitalist society according to Marx?

Answer 13

A society in which rich people who invested capital in industries accumulated the profits of workers’ labour is a capitalist society.

Question 14

Why did Marx feel that capitalism was bad?

Answer 14

Marx believed that as long as capitalists kept benefitting off of workers’ work with no resistance, workers would not be free from exploitation.

Question 15

How did Marx feel about communism?

Answer 15

Marx believed that workers would triumph against capitalism and that communism was the natural future of society.

Question 16

When did the socialist movement gain traction?

Answer 16

The socialist movement gained traction in the 1870s.

Question 17

What did the socialists do to coordinate their efforts?

Answer 17

To coordinate their efforts, socialists created an international body called the Second International.

Question 18

What did socialist workers do in England and Germany?

Answer 18

In England and Germany, workers set up associations to fight for their rights: better living and working conditions, lesser working hours, increased wages and the right to vote.

Question 19

What did the workers’ associations do in Germany?

Answer 19

Worker’s associations in Germany worked closely with the Socialist Democratic Party (SPD) and helped it win parliamentary seats.

Question 20

What was the socialist party in France called, and when was it set up?

Answer 20

Socialist Party, 1905

Question 21

What was the socialist party in England called, and when was it set up?

Answer 21

Labour Party, 1905

Question 22

Did socialist parties ever form a government?

Answer 22

No, till 1914, socialist parties never succeeded in forming governments. Their representatives shaped legislation but governments were still packed with conservatives, liberals and radicals.

Question 23

What do you know about Robert Owens?

Answer 23

Robert Owens was a leading English manufacturer who was a socialist. He believed that cooperatives were the best way to implement a socialist society. He set up a cooperative society in New Harmony, Indiana.

Question 24

What do you know about Louis Blanc?

Answer 24

Louis Blanc was a French socialist who believed that governments should encourage cooperatives and replace capitalist enterprises.