Write a few lines to show what you know about: (i) Kulaks (ii) The Duma (iii) Women workers between 1900 and 1930. (iv) The Liberals. (v) Stalin’s collectivization programme.

(i) It is the Russian term for wealthy peasants who Stalin

believed were hoarding grains to gain more profit. By 1927-28

the towns of Soviet Russia were facing an acute problem of grain

supplies. Kulaks were thought to be partly responsible for this.

Also to develop modern farms and run them along industrial

lines the Party under the leadership of Stalin thought it was

necessary to eliminate Kulaks.

(ii) During 1905 Revolution, the Tsar allowed the creation of an

elected consultative parliament in Russia. This elected

consultative parliament in Russia was called Duma.

(iii) They made up 31% of the factory labour force by 1914, but

were paid almost half and three-quarters of the wages given to

men. However, interestingly, it were the women workers who led the way to strikes during the February Revolution.

(iv) They espoused a nation that was tolerant towards all

religions; one that would protect individual rights against the

government. Although the liberals wanted an elected

parliamentary form of governance, they believed that the right

to vote must only belong to men, and that too the ones who

were property holders.

(v) Stalin believed that collectivization of agriculture would help

in improving grains supplies in Russia. He began collectivization

in 1929. All peasants were forced to cultivate in collective farms

(kolhoz). The bulk of land and implements were transferred to

the ownership of collective farm. Many peasants protested such

attempts and destroyed livestock to show their anger.

Collectivization did not bring the desired results in the food