10th First Mid Term Question Paper 2023 English Medium|10th Social First Mid Term Question Paper 2023|Social Science Mid Term Question Paper

Introduction

1914 is a turning point in world history. Thepolitical and social processes that began in 1789 culminated in the First World War that brokeout in that year and decisively shaped the course of the twentieth century. Historians therefore
call this as ‘the long nineteenth century’. This was the first industrial war that drew on the economic resources of the entire world, and also affected large sections of the civilian population.The political map of the world was redrawn.Three major empires lay shattered by the end of the War: Germany, Austria–Hungary, and
the Ottomans. The biggest outcome of the War was the Russian Revolution. It was a unique event as well as the first revolution of its kind in world history. For the first time, countries tried to bring about world peace through the League of Nations. In this lesson, we discuss the circumstances leading to the outbreak of the
First World War and its repercussions, including the Russian Revolution and the formation of an 

Asia: The Rise of Japan

In Asia, Japan during this period (Meijiera from 1867 to 1912), imitating Western
nations had become their equal in many respects. Though the outlook of the rulers
still remained feudal, Japan took to Western education and machinery. With a modern army and navy, Japan had emerged as an advanced industrialised power. In 1894 she forced a war on China. The crushing defeat of China by
little Japan in the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) surprised the world. Despite the warning of the three great powers Russia, Germany and France–Japan annexed the Liaotung peninsula with Port Arthur. By this action Japan proved that it
was the strongest nation of the East Asia. Japan, however, in view of the pressure
mounted by European Powers, soon gave up its claim over Port Arthur. Russia took advantage of this and sent a large army to Manchuria.Japan entered into an alliance with England in 1902 and demanded that Russia withdraw troops from Manchuria. Russia underestimated Japan. In 1904 the war began between the two
countries. In this Russo-Japanese War, Japan defeated Russia and got back Port Arthur. After this War Japan entered the “circle of the great
Powers”.

 

 Naval Battles and America’s Entry into the War

In 1916 a naval battle (Battle of Jutland) had taken place in the North Sea. The British won the battle. Thereafter Germany started their submarine warfare and their cruisers went roaming about, interfering with the shipping of the Allies. One of these was the famous Emden, which bombarded Madras. As a counter measure to the blockade the Germans proclaimed in January 1917 that they would sink
even neutral ships in certain waters. Lusitania, an American ship, was torpedoed by a German submarine. There was a lot of resentment in the USA and President Wilson declared war against Germany in April 1917. America’s entry with
its enormous resources made Allied victory a foregone conclusion.

 

 Fallout of the First World War

The First World War left a deep impact on European society and polity. Through
conscription, and through air raids, the War had involved and affected far more of the population than in the past. 8 million had died in four years, while more than twice as many were wounded, and many crippled for life. Millions more had
succumbed to the worldwide influenza of 1918. The outcome, in all countries, was imbalance between the sexes—a shortage of men. Soldiers came to be placed above civilians. The War and its aftermath turned out to be a stirring period of history. The most striking of all was the rise and consolidation of the Soviet Union, the U.S.S.R or the Union of Socialist and Soviet Republics, as it was called. America
entered the War as a debtor country but it emerged as the money-lender to the world in the aftermath of the War. Another outstanding event of this period
was the awakening of the colonies and their inspired attempts to gain freedom.
Mustafa Kemal Pasha played a remarkable role for Turkey’s rebirth as a nation. Kemal Pasha modernised Turkey and changed it out of all recognition.

Impact on India

The First World War had a significant impact on India. The British recruited a vast
contingent of Indians to serve in Europe, Africa and West Asia. After the War, the soldiers came back with new ideas which had an impact on the Indian society. India contributed £ 230 million in cash and over £ 125 million in loans towards war expenses. India also sent war materials to the value £ 250 million. This caused
enormous economic distress. There were grainriots as poor people looted shops. Towards the

 

 Immediate Cause

The climax to these events in the Balkans occurred in Sarajevo in Bosnia. On 28 June 1914 the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to Franz Joseph, Emperor of Austria-Hungary, was assassinated by Princip, a Bosnian Serb. Austria
saw in this an opportunity to eliminate Serbia as an independent state. Germany thought that it should strike first. It declared war on Russia on 1 August. Germany had no quarrel with France, but because of the Franco-Russian Alliance, the German army which was planning a war against both France and Russia wanted to
use the occasion to its advantage. The German violation of Belgian neutrality forced Britain to enter War.

 

 10th Social |1st Mid Term Exam 2023 - 2024 | Original Question Paper English Medium

    Download

Provisional Government

There were two parallel bodies to take on government functions. One was of the
bourgeois politicians of the old state Duma,comprising propertied classes. On the other there were workers’ delegates drawn together in a workers’ council, or Soviet. Those in the Duma were able to form a provincial government
with the consent of the Soviets. The Soviet was dominated by Mensheviks and the minority Bolsheviks were timid and undecided. Thesituation changed with the arrival of Lenin.

 Provisions of the Treaty

1. Germany was found guilty of starting the War and therefore was to pay reparations for the losses suffered. All Central Powers were directed to pay war indemnity.
2. The German army was to be limited to 100,000 men. A small navy was allowed.
3. The union of Austria and Germany was forbidden.
4. All German colonies became mandatedterritories under the League of Nations.
5. Germany was forced to revoke the Treaty ofBrest-Litovsk (with Russia) and Bucharest(Bulgaria).
6. Alsace–Lorraine was returned to France.
7. The former Russian territories of Finland,Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were to be independent
8. Northern Schleswig was given to Denmark and some small districts to Belgium.
9. Poland was recreated.
10. The Rhineland was to be occupied by the Allies. The area on the east bank of the Rhine was to be demilitarized.

 

Failure of Provisional Government

Lenin was in Switzerland when the revolution broke out. Lenin wanted continued
revolution. His slogan of ‘All power to the Soviets’ soon won over the workers’ leaders. Devastated by war time shortages, the people were attracted
by the slogan of ‘Bread, Peace and Land.’ But the Provisional government made two grave mistakes. First, it postponed a decision on the demand for the redistribution of land and the other was government decided to continue with
the war. Frustrated peasant soldiers deserted their posts and joined those who had resorted to land grabbing. This intensified the rising in Petrograd led by Bolsheviks. The governmentbanned Pravda and arrested all Bolsheviks.
Trotsky was also arrested.