The Russian Revolution How the USSR was created.

Russia Very large country. Very large country. Location: Eastern Europe and Northern Asia Location: Eastern Europe and Northern Asia

1900 Tsar Nicolas II Tsar Nicolas II Of the “Romanov” family. Of the “Romanov” family. The last “emperor” of Russia. The last “emperor” of Russia. He had very little experience of government and was portrayed as a failure He had very little experience of government and was portrayed as a failure He was thought of as weak and contradicting He was thought of as weak and contradicting

World War I Russia suffers horribly. Russia suffers horribly. The poor resent the rule of the rich Romanov family. The poor resent the rule of the rich Romanov family. Outdated economy Outdated economy –Farms –Railways not developed

February 1917 Revolution Protests & strikes against the war and food shortages in Petrograd (St. Petersburg). Protests & strikes against the war and food shortages in Petrograd (St. Petersburg). Turns violent, eventually police & soldiers join with strikers. Turns violent, eventually police & soldiers join with strikers. Tsar Nicolas II steps down. Tsar Nicolas II steps down. Provisional government is set up. Provisional government is set up.

Communism Karl Marx Karl Marx German philosopher, political scientist German philosopher, political scientist Writes “The Communist Manifesto” Writes “The Communist Manifesto” The workers own the factory or farm “communally.” The workers own the factory or farm “communally.” The opposite of capitalism. The opposite of capitalism.

Revolutionaries Split into 2 Groups Mensheviks (minority) Mensheviks (minority) Bolsheviks (majority) Bolsheviks (majority) Led by a talented debater, brilliant organizer, named Vladimir Ulyanov a.k.a. Vladimir Lenin Led by a talented debater, brilliant organizer, named Vladimir Ulyanov a.k.a. Vladimir Lenin

Communism in Russia Lenin Lenin Leader of the “Bolshevik” party Leader of the “Bolshevik” party Trotsky Trotsky

Leon Trotsky Educated Educated Powerful speaker Powerful speaker Lost the power struggle. Lost the power struggle. Stalin exiled Trotsky and his family from Russia. Stalin exiled Trotsky and his family from Russia. Finally had him killed in Mexico. Finally had him killed in Mexico.

October 1917 Revolution Lenin leads the Bolsheviks to oust the provisional government & take over. Lenin leads the Bolsheviks to oust the provisional government & take over. Trotsky leads Bolsheviks in St. Petersburg. Trotsky leads Bolsheviks in St. Petersburg. Create the USSR – The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Create the USSR – The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Capital is moved to Moscow. Capital is moved to Moscow.

The USSR Tsar Nicolas II and his family are murdered July Tsar Nicolas II and his family are murdered July Lenin dies Lenin dies Power struggle between Trotsky & Stalin. Power struggle between Trotsky & Stalin. Stalin wins. Stalin wins.

Josef Stalin ( ) Described as ruthless Described as ruthless Wanted to make Russia a modern industrial power. Wanted to make Russia a modern industrial power. Believed in collectivization: the belief that all land, means of production, and distribution of such should be left up to the government. Believed in collectivization: the belief that all land, means of production, and distribution of such should be left up to the government.

Stalin’s “Great Purge” Stalin gets rid of all competition. Stalin gets rid of all competition. Stalin executes all of the other leaders of the October 1917 revolution. Stalin executes all of the other leaders of the October 1917 revolution. Trotsky is exiled and eventually assassinated in Trotsky is exiled and eventually assassinated in 1940.

Stalin’s rule, continued Propaganda and censors. Propaganda and censors. They literally re-write history. They literally re-write history.

Stalin’s 5-year plan Farms are “collectivized” to finance new industry. Farms are “collectivized” to finance new industry. Must meet a gov’t quota. Must meet a gov’t quota. Starvation in the Ukraine section of the USSR. Starvation in the Ukraine section of the USSR. Between executions & starvation Stalin is responsible for several million deaths. Between executions & starvation Stalin is responsible for several million deaths.

USSR The USSR was lead by the Communist Party until The USSR was lead by the Communist Party until 1989.

-ISMS Socialism: You have 2 cows. Give 1 cow to your neighbor. Socialism: You have 2 cows. Give 1 cow to your neighbor. Communism: You have 2 cows. Give both cows to the government, and they may give you some of the milk. Communism: You have 2 cows. Give both cows to the government, and they may give you some of the milk. Fascism: You have 2 cows. You give all of the milk to the government, and the government sells it. Fascism: You have 2 cows. You give all of the milk to the government, and the government sells it. Nazism: You have 2 cows. The government shoots you and takes both cows. Nazism: You have 2 cows. The government shoots you and takes both cows. Anarchism: You have 2 cows. Keep both of the cows, shoot the government agent, and steal another cow. Anarchism: You have 2 cows. Keep both of the cows, shoot the government agent, and steal another cow. Capitalism: You have 2 cows. Sell one cow and buy a bull. Capitalism: You have 2 cows. Sell one cow and buy a bull. Surrealism: You have 2 giraffes. The government makes you take harmonic lessons. Surrealism: You have 2 giraffes. The government makes you take harmonic lessons.

Other Russian terms you should know Pravda: the official propaganda tool of the Communist Party. Pravda: the official propaganda tool of the Communist Party. Propaganda: language or advertising that tries to persuade you to do something/change Propaganda: language or advertising that tries to persuade you to do something/change “The Internationale”: the Communist national anthem. “The Internationale”: the Communist national anthem. Kremlin: the official headquarters of the party. Kremlin: the official headquarters of the party. KGB: the secret police KGB: the secret police

Why are we discussing this? Animal Farm = USSR Animal Farm = USSR Mr. Jones - Tzar Nicholas II Mr. Jones - Tzar Nicholas II Old Major = Marx/Lenin Old Major = Marx/Lenin Snowball = Trotsky Snowball = Trotsky Napoleon = Stalin Napoleon = Stalin The pigs = The Communist Party The pigs = The Communist Party Boxer & the animals = the workers of Russia Boxer & the animals = the workers of Russia Dogs = KGB/Secret Police Dogs = KGB/Secret Police

Animal Farm by George Orwell An allegory illustrating the way Stalin betrayed the principals of the Russian Revolution. An allegory illustrating the way Stalin betrayed the principals of the Russian Revolution. George Orwell is campaigning against Stalin’s Totalitarian government. George Orwell is campaigning against Stalin’s Totalitarian government. Written in 1944, during WWII, when the UK and USA allied with Stalin to defeat Hitler. Written in 1944, during WWII, when the UK and USA allied with Stalin to defeat Hitler.

TERMS Allegory - a story in which the characters, setting and events stand for abstract or moral concepts Allegory - a story in which the characters, setting and events stand for abstract or moral concepts Fable – a short mean to teach a moral – usually uses animals Fable – a short mean to teach a moral – usually uses animals Utopia – an ideal society or perfect existence for man or earth Utopia – an ideal society or perfect existence for man or earth

Terms (cont) Totalitarianism – government in which one political party aims at total control over people Totalitarianism – government in which one political party aims at total control over people –Organized violence or police terror – force used to crush opposition –Censorship – only official versions of information are allowed –State control over individual - demanding everyone unquestionably loyal to state –Single strong leader – glorified or deified. Elevated to god-like status –State control over society - business, education, family, housing, religion –Ideology of state – glorified aims of state used to justify everything –Dictatorship – one party rules with absolute control

Is it still relevant today? You decide. You decide.