Animal Farm by George Orwell Part 2

Videos The Romanovs Finding the Romanovs Frozen to Death: Siberian Gulags Stalin’s Death Camps Stalin’s Purges

Karl Marx wrote Communist Manifesto (ideas about government and life) – Communism is a natural evolution of society towards equality wrote Communist Manifesto (ideas about government and life) – Communism is a natural evolution of society towards equality Believed the Capitalists were taking advantage of the working classes Believed the Capitalists were taking advantage of the working classes Class struggle: Class struggle: Bourgeoisie : capitalists, owned most of the wealth Bourgeoisie : capitalists, owned most of the wealth Proletariat : working class Proletariat : working class Believed the way to equality was through revolution Believed the way to equality was through revolution What’s the problem with this? What’s the problem with this?

The Bolsheviks Radical political group Radical political group 1917: took over government 1917: took over government Eventually became the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Eventually became the Communist Party of the Soviet Union

Vladimir Lenin family had problems with government in past family had problems with government in past a rebel a rebel became a lawyer became a lawyer disliked the class bias disliked the class bias Formed a union Formed a union Was arrested and sent into exile in Siberia for 3 years Was arrested and sent into exile in Siberia for 3 years Came back to Russia during WW1 Came back to Russia during WW1 1918: assassination attempt 1918: assassination attempt 1922: fell ill,; paralyzed from assassin’s bullet 1922: fell ill,; paralyzed from assassin’s bullet Was worried what Stalin and Trotsky would do to government Was worried what Stalin and Trotsky would do to government Several strokes led to death Several strokes led to death

Joseph Stalin Was Georgian, not Russian Was Georgian, not Russian Created the name ‘stalin’ (steel) Created the name ‘stalin’ (steel) Joined political underground Joined political underground Several arrests, imprisonments, and exiles Several arrests, imprisonments, and exiles Not the best father (didn’t accept a trade with Germans for his captured son – WW2) Not the best father (didn’t accept a trade with Germans for his captured son – WW2) Became important in party committees Became important in party committees Began a pseudo-cult in memory of Lenin Began a pseudo-cult in memory of Lenin Ignored some of Lenin’s policies Ignored some of Lenin’s policies

Joseph Stalin Began to have ‘five year plans’ towards industrialization Began to have ‘five year plans’ towards industrialization Turned private farms into state farms Turned private farms into state farms Shot or exiled dissident farmers or sent them to labor camps Shot or exiled dissident farmers or sent them to labor camps Terrible famine in Ukraine (~10 million peasants died) Terrible famine in Ukraine (~10 million peasants died) Everyone had to LOVE Stalin – he was given credit for every good thing that happened Everyone had to LOVE Stalin – he was given credit for every good thing that happened Totalitarian Dictatorship Totalitarian Dictatorship

The Purges – The Great Terror started killing off members of political parties and basically anyone he didn’t like started killing off members of political parties and basically anyone he didn’t like Disloyalty = execution; prison camps Communist Leadership: 93/139 Military: 81/103 (generals) Communist Party:~1/3million ~20 million sent to Gulag (labor camps in Siberia)…~half died Some put estimate at million dead Secret Police (precursor to KGB)

Leon Trotsky Political activist Political activist Opponent to Stalin Opponent to Stalin Very charismatic; great public speaker; very intellectual Very charismatic; great public speaker; very intellectual Spent time in prison and in exile Spent time in prison and in exile Military leader of Revolution Military leader of Revolution Vied for power after Lenin’s death Vied for power after Lenin’s death Exiled from Russia and later assassinated Exiled from Russia and later assassinated

Timeline 1894: Former Tsar dies and Nicholas II takes over 1894: Former Tsar dies and Nicholas II takes over 1905: Bloody Sunday 1905: Bloody Sunday Unarmed workers petitioning for more rights march on palace; Nicholas isn’t there; guards shoot into the crowd to disperse the people; kill ~100 Unarmed workers petitioning for more rights march on palace; Nicholas isn’t there; guards shoot into the crowd to disperse the people; kill ~100 WW1: Russia suffers horrible losses and people blame Nicholas WW1: Russia suffers horrible losses and people blame Nicholas 1916: Rasputin murdered by nobles 1916: Rasputin murdered by nobles

Timeline 1917: riots; Nicholas abdicates and Lenin takes over 1917: riots; Nicholas abdicates and Lenin takes over puts industry under government control puts industry under government control Brings infrastructure (electricity) – especially important after devastation of WW2 Brings infrastructure (electricity) – especially important after devastation of WW2 1918: Nicholas and his family imprisoned and executed 1918: Nicholas and his family imprisoned and executed 1924: Lenin dies, Stalin takes over 1924: Lenin dies, Stalin takes over 1928: Trotsky exiled 1928: Trotsky exiled 1940: Trotsky assassinated 1940: Trotsky assassinated 1953: Stalin dies suddenly of heart attack (??) 1953: Stalin dies suddenly of heart attack (??)

Timeline 1976: Tsar’s family found by a team of Russian scientists 1976: Tsar’s family found by a team of Russian scientists 1994: DNA confirmed Nicholas, Alexandra, 3 kids and 4 servants 1994: DNA confirmed Nicholas, Alexandra, 3 kids and 4 servants 1998: reburied in cathedral in St. Petersburg 1998: reburied in cathedral in St. Petersburg 2000: Russian Orthodox Church designated the family as saints (lowest possible rank) 2000: Russian Orthodox Church designated the family as saints (lowest possible rank) 2007: DNA confirmed last two family members identities 2007: DNA confirmed last two family members identities 2008: Russian Supreme Court ruled the executions were wrong and ‘pardoned’ the family 2008: Russian Supreme Court ruled the executions were wrong and ‘pardoned’ the family

George Orwell British author, b – d British author, b – d Real name Eric Arthur Blair Real name Eric Arthur Blair Political; fought in Spanish Civil War Political; fought in Spanish Civil War Satirist Satirist 1945: Animal Farm 1945: Animal Farm 1949: 1984 (bleak dystopian novel) 1949: 1984 (bleak dystopian novel) Both very successful Both very successful Died of Tuberculosis Died of Tuberculosis

Orwell’s Beliefs Actually believed that there was merit to a communal society. Actually believed that there was merit to a communal society. He was a socialist. He was a socialist. Saw corruption though as obstacle to equality Saw corruption though as obstacle to equality

Type of Literature Allegory : a tale told through symbols Allegory : a tale told through symbols Story must be simple enough and the symbols must be clear enough that audience understands the ‘real’ story Story must be simple enough and the symbols must be clear enough that audience understands the ‘real’ story Satire : a work that uses humor to ridicule or criticize views or ideas Satire : a work that uses humor to ridicule or criticize views or ideas Not only covers up the real people/subject but also gives more power through symbols Not only covers up the real people/subject but also gives more power through symbols

Reception Wasn’t published right away because British publishers thought it would offend the Soviets Wasn’t published right away because British publishers thought it would offend the Soviets Some criticism that the story didn’t follow history closely enough Some criticism that the story didn’t follow history closely enough One of the most often read books for high school One of the most often read books for high school

Sources

Sources Trotsky Trotsky Trotsky Trotsky