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.

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 farm/factory. They keep the profit. The workers own the farm/factory. They keep the profit.

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

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 Outdated economy Outdated economy –Farms –Railways not developed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 against the war and food shortages in St. Petersburg. Protests against the war and food shortages in 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.

October 1917 Revolution Lenin leads the Bolsheviks to kick out the provisional government. Lenin leads the Bolsheviks to kick out the provisional government. Trotsky leads Bolshevik army in St. Petersburg. Trotsky leads Bolshevik army in St. Petersburg. Create the USSR – The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Create the USSR – The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

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.

Stalin’s “Great Purge” Stalin gets rid of all competition. Stalin gets rid of all competition. Executes all of the other leaders of the October 1917 revolution. 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 = political advertising. Propaganda = political advertising. Censorship. Censorship. Stalin literally re- writes history. Stalin literally re- writes history. (Snowball wasn’t a hero at Cowshed) (Snowball wasn’t a hero at Cowshed) A gov’t where one man has total control = totalitarianism. A gov’t where one man has total control = totalitarianism.

Stalin’s 5-year plan Plan to build modern factories. Plan to build modern factories. Needs $ to pay for it. Needs $ to pay for it. Idea: Sell farm products to other countries. Idea: Sell farm products to other countries. Declares: Gov’t “owns” all farms. Declares: Gov’t “owns” all farms. Farmers must meet “quotas.” Farmers must meet “quotas.”

Stalin’s 5-year plan Farmers in the Ukraine protest Farmers in the Ukraine protest Stalin raises quotas; takes away all their food. Stalin raises quotas; takes away all their food. Massive starvation. Massive starvation. (Eggs pay for windmill; starve out the hens.) (Eggs pay for windmill; starve out the hens.) Between executions & starvation Stalin is responsible for several million deaths. Between executions & starvation Stalin is responsible for several million deaths.

WWII Churchill, Roosevelt & Stalin meet at Yalta to discuss strategy. Churchill, Roosevelt & Stalin meet at Yalta to discuss strategy. UK, USA & USSR join together to fight against Hitler & Germany. UK, USA & USSR join together to fight against Hitler & Germany. Orwell is disgusted that his country is allied with Stalin. Orwell is disgusted that his country is allied with Stalin.

The Cold War USSR dominates Eastern Europe for next 40 years. USSR dominates Eastern Europe for next 40 years. Force Communism on Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary. Force Communism on Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary. Capitalist West v. Communist East Capitalist West v. Communist East The USSR was lead by the Communist Party until collapse in The USSR was lead by the Communist Party until collapse in 1989.

Why are we discussing this? Animal Farm = USSR Animal Farm = USSR 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, sheep, etc. = the workers of Russia Boxer, sheep, etc. = the workers of Russia Mr. Jones = Tsar Nicholas/provisional gov’t Mr. Jones = Tsar Nicholas/provisional gov’t

Animal Farm by George Orwell An allegory – a symbolic story. The characters and events match up with historical events. An allegory – a symbolic story. The characters and events match up with historical events. It shows how Stalin (Napoleon) cruelly governed the USSR. It shows how Stalin (Napoleon) cruelly governed the USSR. George Orwell is against Stalin’s Totalitarian government. George Orwell is against Stalin’s Totalitarian government. Written in 1944, during WWII, when the UK and USA allied with Stalin. Written in 1944, during WWII, when the UK and USA allied with Stalin.

Is it still relevant today? Stalin died in The USSR is no longer a country. Stalin died in The USSR is no longer a country. Do governments still use Do governments still use –Propaganda? –Censorship? –Rhetoric? –Revisionist history? What is your responsibility as a citizen? What is your responsibility as a citizen?