1. Animal Farm & Russian Revolution: A Historical Backdrop
English II

2. Animal Farm by George Orwell
Animal Farm (1945) is an allegory about the Russian Revolution of 1917 in which the Russian Czar, Nicholas II, was overthrown, and the world’s first communist regime was established.
In his dystopian novella, Orwell creates fictional characters (animals), who represent the actual people surrounding the events of the Russian Revolution.

3. Privatized Farms and Industry (owned by aristocracy)
1 man
Power
Wealth
CZAR
Autocracy
Under
Czar Nicholas II
Aristocracy
Military
Agriculture
Industry
– Proletariat –
Workers from
Privatized Farms and Industry
(owned by aristocracy)
Powerless
Poor
Millions of People

4. Czar Nicholas II
Czar Nicholas was the last emperor of Russia

5. Czar Nicholas II Russia lagged behind other modernized countries in:
Industrialization
Government
Education

6. Leading up to the Russian Revolution
Majority of population faced poverty, hunger, unsafe working conditions, and unemployment
Violent executions
Discontented populace
WWI
Lost territory from war
Food & resources going to troops

7. Russian Revolution
A series of revolts led by hungry workers erupted across Russia
October 1917 – Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, led a revolution and successfully overthrew Czar Nicholas II
Lenin worked to structure a new communist government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)
Two other key figures in implementing this new government system were Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin

8. Communism Envisioned by Karl Marx Collectively Owned Agriculture
No Man
Self-governance
Communism
Envisioned by
Karl Marx
Power
Wealth
Collectively Owned Agriculture
Collectively Owned Industry
Mandatory Military Service
For All Citizens

9. Communism Envisioned by Karl Marx
The communists hoped that after updating their country’s industry, agriculture, and military, a populace of educated people could successfully govern themselves and collectively own the combined wealth of their nation.

10. Communism Defined:
Dictionary definition: A political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.
Another definition: a type of government in which a single party holds power and the government controls the economy; classes are abolished and property is commonly controlled by the “whole”

11. Communism Envisioned by Karl Marx
It was a utopian type dream where a classless society provided all its citizens with a comfortable and meaningful life.

12. Transitional Rule Under Vladimir Lenin Lenin Communist Party
1 man
Power
Wealth
Lenin
Transitional Rule
Under
Vladimir Lenin
Communist Party
Agriculture Modernization
Industry Modernization
Military Modernization
Powerless
Poor
Workers are quickly absorbed
Into Agriculture, Industry, and Military
Millions of People

13. The Russian Revolution Promises
Soviets gain popular support by promising:
Land
Bread
Peace
Joseph Stalin and Vladimir Lenin

14. Transitional Rule Under Lenin
Their main goals were to:
Modernize industry and agriculture
Get rid of the aristocracy (middle & upper classes)
Provide adequate food, shelter, and medical services to the poor
Educate the population in the ways of Communism
Strengthen their military

15. Transitional Rule Under Lenin
1918: The Red Army, led by Leon Trotsky, identified and executed suspected anti-communists.

16. Transitional Rule Under Lenin
Civil War erupted between the Communists and their opposition

17. Transitional Rule Under Lenin
1924: Lenin died before he could see a new Russia emerge.
A power struggle then developed between Trotsky and Stalin.

18. Transitional Rule Under Lenin
Stalin gained control, expelled Trotsky from the Communist Party, and ran him out of the country into permanent exile.
Trotsky was assassinated in Mexico in 1940

19. Government Farms and Industry
1 man
Power
Wealth
Stalin
Communist Rule
Under
Joseph Stalin
Secret Police
(KGB)
Military
Agriculture
Industry
Powerless
– Proletariat –
Workers from
Government Farms and Industry
(owned by Stalin)
Poor
Millions of People

20. Communist Rule Under Stalin
The Russia that Stalin developed was not the same country that Lenin had hoped for.
Stalin gained power and strength, and used his influence to purge the country of all who opposed him.
His totalitarian regime dispelled freedom, forced labor, and caused general morose, and would remain such under his control until his death in 1953.

22. Communist Rule Under Stalin
1928
Stalin’s “Five Year Plans”
Designed to bring Russia into the industrial age

23. Communist Rule Under Stalin
Stalin maintained power by using political and social terror.
KGB, Cheka, and system of spies

24. Communist Rule Under Stalin
The Purges
High ranking officials were arrested, forced to confess to false charges, and then executed
Stalin was seen as protecting Russia

25. Communist Rule Under Stalin
In addition to his campaign of terror, Stalin also controlled all media sources.
Stalin could effectively rewrite history to suit his political/military needs.