RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
What is Animal Farm all about??
Who was Karl Marx? Born in Germany in 1818 Died in 1882 German political philosopher
and revolutionist Proposed that Capitalism
would lead to conflict between lower and middle classes
Who was Karl Marx? continued
Lived most of his life in exile and poverty His ideas were not widely recognized until
after his death Came from a Jewish family that converted
to Christianity to avoid persecution
What did Karl Marx write? Communist Manifesto
(1848) Wrote with political economist,
Friedrich Engel Central text of modern
Communism Das Kapital (1867)
What is Communism? Government control of agriculture
No private ownership of land All farming is done on government owned
“collective farms” Government control of industry
Labor unions protect government rather than workers
Only one political party is permitted to exist – The Communist Party
Who was Czar Nicholas II? Last czar of the Romanov dynasty that
ruled Russia for three centuries Took over the throne in November, 1894
Limited governmental experience No political ideas of his own
Married German princess, Alexandra Not popular with the Russian people
Who was Czar Nicholas II? continued
Nicholas and Alexandria had five children Four girls (Tatiana, Marie, Olga and Anastasia) One son (Alexei)
Nicholas was an ineffective leader Much social unrest was occurring Trouble was brewing for Nicholas and his
family
Alexei Romanov Nicholas and Alexandra’s only son Heir to the throne, born in 1904 Has a life-threatening disease, hemophilia Info about the disease was hidden from the
Russian people Alexandra sought medical help which didn’t work She invited mystic, Grigory Rasputin, to the
palace in hopes that he could help
Alexei Romanov continued
Grigory Rasputin A peasant pilgrim and mystic Russian people did not understand him He seemed to “heal” Alexei and Alexandra
completely trusted him Russian people questioned Rasputin’s intentions
and Alexandra’s loyalty to him He was killed by peasants who thought his death
would improve the conditions for the people of Russia
Grigory Rasputin continued
Cute, isn’t he??
Czar & Czarina: Rasputin’s puppets!
Murder of the Romanovs Nicholas was forced to abdicate his power
in 1917 He and his family were exiled to Siberia
and imprisoned there They were executed on July 16, 1918 The bodies of Anastasia and Alexis were
never found
The Romanov Family
The Romanov Family continued
Nicholas is shown second from the left. Next to him are his four daughters: Tatiana, Olga, Marie, and Anastasia. At right is his hemophiliac son, Alexis.
Life of the Common Man Serfs and peasants
did all the work Overtaxed Suffered from poverty
and inequality Had no basic rights
Life of the Ruling Class Czar was the absolute ruler Imperial government
controlled all the country’s wealth
Czar and family lived extravagantly at the expense of the common Russian peasant
Who was Vladimir Lenin? A Russian who became leader
of the Bolsheviks Promoted Karl Marx’s theory of
Communism for the Russian people
Dreamed of equality for all Russians
Became the first Premier after the revolution
Died in 1924 after a stroke and prolonged illness
What was “Bloody Sunday?” January 22, 1905 Masses of peasants
demonstrated at the Imperial Palace for more favorable working conditions
Hundreds of workers were killed and injured
The Bolshevik Party Formed in 1903 by
Lenin Later became the
Communist Party in 1918
What caused the Bolshevik Revolution? Inequalities in living conditions of the
common people and the ruling class Hunger and food shortages Housing shortages Problems due to political policies of the
Czar Imperial government overthrown on
November 17, 1917
Who was Leon Trotsky? He was the War Commissar in the
Communist Party He was exiled from the Soviet Union
in 1929 by Joseph Stalin because Stalin wanted complete power
Died in Mexico on August 20, 1940 Murdered with a pick ax Murdered by Stalin’s agents
because Stalin still saw him as a threat
Who was Joseph Stalin? Defeated Trotsky and
gained control of the Communist party after Lenin’s death
Became Soviet dictator in 1927
Stalin’s Five Year Plan Government takeover
of private businesses Small peasant farms
combined into government controlled “collective farms”
Political Purges What were they?
Elimination of all people and groups opposing Stalin’s policies
Who was responsible? Joseph Stalin
What was the K.G.B? The Russian Secret Police Formed in 1954 Purpose:
To control the people Preserve the power of the Communist
government
What was Pravda? Russian propagandist
newspaper The “mouthpiece” of
the government Still published today
What is the purpose of using Propaganda? To brainwash “the masses” To lessen discontent and dissention To allow leaders to exercise their power
and authority with a minimum of trouble
Political Propaganda Techniques Chants Songs, anthems Flags Symbols Heroes Creation of a common enemy
Russian National Symbols Hammer and sickle – represents peasants
and workers Star – represents the Communist party Coat of Arms with a rising sun – represents
sun rising on communism Red color – represents revolution
The Russian Flag
The Teheran Conference Where? Iran When? 1943 Who attended?
F.D. Roosevelt (USA) Winston Churchill
(England) Joseph Stalin (Russia)
Why? To consolidate the three
countries against Germany To agree on postwar
economics
George Orwell Real name: Eric Blair Born: 1903 in Bengal, India Officer of the Indian Imperial Police
(1922-27) Moved to Spain during the Spanish
Civil War Fought against Communist force as a
member of the Worker’s Party of Marxist Unification
During World War II he: Served as a sergeant in the Home
Guard Wrote and broadcast for the B.B.C. Wrote essays criticizing totalitarianism
George Orwell continued
Published Animal Farm in 1945 In 1949, published his most well-known
book, 1984 He suffered from tuberculosis all his life Died in London in 1950 from poor health
and exhaustion
Orwell’s Themes Individualism Anti-utopia Hatred of totalitarianism