Orwell’s Animal
Farm
VS.
The Russian
Revolution
Russian Society
• Russia was in an appalling
state of poverty while the
Tsar lived in luxury. There
was tremendous
dissatisfaction.
Czar Nicholas II
• A poor leader at best, compared
to western leaders
• Cruel - sometimes brutal with
opponents
• Sometimes kind - hired students
as spies to make $
Nicholas II
• Believed he was the
unquestionable leader of
Russia appointed by God.
• Had unarmed protesters
murdered in the streets in
1905.
•KARL MARX:
THE FATHER
OF
COMMUNISM
Marx
•Marx believed that
the private ownership
of land must be
abolished.
Marx
• Believed in “Communal”
way of life where everyone
shares in prosperity.
Marx
• Invented Communism
• “Workers of the world
unite", take over gov't
• Dies before Russian
Revolution
Communism
• All people equal
• Government owns
everything, People own
government
Lenin
• Lenin adopted Marx’s ideas.
He believed that the
bourgeoisie (middle class)
exploited the workers and
must therefore be
overthrown.
Lenin
•Lenin understood the
emotional impact of
simple, powerful slogans
like workers of the world
unite
Lenin
• Changed Russia’s name to
the USSR
• Stalin took over following
Lenin’s reign
• Lenin used propaganda to
manipulate the people
Lenin Dies
• When Lenin died, there was
a power struggle between
Trotsky and Stalin.
• It is believed Lenin ordered
Nicholas II murdered
Leon Trotsky
• One of the leaders of "October
Revolution“ along with Lenin
and Stalin
• Believed in “pure”
communism; followed Marx
Trotsky
• Trotsky was a brilliant speaker.
With Lenin he succeeded in
overthrowing the government in
October 1917. Lenin was the
President, Trotsky the
Commissar for Foreign Affairs.
•Trotsky favored
world revolution.
Trotsky
• Wanted to improve life for
all in Russia
• Chased away by Lenin's
KGB (Lenin's secret police)
Civil War
• From 1918 –1921 there was civil
war. Foreign countries including
Britain, France, Poland and USA
were alarmed at the spread of
communism but the Red Army
(the Bolsheviks) led by Trotsky
proved successful.
•Stalin continually
opposed Trotsky
Joseph Stalin
• Average speaker, not
educated like Trotsky
• Didn't exactly follow Marx's
ideas
Stalin
• Craved power, willing to
kill for it
• Used KGB, allowed
church as a means to
suppress the people, and
propagandized
Propaganda Department of
Stalin’s government
• Worked for Stalin to support his
image
• Lied to convince the people to
follow Stalin
Stalin
• Benefited from the fact
that education was
controlled
Stalin takes Control
• In his sinister way, Stalin
secured his power base, and
engineered the permanent exile
of Trotsky in 1929.
• The exiled Trotsky was
still very useful to Stalin
as he now had Trotsky to
blame for all the
problems and difficulties
that Russia suffered.
Politburo :
• This was the policy-making
body of the Communist
party’s Central Committee.
In reality it was merely a
force to carry out Stalin’s
orders and secure his
position as dictator.
Cheka/OGPU/NKVD/KGB :
• These were the various
names/ initials given to
the secret police during
Stalin’s dictatorship.
KGB - Secret Police
• Not really police, but forced all to
support Stalin
• Used force, often killed entire
families for disobedience
• Totally loyal, part of Lenin's power,
even over army
Religion
• Marx said religion was the "Opiate of
the people" and a lie
• Used to make people not complain
and do their work
• It helped pacify their doubts that
would surface
Religion
• Religion was tolerated because
people would work and not
complain
• Stalin knew religion would stop
violent revolutions
Dedicated, but tricked
communist supporters
• People believed Stalin because
he was "Communist"
• Many stayed loyal after it was
obvious Stalin was a tyrant
• They were betrayed by Stalin who
ignored and killed them
Overall details of Russian
Revolution
• Supposed to fix problems from
Czar
• Life was even worse long after
revolution
• Stalin made Czar look like a
nice guy
Kulaks :
• These were the land-owning
peasants who did not want
their farms to be collectivized
after the revolution. From
1929, Stalin began to
exterminate them as a class.
5 Year Plans
• From 1927-1932, new
economic plans, called the
five-year plans, were
introduced. The purpose
was to improve industry
Germany and Great Britain :
• Stalin negotiated with both
Germany and Great Britain.
The Russo-German pact of
August 1939 allowed Russia to
occupy eastern Poland while
Germany occupied the rest.
Germany and Great Britain
• On 22 June, 1941, Germany
attacked her ally Russia without
warning. Thus the unholy alliance
between Nazism and
Communism fell apart and Russia
formed an alliance with Britain
and the USA.
Cold War begins
• The Tehran conference in 1943
presented the Soviet Union,
Britain and America as allies.
However, by the end of the
Second World War, the Soviet
Union became an enemy of its
allies as the Cold War intensified.
Essential
Questions
#1
• Who had the ideas in the
beginning that inspired
the rebellions?
#2
• What are the real
enemies of Communism
according to Marx, Lenin,
Stalin and Trotsky?
#3 and #4
• Who does Stalin blame
anytime a problem
arises? Why do you think
Stalin blames this
person?
#5 and #6
• Who would you associate with this
quote? Marx, Lenin Stalin or
Trotsky? Why did you choose that
person?
• “All men are equal but some are
more equal than others”
#7 Who is this?
• Tells of a dream that leads
to Rebellion and inspires
others.
#8 Who is this?
• Leader of the rebellion that
drives out Czar Nicholas II.
#9 Who is this?
• Leader of Rebellion that
is driven out of Russia
and later killed in Mexico.
#10 Who is this?
• Leader of the Rebellion that
drives out his competition
and starts to purge those
that disagree or may
disagree with him.
Who is Who
• Mr. Jones- Czar Nicholas II
• Old Major- Marx
• Snowball- Trotsky
• Napoleon- Stalin
Who is Who
• Dogs-KGB
• Windmill- 5 year plan
• Battle of the CowshedRussian Civil War
Who is Who
• Frederick- Hitler
• Animal Executions – Stalin’s
Purge
• Battle of the Windmill – World
War II
• Card Game- Tehran Conference
• Pilkington- FDR (