Name: ____________________________________ TP: ________
Animal Farm: Russian Revolution Overview
World Literature
ET: 1/6/16
A VERY Brief Overview of the Russian Revolution & Communism
Karl Marx Paves the Way:
 The Russian Revolution was inspired by the ideas of philosopher Karl Marx who believed the masses of people were poor and kept
poor by the exploiters-the bourgeoisie capitalists, who were few in number but had the money and power to take advantage of the
proletariat or working class.
 A revolution was necessary if the oppressed proletariat were to overthrow their oppressors.
 After the revolution, there would be a classless society in which everyone would be equal; there would no more owners (capitalists)
and no more exploited masses. This theory of a classless society in which wealth is equally distributed is called Communism. The
workers themselves would own the factories in which they worked.
The Road to Revolution:
 During and after WWI, Russian workers were hungry due to food shortages, cities crowded with war refugees; many people had
already participated in marches to protest Czar Nicholas II.
 Uprising of “common” people -- stop in work, newspapers, transportation; demonstrations turned violent.
 In 1917, the first revolution against Czar Nicholas II, who was seen as corrupt and oppressive, took place in Russia. The new
government was democratic but Bourgeoisie (middle class as opposed to working class).
 Ultimately, Czar Nicholas fled, claiming he wanted to prevent a civil war, leaving the people to govern themselves.
 The following October revolution saw Lenin’s Bolshevik (Russian Communist) party and the workers' Soviets overthrow the
Provisional (temporary) Government.
 The revolution of 1917 brought the Communists, under Lenin, to power.
 Lenin, as leader of the Communist party, seized control of the revolution and fought a four-year, bloody civil war against Russians
loyal to the Czar and against anyone who opposed the Communists.
 1924-Lenin died, leaving Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky in a power struggle for leadership of the party and the country.
 In many peoples’ opinions, the best choice was Trotsky. He had a quick mind, intelligence, and military skill. He was also a great
speaker.
 Unlike Trotsky, Stalin was unknown.
 Stalin schemed against his opponent using fear and intimidation to convince people to support him. Trotsky on the other hand gained
support from his brilliant speeches.
 Stalin won.
 1927-Stalin expelled Trotsky from the party and forced him to leave the country.
 1940-Trotsky was assassinated in Mexico, most likely on Stalin’s orders.
Name: ____________________________________ TP: ________




Animal Farm: Russian Revolution Overview
World Literature
ET: 1/6/16
After suspecting many people in his empire to be supporters of Trotsky, Stalin systematically murdered many and put hundreds of
thousands of his fellow countrymen on trial. As a result of these “show trials,” all opposition was silenced---by death-“Blood
Purges.”
Stalin establishes a Soviet state that becomes known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in the early 1920s.
In 1928, Stalin began the first of several Five Year Plans, aimed at bringing USSR into the industrial age. The effects were violent,
disastrous, and caused famines that killed many rural citizens.
It is estimated that Stalin murdered between 10 and 40 million people between 1936-1953.
Name: ____________________________________ TP: ________
Animal Farm: Russian Revolution Overview
World Literature
ET: 1/6/16
Animal Farm: Character Comparison Chart
We will complete the following chart as we read through Animal Farm and meet the characters. It will not take long for you to see the
parallels between the fictional characters Orwell created and their historical counterparts. Bring the chart to class every day. You
will be responsible for completing the chart on your own and as we read together. This will be very helpful for quizzes, assignments
and projects
CHARACTER(S)
Farmer Jones
RUSSIAN REV.
PARALLEL
Czar Nicholas II
Lenin
Karl Marx
(Marxist thinking)
ROLE IN THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
*Overthrown by his own people because he was
corrupt and oppressive
* Opening for ruler
* Lenin is the first Communist leader. *Lenin’s
death leads to a power struggle between Stalin and
Trotsky.*Marx believed that one day the workers
(Proletariat) would rebel against their oppressors. *
Everyone’s work would be valued equally and
wealth would be distributed equally.
*These are the basic tenets of COMMUNISM.
EVIDENCE OF PARALLEL IN AF
Be specific, use page numbers
Name: ____________________________________ TP: ________
CHARACTER(S)
Animal Farm: Russian Revolution Overview
World Literature
ET: 1/6/16
RUSSIAN REV. • The arch-rival of Stalin • Russian Communist
IN THE
RUSSIAN
REVOLUTION
• LedROLE
his comrades
during
the 1917 Russian
PARALLEL
Leon Trotsky
The “Proletariat” (the
loyal working class.)
Revolution • Served as a leader of the Soviet Union
under
Lenin
Had a quickParty’s
mind, intelligence,
and
Helps
the• Communist
cause by working
military
skill
•
Exiled
after
Lenin's
death
•
Speaks
even harder than they are expected to and by blindly
out accepting
against Stalin
murdered
in question.
exile by
all of•Presumably
the party’s laws
without
Stalin’s
people.
The proletariat believes in the ideals of
Communism.
• A cruel dictator in Russia, power-hungry
• Murders those he suspects to be supporters of
Older generation,
Trotsky
• Challenges
Trotsky
leadership
of
unchanged by the
This group
said little
about for
what
was happening
and
Russia
•
Schemes
against
his
opponent(s)
Revolution. The cynical
expected life to go on as badly as it always has.
Joseph
Stalin
•Urges peasants to form committees to prepare to
intellectual
take over the land for themselves • Leaves the
original equality of socialism behind, gives himself
According
to Marxist
theory,
this
owns the
all the
power, lives
in luxury
while
theclass
proletariat
means
of
producing
wealth
and
is
exploits
suffered. • Murders millions who oppose him. the
The Bourgeoisie (the
working class; the bourgeoisie enjoys luxury and is
middle-class)
unsympathetic to the plight of the worker.
Considered lazy by the proletariat, the bourgeoisie
never does any “real” work.
The KGB, or secret
police
Protected Stalin from harm, very intimidating,
ruthless, acted on his orders.
EVIDENCE OF PARALLEL IN AF
Be specific, use page numbers
Name: ____________________________________ TP: ________
Animal Farm: Russian Revolution Overview
World Literature
ET: 1/6/16
ON YOUR OWN - Do some research to find 2 additional parallels in Animal Farm. These can be events, people, symbols,
etc.
YOUR CHOICE from
Animal Farm
RUSSIAN REV.
PARALLEL
ROLE IN THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
EVIDENCE OF PARALLEL IN AF
Be specific, use page numbers