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