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Animal Farm

Animal Farm. Background. Author Background. George Orwell (nom de plume) Eric High Blair 1903-1950 British Democratic Socialist Wanted WORKERS, NOT political leaders, to take control of government Leaders become corrupt. Major Themes. How do crazy governments get and keep power?

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Animal Farm

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  1. Animal Farm Background

  2. Author Background • George Orwell (nom de plume) • Eric High Blair • 1903-1950 • British • Democratic Socialist • Wanted WORKERS, NOT political leaders, to take control of government • Leaders become corrupt

  3. Major Themes • How do crazy governments get and keep power? • What keeps people from seeing how bad their governments are? • Communist Russia, North Korea and Nazi Germany • How do we create a perfect society?

  4. A Perfect Society: Different Theories • Theory #1: Capitalism (The system in the U.S.) • Individuals or companies control factories, land, resources • Gov’t doesn’t have a say • People make $ based on how hard they work • There are poor and rich people • Problems: • The rich often keep control • The poor have fewer advantages

  5. A Perfect Society: Different Theories Continued • Theory #2: Communism/Socialism • Karl Marx created this idea • Gov’t owns factories, land, resources • People own the gov’t • The gov’t gives out wealth equally • There are no poor or rich people • Problems • It has never worked • Leaders become corrupt • People suffer on a mass scale (starvation, killings, brainwashings)

  6. Russians and Communism: The Revolution • Czar/Tsar Nicholas II • Family ruled for 300 yrs • Incompetent/brutal ruler • Starvation • WWI losses • Sometimes kind • Overthrown (abdicated)

  7. Russian Revolution Continued • Leon Trotsky • One Leader of the Revolution • Well-educated • Followed Marx’s ideas • Great speaker • Organized the Red Army • Wanted to improve industry/agriculture • Created “Five Year Plans” to create growth

  8. Russian Revolution Continued • Joseph Stalin • Other leader of the Revolution • Not educated • Didn’t follow Marx’s ideas • Not a good speaker • Wanted power • Chased out Trotsky • Used the KGB, the secret police, to do so

  9. Stalin Creates Totalitarian Rule • Totalitarian: Gov’t with “total” control over people • Ex. # 1: Five year plans • Stole Trotsky’s idea • Made farmers give up land • Farmers burned crops/killed animals in protest • Stalin killed them • Plans failed anyway

  10. Example 2: Moscow Purge Trials • Stalin’s opposers were purged • 16 prominent Communists confessed to crimes they didn’t commit and were executed • Showed fear that Stalin created • Stalin was responsible for the deaths of 20 million (Hitler=11 million)

  11. What kept people loyal? • Religion • Communists are supposed to be athiest • Religion allowed because gave workers hope • Kept them under control • KGB • “Secret Police” that terrorized people • Propaganda • Stalin controlled the media and information • Illiteracy • Russia’s population was uneducated • Working class • They helped overthrow the Tsar but were betrayed

  12. What about Animal Farm? • All these characters, events and factors are in the novel. • They are in symbolic form

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