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Russia: A Brief History

Russia: A Brief History. CGI – Turmoil in Russia. History of Russia: 5 th – 20 th centuries. 5 th century – ethnic Slavs migrated from the west 9 th century – Scandinavians founded the state of Rus by the Volga River (today Moscow)

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Russia: A Brief History

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  1. Russia: A Brief History CGI – Turmoil in Russia

  2. History of Russia: 5th– 20th centuries • 5th century – ethnic Slavs migrated from the west • 9th century – Scandinavians founded the state of Rus by the Volga River (today Moscow) • 988 – Kievan prince Vladimir baptized in the Byzantine church (Russian Orthodox Christianity)

  3. History of Russia: 1242-1584 • 1242 – Mongol leaders Genghis & Kublai Khan control vast territory (Hungary to Korea, Siberia to Tibet • 14th century ethnic Slavs throw off Mongol rule – Muscovy (Moscow) becomes new center of dynastic rule • Russian lords rule Muscovy • Tsar Ivan the Terrible (1533-1584) – broaden Russia’s territory toward the Crimea • Moscow Holy See of Eastern Orthodox Church

  4. History of Russia: Rise of the Romanovs • 1598-1613 – Time of Troubles • 1613 Michael Romanov elected – Romanovs will rule until 1916 • Peter I, the Great, 1689-1725 – westernizes Russia, incorporated the Caucasus into Russian Empire • Catherine II, the Great, 1762-1796 – extends Russian territory to include Crimea, Polish territories, and Ukraine

  5. History of Russia: The Romanovs • Alexander I, 1801-1825 – defeats Napoleon in 1812 • 19th century Tsars become increasingly reactionary, nationalistic, authoritarian • 1861 – serfdom in Russia is abolished; industry and capitalism begin to grow BUT most heavy industry is state run and situation of the newly freed Russia peasants is very dire

  6. History of Russia: Fall of the Romanovs • 1905 Russo-Japanese War – Russia is the first European country to loose a war to a non-European power. • 1905Workers strike causing relatively unsuccessful revolution • 1914-1917 Russia joins Allies against the Axis powers in World War I • 1917 – Romanovs overthrown by Provisional Government; Vladimir Lenin and Bolsheviks seize power from Provisional Government, execute Romanovs

  7. History of Russia: Creation of Soviet Union • 1917-1922 Russian Civil War – Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) declared • Communist party = authoritarian one-party government in which the state owns heavy industry, transportation and banking; economic growth is dictated by the state; agriculture is collectivized • 1934 Joseph Stalin comes to power • Approx. 20 Million Soviet citizens lose their lives • 1941 USSR joins Allies and help to defeat Hitler

  8. History of Russia: USSR • Cold War Years • Nikita Khrushchev & Leonid Brezhnev maintain USSR’s superpower status • Russia is a nuclear power • Has a strong space program • Spends majority of its budget on military • Mikhail Gorbachev, 1985-1991 • Perestroika (restructuring of political system) • Glasnost (opening – lifting of repression)

  9. History of Russia: Collapse of USSR • June, 1989 • Rise of Solidarity Movement in Poland; concerted efforts of Pope John Paul • Hungary opens border with Austria • November, 1989 • Berlin Wall falls • Peaceful revolutions in Czechoslovakia & Bulgaria • Violent overthrow of communism in Romania • By 1991 USSR = Commonwealth of Independent States created (15 republics) • Minsk Agreement, 1991 (ABC-CLIO)

  10. History of Russia: Russian Federation • Boris Yelstin, 1991-1999 • Pro-democracy, pro-free market • Class of oligarchs emerges • Social safety net dissolves; unemployment rises • War with Chechnya begins • Vladimir Putin, 2000-2008 • First democratically elected president?!?! (pg. 202) • Tightens freedom press, restricts human rights • Strained relationship with US over anti-missile system • Standard of living begins to improve • Dmitri Medvedev, 2008-2012 • Appoints Putin Prime Minister • Vladimir Putin, 2012 - ?

  11. Russian Federation - Government • Federation of 21 constituent republics, 41 oblasts (provinces), 7 krais (territories), 7 autonomous okrugs (districts), the , federal cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg • Republics = ind. constitution, president, and legislature • Other enjoy varying degrees of autonomy

  12. Russian Federation - Government • 1993 Constitution • President; bicameral legislature; guarantees citizens’ civil rights • Citizens 18 years and older eligible to vote • Three Branches of Government • Executive = popularly elected president to serve max. of two consecutive six-year terms; assisted by Council of Ministers and Prime Minister (both appointed); head of state and commander in chief of military • Legislature = 172-member Federation Council (2 per admin. region) & 450-member State Duma • Judiciary = Constitutional Court & Supreme Court whose member’s are appointed by the legislature • 2001 = trials by jury, increased independence of judges

  13. Russian Federation - Politics • United Russia Party (founded 2001) – chaired by Vladimir Putin • Communist Party of the Russian Federation (founded 1993) – led by Gennady Zyuganov • Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (founded 1990) – led by Vladimir Zhirinovsky (“Russian Mussolini”) • Ultranationalist group interested in creating a Greater Russia (conquest of parts of Central Europe, the Middle East, and Asia) • Yavlinsky-Boldyrev-Lukin Bloc (Yabloko) (founded 1993) • Economic reformers who oppose Chechen was • Agrarian Party of Russia (founded 1993) • Advocate of collective state farm managers opposed to land privatization

  14. Russian Federation - Economy • Per capita income $17,000 • 2011 Unemployment Rate 6.6% • Unemployment higher among women and young people Between 1990-2005, 25,000+ members of Russia’s scientific community left the country

  15. Russian Federation - Economy

  16. General Information on Russia • Fact & Figures on Russia (ABC-CLIO) • US Department of State – US Relations with Russia • Official Website of the Russian Government • Embassy of the Russian Federation in Washington, D.C.

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