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Animal Farm

Animal Farm. A rush through Russian history. Pre 1917. Tsar Nicolas II ruled Russia. The ruling class was very rich and powerful Most people in Russia were poor peasant workers, living in appalling conditions – low wages and little food. February 1917.

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Animal Farm

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  1. Animal Farm A rush through Russian history

  2. Pre 1917 • Tsar Nicolas II ruled Russia. • The ruling class was very rich and powerful • Most people in Russia were poor peasant workers, living in appalling conditions – low wages and little food.

  3. February 1917 • Demonstrations and protests in Petrograd (St Petersburg) led to Emperor Nicolas II’s forced abdication

  4. The October Revolution (1917) • This more organised rebellion established the Bolsheviks in power. • Lenin, supported by Stalin and Trotsky, led the Bolsheviks. • Communism was established

  5. Power struggle • When Lenin became ill (he died in 1924), the struggle for leadership between Stalin and Trotsky intensified.

  6. Leon Trotsky • Brilliant and charismatic • Creator of Red Army, theorist of communism • A gifted speaker, wanted to educate his people and improve their lives • Had a vision of communism spreading across the world

  7. Josef Stalin • Much less charismatic than Trotsky, seen as rude and uncultured • Was a strategist – got to know key people in the party • Took control of the secret police • Wanted ‘socialism in one country’

  8. 1918 – Civil War in Russia • Trotsky showed skill during the war, whereas Stalin tended to stay behind the scenes • Western countries sent armies to fight against the Bolsheviks, concerned that Communism could spread

  9. Leadership • Lenin wanted Trotsky to lead the party, but Stalin had worked behind Trotsky’s back – ‘digging the dirt’. • Stalin eventually took control and began dictating – not quite the equal society that had been promised.

  10. Stalin in power • Through clever use of propaganda and the secret police, Stalin forced Trotsky out of Russia into exile. • Stalin decided he wanted to ‘industrialise’ Russia – quickly. He implemented his ‘five-year plan’. It failed.

  11. Propaganda • Stalin was a master of propaganda. • People who fell out of favour with Stalin were often killed and eliminated from historical record. • For example, Trotsky was standing beside Stalin. Once he fell out of favour, he was removed from the photo.

  12. Problems in Russia • Reeling from war and the failed five year plan, there was famine in Russia. • Some people began to rebel – they were punished and executed by Stalin in ‘show trials’. • His power was so great that innocent people (but seen as a threat) confessed to crimes they had not committed.

  13. Tyranny • Stalin became increasingly dictatorial • He wanted to be worshipped and seen as a ‘God-like’ figure

  14. World War II • Stalin initially sided with Britain and France, but changed his mind and formed an agreement with Germany in 1939. • Despite this, Germany invaded Russia in 1941.

  15. Impact • The Russian people suffered much hardship following this invasion. In 1943, Germany was eventually driven out of Russia

  16. Power… • By 1943, Stalin’s power was absolute • After brief alliance with Germany, met with Britain and America to discuss the war • He became more like a Tsar than a man whose ideas were supposedly based on those of Marx or Lenin

  17. Questions… • In your opinion, what qualities should a good leader have? • Why do you think revolutions occur? What circumstances would drive people to overthrow their daily lives? • Nations may be unhappy with their circumstances for many reasons. List some of these. Of the reasons you came up with, which can be partly or completely changed?

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