The document provides background information on communism and the Russian Revolution. [1] It discusses the communist theories laid out by Marx and Engels in the Communist Manifesto and the problems with capitalism that communism aimed to address through equal distribution of goods. [2] It then summarizes how communist ideas gained popularity in Russia due to economic and social issues and Lenin's promise of "bread, peace and land." [3] Key events of the Russian Revolution are summarized, including the overthrow of the tsar and the Bolshevik Revolution led by Lenin in 1917.

1. Russian Revolution Notes
Background to Animal Farm

2. Allegory-using figures and
actions to represent actual events
or truths about human existence

3. I. Concepts of Communism

4. A. Communist Manifesto
Written by Karl Marx
and Fredrick Engels
Published in 1847
Fredrick Engels Karl Marx

5. B. The Theory of Capitalism
• Encourage competition between
citizens
• Provide rewards unequally
Why is this okay?
Factory owners take risks or master
skills that the factory workers do not.

6. C. Problems with Capitalism
(according to Communists):
1. The wealthy get rich at the
expense of the poor
2. The rich hoard resources for
themselves and deny the poor
opportunities

7. D. Solution to Capitalism?
COMMUNISM:
•Equal distribution of goods
and services
•Rich must give their
surpluses to poor

8. E. Results of Communism
• Poverty, ignorance & starvation will
vanish
• Each will work based on his/her abilities
• Each will consume only what he/she
needs
• No one will have more than anyone else

10. II. Why Communist Theory
becomes popular in Russia

11. A. Failing Russian Economy
Early 1900’s
• Russia hasn’t caught up with
the Industrial Revolution.
• Can’t compete economically with
industrial countries!
World War I 1914-1918

12. B. Problems within Russia:
2. Illiteracy is high
3. Poverty is widespread
4. Good land is scarce
5. Little food available
6. Any supplies available go to the
war for supplies-nothing left for
the common peasant

13. C. 1914-1917 Minor Revolts in
Russia
• Hunger workers join communist “soviets”
(councils)
• Protests and labor strikes organized
• Communists promise:
LAND PEACE BREAD

14. D. Vladmir Lenin 1870-1924
• son of a government official
• older brother tried to assassinate
Alexander II
•helped start Bolshevik (majority) party of
soviets
•Flees to Germany to save his life from?

15. LENIN

16. All Power to Soviets!
Lenin edits the newspaper
PRAVDA (meaning
‘truth’ in Russian)
The Bolshevik leader,
Lenin, promised
quot;bread, peace, and
landquot; to the working
class of Russia.

17. E. The Romanov Dynasty Troubled
Czar (Tsar)
Nicolas II and
wife
Aleksandra
and
children

18. 1. Czar does not understand the
basic needs of his people

19. 2. Aleksandria is extremely worried
about her only son, Tsarevich Aleksey,
and seeks the help of mystic Rasputin

20. a. Rasputin becomes extremely
influential among the rich…

21. b...and the Royal Family.

22. c. Rasputin’s Assassination in 1916
• Too powerful
• Murder plotted
by Romanov uncles

23. III. The Revolution Begins

24. A. February/March 1917
Revolution
• Tsar is overthrown (by abdicating)
• Revolution spreads throughout
Russia
• Moderate socialist Kerensky leads
new Provisional Government
• Russia remains in WWI

25. B. Lenin Returns, April 1917
Returns from Germany in a sealed train-why
sealed?
The German government clearly hoped Lenin's
return would create political unrest back in
Russia, which would help to end the war on the
Eastern Front, allowing Germany to concentrate
on defeating the Western allies.
-Declares cannot continue the war
-No Provisional Government

26. C. Bolshevik Revolution,
Revolution
October 24, 1917
Winter Palace, St. Petersburg

27. The new Soviet government:
• Strips land from owners
• Forbids holding private property
• Redistributes fields according to
need
• Gets out of WWI
EQUALITY AND PEACE FOR ALL!

28. D. Peace Pact Problems
1. Must surrender land and money to Germany
(Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania)
2. Wealthy Russians upset and organize a
campaign against the Soviets
U.S. and Great Britain help-WHY?
So that Germany does not win the war.

29. IV. Continued Revolution!
1918-1921 Civil War
A. Soviets for The Red Army
B. Wealthy Russians for the White Army

30. Cossack, with whom are you?

31. Who were they?
• The Cossacks (Каза́ки, Kazaki) are a
traditional community of people living
in the southern regions of Russia. They
are famous for their self-reliance and
military skills, particularly
horsemanship.
• quot;Cossackquot; may also refer to a member
of a Cossack military unit.

32. Who did they fight for?
• After the Russian Revolution
• In the Civil War that followed the Russian
Revolution, the Cossacks found themselves
on both sides of the conflict. Many officers
and experienced Cossacks fought for the
White Army, and some of the poorer ones
joined the Red Army.

33. Lenin Dies 1924

34. Lenin Mausoleum

35. V. Russia becomes Stalin’s USSR
If you were one of Lenin’s right
hand men, how would you try to
gain control?

36. Trotsky Stalin

37. Trostsky vs. Stalin
B. Trotsky-
1. Great military leader for Red Army
2. Wants Russia to industrialize
B. Stalin-
1. In network of powerful men
2. Wants to feed the Russian people

38. Why does Stalin win?

39. Stalin Seizes Control!
1. Exiles Trotsky
2. Blames USSR’s problems on Trotsky

40. Stalin’s Actions within USSR
• Stalin decides to industrialize and
begins “Five Year Plans”
• No toleration of ideas
• KGB-spies on the country, silences
any opposition

41. 1934 Great Terror Political
Purges
• High ranking officials arrested, forced
to admit to crimes they DID NOT
COMMIT and executed
• Photos doctored
• Anywhere from 2-7 million killed!

42. Stalin Dies 1954