Download Roots of Czarist Russia

Mrs. Caruso
Notes for Animal Farm
ROOTS OF CZARIST RUSSIA AND ITS
DEMISE: ANIMAL FARM
CZARIST RUSSIA FALLS AND THERE IS THE RISE
OF THE USSR
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Major Characters:
Czar Nickolas IIthe last king of Russia
Vladimir Lenin
- leader of the communist movement
Leon Trotsky- Lenin’s friend,
communist /planner of the revolution
Joseph Stalin- Participates in the Russian Revolution;
later rules Russia with deadly force
EXPOSITION: RUSSIA UNDER THE ROMANOVS
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The Romanovs
Last family to rule Russia
“Czar” is taken from Roman word “Caesar” meaning “Emperor”
Part of a 303 year history of Russian Rulers
Family members related to all major European monarchs, including England
and Germany
EXPOSITION
Czar Nicholas II
 Traditional/Old fashioned ruler
 Pays little attention to his people
 Gained the throne at age 28 upon father’s death
 Royal family under the influence of Rasputin (a
monk, doctor, astrologer, with “supernatural
powers”
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Nicholas focuses on expanding
Empire to include FINLAND and POLAND
Has conflicts with Sweden and Germany
EXPOSITION: RUSSIA UNDER THE ROMANOVS
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Nicholas and the Industrial Revolution
Does not respect or take interest in new technology
Makes no rules for industry to protect workers
Railroads have no set standard
Size of rails and cars vary by region-
EXPOSITION: RUSSIA UNDER THE ROMANOVS
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Makes no attempt to change economy
Still bad conditions for working class
He gives workers more rights in 1905 out of fear
He exiles leaders after their attempts to organize and
overtake the system including Lenin and Trotsky
Takes up violence against worker’s protests
170 miners were shot dead by the Russian army when
they went to express their concerns to Nicholas in 1912
(Bloody Sunday)- helps spark the Revolution
EXPOSITION: RUSSIA UNDER THE ROMANOVS
Final issues
 1904-05- Russia has a was with Japan and is
beaten
 Nicholas focuses on Foreign policy instead of
helping its own people
 July 1914- Russia enters WWII as U.S. ally
 The war destroys their economy even further
The Romanovs continue to live lavishly while their
people suffer
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INITIATING EVENT
December 18, 1916
 The Leaders of the Russian government rebel and
execute Rasputin (the family “wizard”)
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Felix Yusupov is NOT executed by the Romanovs
because they know he is loved by the people, so
instead he is sent to exile with his family in
southern Russia
 By not executing the man who shot Rasputin, the
Romanovs now appear weak and powerless
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RISING ACTION
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February 1917
WWI continues
Cities in Russia filled with
food lines
Crowds stage demonstrations
against war and government
Nicholas responds with violence
Troops are ordered to fire
on demonstrators
The demonstrators DO NOT
go away
The police JOIN the crowds
RISING ACTION:THE FIRST REVOLUTION
March 2, 1917
 Nicholas signs act of abdictation (quits)
 Russia now under competing governments
 *Provisional Government- middle class owners
 *Soviet (representative)- workers
 Provisional government wins the power struggle
 *Vladimir Lenin
 Leader of the Bolsheviks (communists)
 Learns events from his exile in Switzerland
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RISING ACTION: THE FIRST REVOLUTION
*Alexander Karensky
 A deputy in the Russian Government
 Liked socialism as a means of helping Russia, but
saw communism as terrorism
 Late February, 1917, took over the revolt and
became its leader.
 Becomes leader of the Provisional government
 Sends the Romanovs into exile in Ekaterinburg
 Western capitalist nations like him
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RISING ACTION : THE FIRST REVOLUTION
Summer 1917
 *Karinsky’s war offensive is a disaster
 Russian army is deserting by the thousands
 Bolsheviks make their first moves
 Trotsky returns to Russia; Lenin is on his way
 They declare provisional government “bourgeois”
 Early uprising against government fails
 The New Russian Government is collapsing!
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