Introduction to Animal Farm: The Political Background

George Orwell Born in India in 1903 Name was originally Eric Blair Saw the social inequalities due to Indian and British class system poor, but privileged because white Worked as an officer in the Indian Imperial Police Due to guilt and discomfort, quit and moved to Europe Lived and worked among the lower class Joined the military in Spain to fight in their Civil War Wrote Animal Farm during World War II “to fuse political purpose with artistic purpose into one whole” Suffered from tuberculosis and died in 1950 after finishing 1984

Capitalism An economic system characterized by: Private or corporate ownership prices, production, and distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market Goal is to make profit. It’s supposed to lead to expansion and investment, thus creating more jobs Good parts: with hard work, private owners can become very rich, rewards merit Bad parts: the rich can become richer while the poor get poorer…and poorer… If you have the computer, you get an A; if you don’t, tough. But, if you work really hard, you can figure out how to get to a computer and get an A

Socialism An economic system in which most industries are owned by the state for the good of the people Belief that capitalism is unfair because it concentrates wealth the hands of a few The state sees that the wealth of society is shared more equitably Good parts: protects people from hunger, homelessness, abuse, or illness Bad parts: creates a huge government bureaucracy which can lead to waste and lack of initiative If you can get an A by yourself, go for it. If you need some help, we’ll help you get that A.

Communism An economic system characterized by: everything owned by the state everyone works for the state everything is shared among everyone Good parts: Everything is fair and equal and the government takes care of you Bad parts: The government makes all the decisions and you can’t disagree In order to be fair, everyone gets a C. Don’t like it? Boy are you in trouble now…

Democracy A form of government is which the people, the demos, vote to control who are their leaders and how decisions are made Allows for greatest individual freedom Also frequently very messy and not the most efficient

Oligarchy A form of government in which a small group, a ruling elite, run the country Can be a few rich and powerful people, or corporations, or a ruling class Much more efficient, but doesn’t tend to look out for anyone outside of the ruling class

Totalitarianism A form of government that controls individuals by violence or repression The government pursues goals no matter the cost to the people Only one party is allowed – or else Large-scale violence is often used to protect the government’s ideas and goals. Groups of individuals are singled out and blamed for the government’s troubles. They are persecuted or killed.

Forms of Economy Forms of Government Capitalism Socialism Communism Democracy Oligarchy Totalitarianism Forms of Government

China = Communism + Capitalism America = Democracy + some Socialism + Capitalism Great Britain = Democracy + more Socialism + Capitalism North Korea = Totalitarianism Most countries practices blends; pure “isms” don’t really work

Political Changes in Russia Monarchy Monarchy led by a Czar Socialism Ideal goal of the Soviets who revolted to overthrow the Czar Communism The actual form of government created in the Soviet Union Totalitarianism The result of a dictator taking control