English I, MS. Graham Helton Tuesday, October 21, 2014 Animal Farm English I, MS. Graham Helton Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Russian Revolution of 1917 What is a political Revolution? Who Was the ruler at the onset of the Russian revolution? Why was there a revolution? What happened that made the people of Russia want to revolt?

Russian Revolution of 1917 What is a political Revolution? A revolution is the overthrow or renunciation of one government to be replaced by another. Who Was the ruler at the onset of the Russian revolution? Czar Nicholas II

Russian Revolution of 1917 Why was there a revolution? What happened that made the people of Russia want to revolt? Although serfdom (essentially slavery) had been abolished in 1861, the peasants still were not landowners. Through migration to cities, word of mouth, and by the press, the peasants were becoming aware that they could have better lives.

Russian Revolution of 1917 City workers also were discontent because of overcrowded housing, long working hours (10-12 hour days, 6 days/week), unsanitary conditions, and the constant threat of injury or death because of unsafe conditions. World War I only added to the already chaotic situation.

Feelings toward Czar Nicholas II In 1905, thousands of dissatisfied Russian workers were protesting in the streets. At the insistence of Czar Nicholas, hundreds of them were shot to death. This dark episode in Russia’s history is known as Bloody Sunday. As a result of the 1905 massacre, the Czar was forced to offer the October Manifesto, which promised a democratic parliament… however, he went back on his word.

Feelings toward czar Nicholas II The czar entered World War I hoping the war would distract the people from ongoing issues of poverty and poor working conditions. Russia’s participation in Wwi, however, was disastrous. The Czar’s regime collapsed in 1917 during the February revolution; a year later, he and his family were executed.

Rise of Communism Communism is a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed. The father of communism is considered Karl Marx. Lenin read the Communist Manifesto written by Marx and decided he liked the ideas, so he brought the ideas to the Russian people. Leon Trotsky was a spokesperson for Lenin, helping to spread the idea of communism to all the people. Stalin was also part of the Communist movement, but he eventually became a brutal leader, killing people whenever they did not do as he commanded.

Connection to animal farm George Orwell wrote the novel as an allegory to the Russian Revolution. Most fables have two levels of meaning. On the surface of af, the story is about the animals taking over the farm. The way the animals interact and the way the plot unfolds says something about the nature of people or the value of ideas. The takeover of the farm is an allegory for the Bolsheviks taking over of the Russian government.

Who stands for what? Farmer jones: Czar Nicholas II Humans: capitalists who exploit the weak Old Major: Karl Marx (also ties to Lenin) Snowball: Leon TROTSKY Napoleon: Joseph Stalin

Who Stands for What? Squealer: Stalin’s Propaganda machine Pravda. Pigs: Communist Party Loyalists Dogs: KGB/Secret Police (Private Army) Boxer and Clover: the Dedicated Proletariat/working class Moses: The Church/Organized religion “Beasts of England”: “Communist Internationale” song Windmill: Russian Industry (five Year Plans)