History and Government

By the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, many Russians wanted to establish a socialist government that would create economic equality.  The Russian Revolution Karl Marx, the founder of socialism, believed in a workers’ revolution and a classless society. It captured the imagination of many young, educated Russians.  In 1917, the hardships of World War I and long- standing discontent made Czar Nicholas II so unpopular that workers and soldiers forced him to give up his throne. Over 9,000,000 casualties! 12,000,000 total Russian soldiers in the war to begin with. 75%

The Soviet Era The Soviet Union Promising “Peace, Land, and Bread,” the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power in November  -In 1922 the Bolsheviks, now known as Communists, established the Soviet Union, with Moscow as the capital.  -Lenin’s successor, Joseph Stalin, set out to make the Soviet Union a strong industrial power by taking complete control of the economy.  -Stalin’s Rule: Stalin eliminated anyone he saw as a threat to communism.

-As a result of Stalin’s policies, millions of Russians either were killed or died from hunger or brutal conditions in labor camps. The Soviet Era (cont.)

A Superpower  The Soviet Era (cont.) -During World War II, the Germans army invaded Russia.  -Soviet military forces and civilians defeated them but at the cost of more than 27 million lives.  -Build up to Cold War: By 1949 most of eastern Europe was under Soviet control.  -From the late 1940s to the late 1980s, the Soviet Union and the United States engaged in the Cold War, the struggle between communism and capitalism for world influence.

How did the Cold War affect the Soviet Union and the United States? The Cold War sparked an arms race. The military buildup spurred technological development and space exploration but consumed many resources in both communist and capitalist countries. The Soviet Era (cont.)

The Soviet Breakup In 1985 Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev introduced reforms aimed at revitalizing the stagnant Soviet economy and allowing greater political openness.  Perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness) were Mikhail Gorbachev's watchwords for the renovation of the Soviet Union. Gorbachev’s reforms failed to save the Soviet Union, which in 1991 broke up into independent republics.

What were the main causes of the breakup of the Soviet Union? 1)Non-Russian ethnic groups wanted independence. 2)The Soviet command economy had failed. 3)The Soviets could no longer afford to keep pace with the United States in the arms race. The Soviet Breakup (cont.)

A New Russia In 1991 the Russian Government began a switch from Communism to Capitalism. The immediate result was inflation and a rise in unemployment and organized crime.  (1,000%) By 2000, however, the Russian economy began to improve as private businesses began to take hold and foreign investment increased.

Current U.S. – Russian Relations: Russia’s recent battle with Ukraine has caused tension. U.S. built Missile Defense Shield could spark new Arms Race and makes Russia feel threatened A New Russia (cont.) Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin wants to make Russia a world Super Power again