1. Introduction to Animal Farm: The Political Background

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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…

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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.

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

10. 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

11. 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