Transcript Russian History

Russian History
Three Eras:
Czarist Russia,
Soviet Union,
&
Russia Today
CZARIST RUSSIA
Ivan III (Ivan the Great) 1462-1505



Conquered territory
around Moscow tripling the size of
Russia
Liberated Russia from
Mongols
Laid the foundation
for absolute
monarchy
Ivan the Terrible (ruled: 1547-1584)

Grandson of Ivan III
 Strengthened the monarchy:
first “official” czar of Russia.
 Laws restricted the mobility of
the peasants, which would
eventually lead to serfdom
 Added territory, unified Russia
 Created a code of laws
 Ruthless: Exiled or executed
many of his nobles at the
slightest provocation.
Peter the Great (ruled: 1672-1725)
Gains territory, transformed
Russia into a world power
 Looks to Western Europe for
changes
 Introduced the potato
 Started a newspaper
 Raised women’s status
 Introduced western clothing
to Russia
 Opened schools – arts &
sciences

Catherine the Great Catherine II
(Ruled: 1762-1796)
Most
admired of all the Russian
rulers.
German princess who married a
Russian prince.
Educated and well read
Expands empire to Black Sea
area.
prepared for the
Nicholas IINotresponsibilities
of the
(rule:18941917)
throne.
Did not allow representative
power of the people.
Russia went from a great
power to an economic &
military disaster (WWI)
Accomplishments:
 Trans Siberian Railroad
(see map left)
 Factories doubled 18631900
Events leading up to the Russian &
Bolshevik Revolutions 1917
a series of revolutions that led to the dissolution of czarist Russia
Bloody Sunday 1905: Demonstrators petitioning the palace
were gunned down.
 Extreme Poverty of the freed serfs, food shortages
 WWI (1914) – Russia forced into war, suffered huge
losses & social & economic problems worsened.
 Nicholas abdicated in 1917. In 1918 he & his family were
murdered by the Bolsheviks (Communists).
 The next 75 years Russia was dominated by “Rule by
Fear” & by men like Lenin & Stalin…

Lenin’s Take Over
(chairman 1917 - 1924)
The First Head of the Soviet Socialist Republic
Introduced reforms: New Economic
Policy (NEP)
 Allow individuals to buy/sell for
profit
 Gov’t controlled major
industries, banks,
communications
 Farmland seized from wealthy,
divided among the peasants encouraged collective farming
 Women received equal pay
 Education important – stressed
socialist doctrine, technical
schools
 Religion discouraged
Joseph Stalin
(chairman:1924-1953)


Returned to command economy
5 Year Plan
 Goal – turn Soviet Union into
a modern, industrialized
society
 Collective farming failed –
famine & crop failure millions
died
 Steel production increased

Purges – a large scale
elimination of enemies.
 Estimated 5 million were
arrested, deported, or
executed between 19341939
Problems of the New Soviet Union
Problem
Attempted Solution
Results
Near economic
collapse
Lenin’s NEP
Moderate success
Agriculture
Collective farms
Failed; famine
Power struggle –
Stalin and Trotsky
Savage and brutal
competition
Stalin emerged as
victor
Little economic
growth
Stalin’s first 5 year
plan
Succeeded n
reviving industry
somewhat
No increase in
consumer goods
Second 5 year plan
Industry grows –
people starve
The Cold War (1945-1991)


This “war” was a battle of words and rising armaments
between USSR and US.
Specific events during the Cold War intensified hostilities,
or decreased them.


Vietnam War, Korean War
It ended with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991
Fall of Communism
Mikhail Gorbachev head (“Premier”) of USSR 1985-1991
Responsible for ending communism in the USSR




Relaxed economic control
Reduced military spending
Introduced  Glasnost: openness by the gov’t
 Peristroika: political/economic reforms
Results:
 Increased tensions between ethnic groups
 People demandm more freedom & independence.
1991 Soviet Union ceased to exist as republics broke off &
formed their own countries.
Yeltsin
(president: 1991-1999)

First elected President
 Transformation
democracy
 High
to
inflation
 Unemployment
 Food & housing
shortages
 Open Russia to foreign
investment
 Privatized industry
Vladimir Putin
•Leader of Russia since 2000
•Increased GDP by 72%
•Real wages tripled
•Rules like a dictator
•Hand-selected his successor in 2008
•Ran for another term in 2012,
•Increased term from 4 years to 6.
•Countries around the world
including the US worry about his
leadership