Russian Russian HistoryHistoryThree Eras: Three Eras:

Czarist Russia, Czarist Russia, Soviet Union, Soviet Union,

& &

Russia TodayRussia Today

CZARIST RUSSIA CZARIST RUSSIA Ivan III (Ivan the Great) 1462-1505Ivan III (Ivan the Great) 1462-1505

Conquered Conquered territory around territory around Moscow, tripling Moscow, tripling the size of Russiathe size of Russia

Liberated Russia Liberated Russia from Mongolsfrom Mongols

Laid the foundation Laid the foundation for absolute for absolute monarchymonarchy

Ivan the Terrible Ivan the Terrible (ruled: 1547-(ruled: 1547-1584)1584) Grandson of Ivan IIIGrandson of Ivan III

Strengthened the Strengthened the monarchy: first “official” monarchy: first “official” czar of Russia. czar of Russia.

Laws restricted the Laws restricted the mobility of the peasants, mobility of the peasants, which would eventually which would eventually lead to serfdomlead to serfdom

Added territory, unified Added territory, unified RussiaRussia

Created a code of lawsCreated a code of laws Ruthless: Exiled or Ruthless: Exiled or

executed many of his executed many of his nobles at the slightest nobles at the slightest provocation. provocation.

Peter the Great Peter the Great (ruled: 1672-(ruled: 1672-1725) 1725) Gains territory, transformed Gains territory, transformed

Russia into a world powerRussia into a world power Looks to Western Europe for Looks to Western Europe for

changeschanges Introduced the potatoIntroduced the potato Started a newspaperStarted a newspaper Raised women’s statusRaised women’s status Introduced western Introduced western

clothing to Russia clothing to Russia Opened schools – arts & Opened schools – arts &

sciencessciences

Catherine the Great Catherine Catherine the Great Catherine II (Ruled: 1762-1796)II (Ruled: 1762-1796)

Most admired of all the Most admired of all the Russian rulers. Russian rulers. German princess who German princess who married a Russian prince. married a Russian prince. Educated and well readEducated and well readExpands empire to Black Sea Expands empire to Black Sea area.area.

Nicholas II Nicholas II (rule:1894-(rule:1894-

1917)1917)

Not prepared for the Not prepared for the responsibilities of the responsibilities of the throne. throne.

Did not allow Did not allow representative power of representative power of the people. the people.

Russia went from a great Russia went from a great power to an economic & power to an economic & military disaster (WWI)military disaster (WWI)

Accomplishments:Accomplishments: Trans Siberian Trans Siberian

Railroad (see map Railroad (see map left)left)

Factories doubled Factories doubled 1863-19001863-1900

Events leading up to the Russian & Events leading up to the Russian & Bolshevik Revolutions 1917Bolshevik Revolutions 1917

a series of revolutions that led to the dissolution of czarist a series of revolutions that led to the dissolution of czarist Russia Russia

Bloody Sunday 1905: Demonstrators petitioning Bloody Sunday 1905: Demonstrators petitioning the palace were gunned down.the palace were gunned down.

Extreme Poverty of the freed serfs, food shortages Extreme Poverty of the freed serfs, food shortages WWI (1914) – Russia forced into war, suffered huge WWI (1914) – Russia forced into war, suffered huge

losses & social & economic problems worsened. losses & social & economic problems worsened. Nicholas abdicated in 1917. In 1918 he & his family Nicholas abdicated in 1917. In 1918 he & his family

were murdered by the Bolsheviks (Communists).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 Lenin’s Take Over (chairman 1917 - 1924)(chairman 1917 - 1924) The First Head of the Soviet Socialist RepublicThe First Head of the Soviet Socialist Republic

Introduced a series of reforms: New Economic Introduced a series of reforms: New Economic Policy (NEP)Policy (NEP) Allow individuals to buy and sell for profit Allow individuals to buy and sell for profit Gov’t controlled major industries, banks, Gov’t controlled major industries, banks,

communicationscommunications Farmland was seized from wealthy, Farmland was seized from wealthy,

divided among the peasants - encouraged divided among the peasants - encouraged collective farmingcollective farming

Reforms: Reforms:

Women received equal payWomen received equal pay

Education important – stressed socialist Education important – stressed socialist doctrine, technical schoolsdoctrine, technical schools

Religion was discouragedReligion was discouraged

Joseph Stalin Joseph Stalin (chairman:1924-1953)(chairman:1924-1953)

Stalin ended the NEPStalin ended the NEP Returned to command economyReturned to command economy 5 Year Plan5 Year Plan

Goal – turn Soviet Union into a Goal – turn Soviet Union into a modern, industrialized societymodern, industrialized society

Collective farming failed – Collective farming failed – famine crop failure millions famine crop failure millions dieddied

Steel production increased Steel production increased significantlysignificantly

Purges – a large scale Purges – a large scale elimination of enemies.elimination of enemies. Estimated 5 million were Estimated 5 million were

arrested, deported, or arrested, deported, or executed between 1934-1939executed between 1934-1939

ProblemProblem Attempted Attempted SolutionSolution

ResultsResults

Near economic Near economic collapsecollapse

Lenin’s NEPLenin’s NEP Moderate successModerate success

AgricultureAgriculture Collective farmsCollective farms Failed; famineFailed; famine

Power struggle – Power struggle – Stalin and Stalin and TrotskyTrotsky

Savage and brutal Savage and brutal competitioncompetition

Stalin emerged as Stalin emerged as victorvictor

Little economic Little economic growthgrowth

Stalin’s first 5 Stalin’s first 5 year planyear plan

Succeeded n Succeeded n reviving industry reviving industry somewhatsomewhat

No increase in No increase in consumer goodsconsumer goods

Second 5 year Second 5 year planplan

Industry grows – Industry grows – people starvepeople starve

Problems of the New Soviet Problems of the New Soviet UnionUnion

The Cold War (1945-1991)The Cold War (1945-1991)

This “war” was a battle of words and rising This “war” was a battle of words and rising armaments between USSR and US.armaments between USSR and US.

Specific events during the Cold War intensified Specific events during the Cold War intensified hostilities, or decreased them.hostilities, or decreased them.

It ended with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991It ended with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991

Fall of CommunismFall of Communism Mikhail Gorbachev head (“Premier”) of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev head (“Premier”) of the USSR

1985-1991 1985-1991 Relaxed economic controlRelaxed economic control Reduced military spendingReduced military spending Introduced reforms – Introduced reforms –

Glasnost: openness by the gov’t & Glasnost: openness by the gov’t & Peristroika: political & economic reformsPeristroika: political & economic reforms

Results:Results: Increased tensions between ethnic groupsIncreased tensions between ethnic groupsPeople began demanding more and more

freedom and independence. 1991 Soviet Union ceased to exist1991 Soviet Union ceased to exist

Yeltsin Yeltsin (president: 1991-1999)(president: 1991-1999)

First elected President First elected President Transformation to Transformation to

democracydemocracyHigh inflationHigh inflationUnemploymentUnemploymentFood and housing Food and housing

shortagesshortagesOpen Russia to foreign Open Russia to foreign

investmentinvestmentPrivatized industryPrivatized industry

Vladimir PutinVladimir PutinLeader of Russia since 2000Leader of Russia since 2000He increased GDP by 72%He increased GDP by 72%Real wages tripled during hisReal wages tripled during his

first two terms in office.first two terms in office.• However, he rules like a dictator and after he However, he rules like a dictator and after he

hand-selected his successor in 2008, he ran hand-selected his successor in 2008, he ran for another term in 2012 which was increased for another term in 2012 which was increased from 4 years to 6.from 4 years to 6.

• Countries around the world including the Countries around the world including the US worry about his leadershipUS worry about his leadership