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