Historical Background for Animal Farm

Name ______

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND FOR ANIMAL FARM

Directions: Answer the following questions. Use the handout provided in class, the internet, an encyclopedia, or a good dictionary for your research. Talk with your grandparents or other adults who remember World War II and the events leading up to the war.

1. What was the Russian system of government prior to the 1917 Russian Revolution? Who were the rulers of Russia?

2. Who were Karl Marx and Frederick Engels? How did they influence the Russian Revolution?

3. Who was Lenin? What was his role in the 1917 Revolution? What were his plans for Russia?

4. Who was Leon Trotsky? What was his role in the Russian Revolution? What was his role in government after Lenin died? How did Trotsky die?

5. Who was Josef Stalin? When did he assume leadership? How did his vision of communism differ from Trotsky’s? What were the purge trials? What kind of a leader was Stalin?

6. What was Russia’s relationship with Germany immediately preceding World War II? How did this relationship change?