Animal Farm by George Orwell
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others…” Written in 1945, “Animal Farm” is the story of an animal revolution that took place on the Manor Farm in England.
Author George Orwell models the story after the events places of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the rise of Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union.
Humans vs. Animals / Communism vs. Capitalism / Equality vs. Subjugation / East vs. West Written in 1945, “Animal Farm” is the story of an animal revolution that took place on the Manor Farm in England.
Author George Orwell models the story after the events places of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the rise of Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union.
Humans vs. Animals / Communism vs. Capitalism / Equality vs. Subjugation / East vs. West Written in 1945, “Animal Farm” is the story of an animal revolution that took place on the Manor Farm in England.
Author George Orwell models the story after the events places of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the rise of Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union.
Humans vs. Animals / Communism vs. Capitalism / Equality vs. Subjugation / East vs. West Manor Farm Mr. Jones
Owner of Manor Farm Old Major Napoleon Snowball Squealer Boxer Benjamin Clover Muriel Mollie Moses Dogs Hens Sheep Pigeons Mr. Frederick
Owner of Pinchfield Farm Mr. Pilkington
Owner of Foxwood Farm Mr. Whymper The Russian Revolution Imperial Russia Tsar Nicholas II (Romanov) Tsar Nicholas II Russian Peasants Russian Peasants Russian Social Democratic Party
The “Russian Social Democratic Party” (“R.S.D.P”) was organized to bring all revolutionary groups together… The “Bolsheviks” were created to give the power to the workers and peasants… 1903 The “Mensheviks” were created to give the power to the middle class… Both branches wanted to take power from the ruling elite… “Bolsheviks”
Led by Vladimir Lenin (who was in exile in western Europe)… Wanted to give the power to the workers and peasants… “Mensheviks”
Led by Leon Trotsky… Wanted to give the power to the middle class… “Bloody Sunday” (1905)
On January 22,1905, workers and peasants are massacred by Tsar Nicholas’ soldiers in St. Petersburg…
The workers and peasants were trying to bring a list of grievances to the tsar…
Over 200 workers and peasants are killed and almost 700 arrested…
Tsar Nicholas was not in the city, but was blamed… Tsar Nicholas II (Romanov) Russian Disasters in World War I
When World War I broke out in 1914, Tsar Nicholas II sided with Great Britain and France…
Within the first 6 weeks, Russia had lost 300,000 soldiers in the war…
The Russian Army had 6 million men, but only 4 million rifles…
Russia could not launch an effective attack on Germany… Russian Disasters in World War I
In 1915, the Russian Army was humiliated in the “Great Retreat”… In that retreat, Russia lost: 15% of its territory 20% of its population 30% of its industry Tsar Nicholas II had to assume control of the army despite having no military experience… Between 1914 and 1917, Russia would lose 12 million soldiers to the war… Russian Government Divides
In 1917, the Russian government is divided into three (3) different groups…
The “official” Russian government (not effective)
The “U.T.Z” of united councils (not official, but effective)…
The “Progressive Bloc” (not official, but effective)…
All of the groups put the rule of Tsar Nicholas II in jeopardy… Russian Strikes and Protests
With disasters by the Russian Army in World War I, the workers and peasants began to protest and strike… In the “February Revolution of 1917”, demands were made that Tsar Nicholas abdicate (give up) his throne… The chaos allows the “Bolsheviks” and “Mensheviks” to make their moves… “Soviets” were created to give workers and peasants more power…. Tsar Nicholas II Abdicates
In March of 1917, Tsar Nicholas II is forced to abdicate his throne…
Tsar Nicholas II had ruled Russia for 23 years…
In 1918, Tsar Nicholas and his entire family were shot by “Bolshevik” guards… Return of Vladimir Lenin
In April of 1917, Vladimir Lenin returns to Russia to lead the “Bolshevik” revolution….
Lenin demanded that Russia get out of the war, that the workers and peasants control the government, and that the “soviets” would have all the power…
By June of 1917, continued disasters in the war allow Lenin to seize control… Trotsky Joins Lenin
Leon Trotsky joins Lenin and the “Bolsheviks”…
Lenin and Trotsky officially seize power in the “Great October Revolution”…
Trotsky will become one of Lenin’s most trusted advisors and the one he privately selected to take over once he is gone… Bolshevism becomes Communism
The “Bolsheviks” immediately begin changing Russia: Capitalism is replaced with “communism”… Private ownership is eliminated… All factories are nationalized… After some struggles, Lenin is forced to compromise (“2 steps backward, 1 step forward…”) The new “Communist Party” centralizes Russia… True Communism?
The idea of “communism” is communal ownership of ALL things…
All members of a society are equal and should share in the benefits…
However, only members of the Communist Party enjoy many of the benefits of the Russian Revolution…
Many workers and peasants still have little say in their future… “Union of Soviet Socialist Republics”
In 1924, the “Union of Soviet Socialist Republics” (U.S.S.R.) is formed by Lenin… In the U.S.S.R., new changes are made: All parties are outlawed except the Communist Party New government bureaucracies are created Censorship to make sure only communist ideas are spread Actively spreading communist principles in Europe / America Death of Lenin
In 1924, Vladimir Lenin dies…
Despite the hopes of Trotsky taking over as Lenin wished, a power vacuum opens up in the Communist Party for control…
The party splits as members of the Communist Party fight for control of the party AND the masses of Russian people… Joseph Stalin vs. Leon Trotsky Joseph Stalin
One of the original “Bolsheviks” with Lenin…
A very effective organizer of the people and masses…
Very quiet and calculating and ruthless…
Expert at neutralizing his opponents strengths or his own weaknesses…
Privately, Lenin never doubted his devotion but did question whether or not he could lead the Communist Party effectively Leon Trotsky
Best known “Bolshevik” after Lenin worldwide…
Brilliant political mind…
Brilliant speaker and organizer…
Brilliant theorist, enjoyed debating his ideas although he could be too aggressive…
Negative impact was that he was a former “Menshevik” and argued with Lenin on many issues…
Privately, Lenin thought Trotsky was the most suited to lead the Communist Party… Stalin Makes His Move
Stalin begins to organize the party in both the rural farmlands and in the cities…
He builds a reputation for “getting things done” like no other…
Stalin was quietly securing his base within the Communist Party by appointing only his trusted friends and allies…
By 1924, most of the delegates in the Communist Party were “Stalinists”… Stalin Ousts Trotsky
By January of 1928, Stalin began accusing Trotsky of treachery within the Communist Party… Without enough support from the party, Trotsky is forced into exile… In an attempt to save his own life, Trotsky flees to Mexico to find safety from Stalin’s agents… Trotsky Murdered
After his exile, Trotsky is powerless since Stalin controls the party AND the Soviet Army… In August of 1940, Leon Trotsky is assassinated by a Stalinist agent in Mexico… Stalin has now solidified his power over the Soviet Union… Stalin and the “Cult of Personality”
Stalin will rule with an iron fist for over 30 years… The “cult of personality” is associated with Stalin as a leader who was idealized and almost God-like… Through his violent purges and programs, it is estimated that between 20 to 25 million Russians died during his rule… Animalism = Communism Old Major = Karl Marx Old Major = Vladimir Lenin Mr. Jones = Tsar Nicholas II Napoleon = Joseph Stalin Snowball = Leon Trotsky Squealer = Vyacheslav Molotov (Foreign Minister (Propaganda)) Pigs = Bolsheviks Boxer = Working Class Benjamin = Old Russian Population Clover = Women of Revolution Moses = Russian Orthodox Church Muriel = Educated Working Class Mollie = Bourgeoisie (Wealthy) Dogs = Soviet Military / KGB Hens = Peasants Sheep = Uneducated Masses Pigeons = Soviet Propaganda Abroad Mr. Frederick = Nazi Germany
Dictatorship Adolf Hitler Mr. Pilkington = U.S./Great Britain
Capitalism Winston Churchill FDR/ Harry Truman Battle of the Cowshed = October Revolution Battle of the Windmill = Battle of Stalingrad Final Feast = Tehran Conference Animal farm by George orwell
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others…”