RUSSIA official name Russian Federation GOVERNMENT OF RUSSIA

RUSSIA official name: Russian Federation

GOVERNMENT OF RUSSIA 1547 -1917: Absolute Monarchy: 1917 -1991: Communist Government 1991 -Present: Democracy

CZARIST RUSSIA • Czars conquered land around Russia making it the size it is today.

Czar Nicholas II (rule: 1894 -1917) Not prepared for the responsibilities of the throne. Did not allow representative power of the people. Major Accomplishment: – Trans Siberian Railroad (see map left) – Gave up the throne, family assasinated by the new leadership.

Communist Russia Vladimir Lenin: 1 st Leader of Communist Russia Joseph Stalin: Leader of Communist Russia (USSR) after Lenin Mikhail Gorbachev: Introduced changes that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The Cold War (1945 -1991) • This “war” was a battle of words and build up of weapons between USSR and USA. • Specific events during the Cold War intensified hostilities, or decreased them. – Vietnam War, Korean War • For more info read pg 371 of your blue book

The Fall of Communism and the end of the USSR By 1991 each of the 15 republics (similar to states in the US) that made up the USSR declared their independence. Russia was the largest and most powerful of these. This would be like each of the states in the US becoming their own countries rather than states. The US would no longer exist!!

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991… • Russia has tried to develop a Free Market economy (like the USA). • Poverty and famine are still issues. • Corruption & crime has spread rapidly. Economy Moscow International Business Center

Population • Majority live in Western part of Russia. • Why do you think this is so?

CHERNOBYL 1986 • A reactor overheated during a test of the reactors power supply causing causig radioactive material to spread into parts of Europe. • Issues: Health problems for people and their unborn children continue in this area even today.

The Shrinking Aral Sea • 1960’s: Soviet Union diverted two rivers that fed the Aral Sea into the desert as irrigation for farming. • Continues to shrink at an alarming rate.