Russian History Three Eras Czarist Russia Soviet Union

Russian History Three Eras: Czarist Russia, Soviet Union, & Russia Today

CZARIST RUSSIA Ivan III (Ivan the Great) 1462 -1505 Conquered territory around Moscow, tripling the size of Russia l Liberated Russia from Mongols l Laid the foundation for absolute monarchy l

Ivan the Terrible (ruled: 1547 -1584) l Grandson of Ivan III l Strengthened the monarchy: first “official” czar of Russia. l Laws restricted the mobility of the peasants, which would eventually lead to serfdom l Added territory, unified Russia l Created a code of laws l Ruthless: Exiled or executed many of his nobles at the slightest provocation.

Peter the Great (ruled: 1672 -1725) Gains territory, transformed Russia into a world power l Looks to Western Europe for changes l Introduced the potato l Started a newspaper l Raised women’s status l Introduced western clothing to Russia l Opened schools – arts & sciences l

Catherine the Great Catherine II (Ruled: 1762 -1796) v. Most admired of all the Russian rulers. v. German princess who married a Russian prince. v. Educated and well read v. Expands empire to Black Sea area.

prepared for the Nicholas II Notresponsibilities of the (rule: 1894 - throne. Did not allow representative 1917) power of the people. Russia went from a great power to an economic & military disaster (WWI) Accomplishments: l Trans Siberian Railroad (see map left) l Factories doubled 18631900

Events leading up to the Russian & Bolshevik Revolutions 1917 a series of revolutions that led to the dissolution of czarist Russia l l l Bloody Sunday 1905: Demonstrators petitioning the palace were gunned down. Extreme Poverty of the freed serfs, food shortages WWI (1914) – Russia forced into war, suffered huge losses & social & economic problems worsened. Nicholas abdicated in 1917. In 1918 he & his family 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 (chairman 1917 - 1924) The First Head of the Soviet Socialist Republic Introduced a series of reforms: New Economic Policy (NEP) l Allow individuals to buy and sell for profit l Gov’t controlled major industries, banks, communications l Farmland was seized from wealthy, divided among the peasants - encouraged collective farming Reforms: Women received equal pay Education important – stressed socialist doctrine, technical schools Religion was discouraged

Joseph Stalin (chairman: 1924 -1953) Stalin ended the NEP Returned to command economy 5 Year Plan l Goal – turn Soviet Union into a modern, industrialized society l Collective farming failed – famine crop failure millions died l Steel production increased significantly l Purges – a large scale elimination of enemies. l Estimated 5 million were arrested, deported, or executed between 1934 -1939 l l l

Problems of the New Soviet Union Problem Attempted Solution Results Near economic collapse Lenin’s NEP Moderate success Agriculture Collective farms Failed; famine Power struggle – Stalin and Trotsky Savage and brutal competition Stalin emerged as victor Little economic growth Stalin’s first 5 year plan No increase in consumer goods Second 5 year plan Succeeded n reviving industry somewhat Industry grows – people starve

The Cold War (1945 -1991) This “war” was a battle of words and rising armaments between USSR and US. l Specific events during the Cold War intensified hostilities, or decreased them. l It ended with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 l

Fall of Communism l l l Mikhail Gorbachev head (“Premier”) of the USSR 19851991 Relaxed economic control Reduced military spending Introduced reforms – l Glasnost: openness by the gov’t & l Peristroika: political & economic reforms Results: l Increased tensions between ethnic groups l People began demanding more and more freedom and independence. l 1991 Soviet Union ceased to exist

Yeltsin (president: 1991 -1999) l First elected President l Transformation democracy l High to inflation l Unemployment l Food and housing shortages l Open Russia to foreign investment l Privatized industry

Vladimir Putin l Leader of Russia since 2000 l He increased GDP by 72% l Real wages tripled during his first two terms in office. • However, he rules like a dictator and after he hand-selected his successor in 2008, he ran for another term in 2012 which was increased from 4 years to 6. • Countries around the world including the US worry about his leadership