Animal Farm

Historical Background

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Animal FarmAnimal Farm was published in August of was published in August of 1945--a crucial moment in European and 1945--a crucial moment in European and world history. world history.

In some ways, In some ways, Animal FarmAnimal Farm stands at stands at the very beginning of the Cold War. the very beginning of the Cold War.

During World War II, Russia had been an During World War II, Russia had been an ally of the U.S. and England. ally of the U.S. and England.

Orwell had a hard time finding a Orwell had a hard time finding a publisher for publisher for Animal FarmAnimal Farm..

INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION ContCont’d’d

In the years following In the years following Animal Farm'sAnimal Farm's publication, Russia fell further and further publication, Russia fell further and further out of favor with the West. In this respect, out of favor with the West. In this respect, the novel stands as a predictor of what the novel stands as a predictor of what would later come to pass. would later come to pass. Orwell's attack of Russia did not come Orwell's attack of Russia did not come from the political right--as most capitalist from the political right--as most capitalist thinkers would attack it. Rather, Orwell’s thinkers would attack it. Rather, Orwell’s complaint was from the left. complaint was from the left.

KARL MARX

In 1848, German political philosopher Karl Marx with Friedrich Engels, published an influential pamphlet called the Communist Manifesto.

Marx's criticism focused on the dominant political and economic system of his time, known as "capitalism."

How could it be fair that the wealthy few had extra millions in the bank, while the masses struggled to survive, or starved to death? Pictured above KARL MARX

KARL MARX Cont’dKARL MARX Cont’d Individuals would produce Individuals would produce

according to their abilities, according to their abilities, and consume according to and consume according to their needs. Everyone their needs. Everyone would have what they would have what they needed, and no one citizen needed, and no one citizen would possess more than would possess more than another. another.

Marx took the view that it Marx took the view that it was the destiny of history was the destiny of history itself that the many poor itself that the many poor would declare war on the would declare war on the wealthy few.wealthy few.

RUSSIA 1900-1918RUSSIA 1900-1918 As the dawn of the 20th As the dawn of the 20th

Century approached, Century approached, Russia lingered in the past. Russia lingered in the past.

Other European nations Other European nations had begun the process of had begun the process of "industrialization." Russia "industrialization." Russia remained a country of remained a country of farmers tethered to the farmers tethered to the old-fashioned plow.old-fashioned plow.

Illiteracy was higher in Illiteracy was higher in Russia than elsewhere, Russia than elsewhere, poverty was more poverty was more widespread, land was widespread, land was scarce, and food was hard scarce, and food was hard to come by. to come by.

A painting depicts life in pre 20th Century Russia.

RUSSIA 1900-1918RUSSIA 1900-1918

Russia's political system was a remnant Russia's political system was a remnant of the past. of the past.

In Great Britain, France and Germany, In Great Britain, France and Germany, democratic political systems had democratic political systems had replaced the ancient rights of kings and replaced the ancient rights of kings and queens.queens.

The Czar (pronounced "zar") still The Czar (pronounced "zar") still occupied the royal throne and dictated occupied the royal throne and dictated state policy without regard to the state policy without regard to the concerns of the people. concerns of the people.

RUSSIA 1900-1918RUSSIA 1900-1918 In 1914, Europe exploded in In 1914, Europe exploded in

World War I. World War I. Russia joined the British, Russia joined the British,

French, and Italians; they French, and Italians; they fought the united Germans fought the united Germans and Austrians.and Austrians.

Russia was outmatched.Russia was outmatched. Money, food, and raw Money, food, and raw

materials flowed out of the materials flowed out of the country to support the war country to support the war effort. effort.

Starvation and disease ran Starvation and disease ran rampant throughout the rampant throughout the country, and still the Czar country, and still the Czar persisted in the war effort. persisted in the war effort.

Above are Russian Soldiers on board a British war vessel during WW1.

RUSSIA 1900-1918RUSSIA 1900-1918 Between 1914 and 1917, the Between 1914 and 1917, the

cities of Russia witnessed many cities of Russia witnessed many minor revolts among the citizenry. minor revolts among the citizenry. Tens of thousands of hungry Tens of thousands of hungry workers joined the communist workers joined the communist "soviets"--the Russian word for "soviets"--the Russian word for "councils"--which organized "councils"--which organized massive protests and labor strikes massive protests and labor strikes to show their displeasure at food to show their displeasure at food shortages and the endless shortages and the endless prosecution of the war.prosecution of the war.

The Soviet Symbol

RUSSIA 1900-1918

Russian army suffered numerous defeats in the field, and lost territory.

In February of 1917, weeks of violent street skirmishes backed by the soviets ended with a mob assault on the seat of government. The Czar's soldiers stood aside and let the people take control of the streets.

On February 28, 1917, Czar Nicholas II admitted defeat, and left the royal throne.

THE COMMUNIST TAKEOVERTHE COMMUNIST TAKEOVER

For eight months following the czar's For eight months following the czar's abdication in February, 1917, there was abdication in February, 1917, there was no unified, government within Russia. no unified, government within Russia.

A Provisional Government, but it proved A Provisional Government, but it proved weak and ineffective.weak and ineffective. It foolishly decided It foolishly decided to keep Russia in World War I, despite to keep Russia in World War I, despite continuing street protests and disastrous continuing street protests and disastrous shortages of food and raw materials.shortages of food and raw materials.

THE COMMUNIST TAKEOVERTHE COMMUNIST TAKEOVER The soviets -controlled by the The soviets -controlled by the

brilliant organizer and brilliant organizer and motivator Vladimir Lenin-motivator Vladimir Lenin-focused on winning the focused on winning the support of army troops, and support of army troops, and began to take control of began to take control of Russia's railroads and Russia's railroads and telegraph lines. telegraph lines.

With the full backing of the With the full backing of the troops, they would possess troops, they would possess the means with which to the means with which to secure state authority for secure state authority for themselves.themselves.

Vladimir Lenin

THE COMMUNIST TAKEOVER

Lenin was aided by two prominent communist allies: his old friend Leon Trotsky, and a new acquaintance, Joseph Stalin.

The three guided soviet policy, promising workers and soldiers food, abundant land, and an end to Russia’s involvement in the war.

"Land, bread, and peace" for everyone, Lenin promised: "All power to the soviets!"

THE COMMUNIST TAKEOVERTHE COMMUNIST TAKEOVER In October of 1917, Lenin, In October of 1917, Lenin,

Trotsky, and Stalin made Trotsky, and Stalin made their move. their move.

On October 24, 1917, the On October 24, 1917, the assault on the Winter Palace assault on the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, where the in St. Petersburg, where the Provisional government was Provisional government was headquartered, began. By headquartered, began. By the following night, the the following night, the Provisional Government had Provisional Government had fallen,.fallen,.

Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin were poised on the verge of were poised on the verge of ushering in the first-ever ushering in the first-ever Communist government.Communist government.

Above is the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg Russia.

THE AFTERMATHTHE AFTERMATH The new soviet government The new soviet government

quickly stripped all land from quickly stripped all land from owners, and forbade the owners, and forbade the holding of private property.holding of private property.

Concerned foreign nations, Concerned foreign nations, including the United States including the United States and Great Britain, and Great Britain, contributed money and contributed money and resources to the opponents resources to the opponents of the revolution.of the revolution.

THE AFTERMATHTHE AFTERMATH

Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin faced a Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin faced a dilemma. How did they bring about dilemma. How did they bring about an age of peace and equality when an age of peace and equality when they were confronted with they were confronted with opposition? opposition?

Their answer was quick and brutal: Their answer was quick and brutal: The dissenting elements must be The dissenting elements must be rooted out and destroyed. rooted out and destroyed.

THE AFTERMATHTHE AFTERMATH The soviets formed the The soviets formed the

"Red Army" and began a "Red Army" and began a terror campaign which terror campaign which identified and executed identified and executed suspected anti-suspected anti-Communists. Communists.

Between 1918-1921, a Between 1918-1921, a civil war raged between civil war raged between the communists and their the communists and their enemies. Led by Leon enemies. Led by Leon Trotsky, the "Red Army" Trotsky, the "Red Army" prevailed, and the prevailed, and the communists maintained communists maintained their hold on power. their hold on power.

Pictured above is Soldiers marching from the “Red Army”.

THE AFTERMATHTHE AFTERMATH

Lenin suffered three Lenin suffered three paralyzing strokes. In paralyzing strokes. In 1922, the last episode 1922, the last episode took his life. took his life.

Leon Trotsky and Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin coveted Joseph Stalin coveted the seat of power. the seat of power.

Pictured above are Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky.

TROTSKY AND STALIN Trotsky was a brilliant speaker

and writer. His passionate support of communism had provided much of the fire in the early years of the soviets. Trotsky was a man with an appetite for books and ideas. He was a visionary thinker, and hoped to transform Russia into an industrial powerhouse, the envy of the whole world.

Pictured above is Trotsky before giving one of his

many powerful speeches.

TROTSKY AND STALINTROTSKY AND STALIN Stalin had his strengths as Stalin had his strengths as

well. His mind was quick and well. His mind was quick and he spoke well, but he was not he spoke well, but he was not of Trotsky's caliber in these of Trotsky's caliber in these realms. Where Trotsky realms. Where Trotsky dreamed, Stalin focused dreamed, Stalin focused instead on administrative instead on administrative duties and on creating bonds duties and on creating bonds of loyalty between himself of loyalty between himself and powerful men within the and powerful men within the soviets.soviets.

Stalin's strategy paid off.Stalin's strategy paid off. Above is Leon Trotsky

STALINSTALIN The Stalin era lasted for 25 The Stalin era lasted for 25

years. Among his most years. Among his most important contributions to the important contributions to the Soviet Union were his "Five Soviet Union were his "Five Year Plans," ambitious Year Plans," ambitious programs to propel Russia programs to propel Russia into the industrial age. into the industrial age.

By the early 1940's, Russia By the early 1940's, Russia had achieved an industrial had achieved an industrial strength that was equal to the strength that was equal to the former world leaders in the former world leaders in the capitalist countries. capitalist countries.

Joseph Stalin

STALINSTALIN Stalin maintained his grip on Stalin maintained his grip on

power through the use of power through the use of political and social terror. He political and social terror. He increased the size of Russia's increased the size of Russia's internal police force (KGB) internal police force (KGB) drastically, and he used them drastically, and he used them to spy on suspected enemies to spy on suspected enemies within the country. In effect, within the country. In effect, Stalin silenced all opposition, Stalin silenced all opposition, and any words uttered against and any words uttered against him became a rationale for him became a rationale for incarceration, or worse.incarceration, or worse. Above is the

badge that was used by the KGB agents in Russia.

STALIN

In 1934, Stalin set a series of political "purges" in motion. High-ranking officials in the Soviet government were systematically arrested, forced to admit to crimes they did not commit, and summarily executed.

Estimates put the total number killed at between 2 and 7 million people.