History of Russia

Look at the Map of Russia on page 362 and answer the two questions under Skill Builder

The last three eras of Russian History are…

1. 1613-1917:Czarist Russia

2. 1918-1991:Communist Russia (USSR)

3. 1991-Present: Transition to Democracy and Capitalism

1613-1917:Czarist Russia

• Romanov family dynasty rules Russia

• Romanovs are a family of Czars/Tsars

• Czar(Tsar): ruler or emperor

1613-1917:Czarist Russia– Famous Romanov Czars/Tsars

• Peter the Great (1689-1725)-modernized Russia with the rest of Europe

• Nicholas II (1894-1917)-killed by Bolsheviks when communists took over…last Czar/Tsar of Russia

• During this era it was called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)– Socialism and Communism are the same

thing– Communism/Socialism: The government

owns and operates all businesses. There is no private ownership, everything belongs to the community

• Also Called Command Economy

1918-1991:Communist Russia (USSR)

1918-1991:Communist Russia (USSR)

• This era started with the Russian Revolution (Bolshevik Revolution)– Bolsheviks (Communist/Marxist party), led

by Vladimir Lenin, overthrow the Czar of Russia and establish communist system of govt

– Russia had to drop out of WW I because of this internal revolution

1918-1991:Communist Russia (USSR)

• Famous Communist Rulers: – Lenin (1917-1924)-led Bolshevik/Russian

revolution – Stalin (1929-1953)-leader during WW II – Khrushchev (1958-1964)- Influential Cold

War leader (especially famous for the Cuban Missile Crisis with JFK)

1991-Present: Transition to Democracy and Capitalism

-SOVIET UNION FALLS in the 1990s

-In trying to make Russia Democratic and Capitalist, Russian industries are being privatized

-Privatization: Individuals are starting to buy businesses from the govt

1991-Present: Transition to Democracy and Capitalism

• Recent leaders in the transition: – Gorbachev (1985-1991): attempts to improve

Russias economy by “restructuring” (ending communism)…ended Cold War

– Boris Yeltsin: first president who leads privatization

– Vladamir Putin: current President of the Russian Federation