Part 2

After the Czar was removed in 1917, the government was taken over by Vladimir Lenin.

Lenin was a Bolshevik- a group that liked Karl Marx’s communist ideas and embraced it.

Lenin and his followers took complete control over businesses.

Industries/factories, food distribution

Many people didn’t like the changes Lenin brought to Russia

This started a civil war between the Bolshevik Red Army and the anti-Bolshevik White Army

The Red Army won and communism was established under the new government called: “Union of Soviet Socialist Republics”

Also Known as: U.S.S.R or the Soviet Union.

After Lenin died in 1924, Joseph Stalin becomes the leader in the USSR.

Stalin was a cruel leader: Millions of people died from starvation or from him killing them.

Stalin led the USSR through World War II

After WWII, Russia gained Super Power status like the United States.

Hostilities between the US and the Soviets grew after the war split Europe into Communist Vs. Capitalists. This sparked “The Cold War”

The Cold War- a 4 decades long hostility between the USSR and U.S. There was political and military tension and the fear that nuclear war could break out at any time (DON’T WRITE-Think back to our Cuba article and the possible

nuclear war there in the Cuban Missile Crisis)

Starting in 1989-1991 the USSR started falling apart. The economy was weak and people were increasingly unhappy.

Government workers had “the good life” and average people were living in poverty(this goes against the communist principles).

Many of the countries who were controlled by the USSR started declaring independence.

By the end of 1991 the Soviet Union had fallen apart.

The USSR emerged as a Russian republic. People could vote for their leaders now.

The Russians become more capitalistic and left communism.

The economy finally started to recover and Russia become what it is today.