Political+and+Economic+Change+Russia+Period+3


 * Critical Junctures**

1917 - Bolshevik Revolution: After the recent overthrow of czar Nicholas II the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, overthrew the government bringing communism into play. 1918-1921 Russian Civil War 1922 - The Bolsheviks and Lenin formed the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) AKA the Soviet Union. 1929-1953 - Stalin came to power in 1929 as a dictator ruling in communism. He, along with Mussolini of Italy and Hitler of Germany, was involved in WWII. He stopped reigning in upon his death in 1953. 1953-1985 - After Stalin's death the citizens tried to erase remnants of his reign from the country. Nikita Khrushchev, his successor, was a big advocate for de-stalinization until he was removed from office in 1955. After Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev came to rule until he died in 1982 but he reversed some of Khrushchev's efforts. During this era the cold war became an ongoing topic for all countries. 1985-1991 - Mikhail Gorbachev took office as a Communist ruler keeping the cold war era alive. 1989 - The fall of the Berlin Wall ended the cold war and communism in Russia. 1991 - USSR becomes the Russian Federation and an independent state. 1993 - Russia adopted a new constitution through referendum and their first multi-party elections were held in December of that year. Boris Yeltsin becomes the first president of the Russian Federation. 1998 - Financial Crisis in Russia causes devaluation of ruble. 2000 - Vladimir Putin becomes the President of the new anticommunist state. His ruled ended in 2008. 2008 - Dmitry Medvedev becomes President.

Cimmerians, Scythians, Sarmatians, Goths, Huns, Turkic Bulgars, Avars, and Khazars - These ethnic groups occupied souther Russia in the late 800s. Mongolians - This ethnic group ruled Russia from 1237-1480; they established their capital at Sarai. Ivan "The Terrible" IV - First Czar of Russia, ruled from 1533-1584, known for his cruelty Peter the Great - reigned from1689-1725 Joseph Stalin - Dictator of USSR Boris Yelstin - First President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev - Current President (Head of State), Third President as well Vladimir Putin - Current Premier (Head of Government)
 * Important People**

-Before the fall of communism, under the USSR, Russia's economy was slow and inefficient. This was because all aspects of the economy were owned by the state and they created production goals that were too high to reach. Private and free trade was not allowed, only the country could decide trade agreements. Under the rule of Boris Yeltsin the country underwent **shock therapy**, or rapid change in the government. Yeltsin opened up more free trade markets and made the government more laissez faire or hands off. Due to the many changes to make Russia more democratic their economy became much stronger. They have been rapidly growing as a nation politically and economically and have experienced much industrialization. -Under communist rule the sectors of Russia were nationalized, but along with all of the other changes to democracy, the sectors became privatized. "The pace and scope of privatization in Russia were rapid and thorough compared to otehr post-communist countries" (Kessleman 165). The industrial and agricultural sectors are the most privatized sectors of the government. -The only significant shifts in policy in Russia were when the country went from communist to more democratic. The cause of these shifts were new rulers, the end of the Cold War (Fall of the Berlin Wall), and influence by the United States.
 * Economic Policies**