Modern%20Russia

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Modern Russia
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History Overview

• Descendents of East Slavs
• 800s Kievan Rus loose union of city states
  (Princes)
• 1200s Mongol control
• 1400s Ivan the Great- overthrew Mongols,
  united Russia, built the Kremlin
• 1600s Romanov Czars (dynasty)- trade/
  military/ size gap b/w nobles and serfs
• 1800s Rise in nationalism Russification
• 1900s Class struggles ? 1917 revolution
• Bolsheviks (Lenin) create communist state
• 1921 USSR established
• 1950(ish) Cold War begins

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U.S.-Soviet DÉTENTE

• What does détente mean?
• The relaxation of strained relations
• Why did Pres. Nixon push this policy?
• The fight against communism in Vietnam was a
  disaster threat of nuclear warfare.
• What changes took place b/w the superpowers after
  the SALT treaties?
• Making of nuclear arms drastically reduced
  observation of each other space exploration
• Why when did this era end?
• Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979/1980
  Reagan elected (staunch opponent of U.S.S.R.)

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1980s

• Who did the grain embargo most greatly affect
  why?
• Soviets bought most of their grain from the U.S.
  during Détente..grain embargo stops
  tradeAmerican farmers lose money/Soviet people
  lose major source of food.
• What was the US response to the Soviet invasion
  of Afghanistan?
• 1980 Olympics in Moscow are boycotted to send a
  message.hurts expected income from Olympics.
  Détente ends
• What was Reagans viewpoint on the USSR what
  campaigns did he put into place?
• U.S.S.R. was seen as the Evil Empire military
  and arms race picks back up space race.

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MIKHAIL GORBACHEV

• List a minimum of 4 things Gorbachev believed/did
  differently from former leaders?
• Urges relationship with West the fight against
  Alcoholism doesnt use military force to keep
  power emphasizes greater research and
  technology.
• What does perestroika glasnost mean? How did
  they weaken the central government.?
• Restructuring and Openness introduction of free
  market and democracy communist regimes are
  extinguished.
• What symbolized the collapse of communism in C
  E Europe? How did it affect the USSR?
• Fall of the Berlin Wall.Soviets lose grip on
  Eastern Europe, which results in declaration of
  Independence from many Soviet republics.Gorbachev
  doesnt use force to keep them.

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Won Nobel Peace Prize in 1990
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Boris Yeltsin

• What did early company privatization look like in
  Yeltsins era?
• Oligarchs bought all of the formerly state-owned
  businesses at extremely cheap prices.prevented
  any competition had close ties to political
  figures Russian people hated these groups
• Describe the econ. changes/crisis that took place
  during his reform years.
• Most businesses owned by small groups.prices and
  taxes rise..businesses evade taxes, leading to
  workers without pay.
• What was the common public opinion of Yeltsin
  when he left office?
• Inept and incompetent-had medical problems and
  abused alcohol cared only for the wealthy
  corrupt.

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VLADIMIR PUTIN

• How did Putin change the impact of the
  oligarchs/elite?
• Took apart the companies owned by oligarchs
  arrested many of the oligarch members who spoke
  against/opposed him.
• List 3 ways Putin threatened democracy in Russia.
• Censored media (govt. controlled television and
  newspapers) stopped elections of governors.now
  the President appoints them opposition
  threatened (Anna Politkovskaya)
• What actions/characteristics make Putin popular
  in public opinion?
• The economy is greatly improved, his leadership
  is stable, people treated more fairly than with
  Yeltsin, only favorable publicity shown.

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DMITRI MEDVEDEV

• What is significantly different b/w Medvedev and
  former leaders?
• No ties to KGB or communist parties
• Describe three positive actions he has done
  either domestically or internationally.
• Reforms to judicial system raising birth rate
  helped build gas line in Kosovo
• How much of a role did Putin play in Medvedevs
  presidency?
• Putin was the prime Minister.some people saw
  Putin as the one running the show..Medvedev was
  under Putin when he was President..Medvedev said
  he would not run against Putin if he decided to
  run for president.

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Current Social and Economic Standing

• What are the factors attributed to falling life
  expectancies and BRs?
• Alcoholism no more free health care/
  vaccinations poor environment (from USSR)
  People not having kids because of current
  standing.
• Describe the types of business corruption that
  take place in Russia.
• Business owners pay mafia protection bribes
  for corrupt govnt officials? allow for lots of
  tax evasion, extortion etc.

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Chechnya and South Ossetia

• What are 2 ways the conflict in Georgia is
  related to the conflict in Chechnya?
• Chechen refugees rebels fled to Georgia
  bringing them in to conflict South Ossetia is
  trying to break free from Georgia (they fight
  back) just like Chechnya is trying to break from
  Russia
• Compare the reaxns of Russias public opinion to
  that of outsiders over the event in Chechnya.
• World disapproves of Russia aggressiveness but
  Russian ppl want strong force b/c of massacres
• How is the Chechnya-Russia conflict similar to
  conflicts in the ME the former Yugoslavia?
• Both of religious ethnic differences places
  want freedom, but denied and violence breaks out

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Beslan School Crisis 2004
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Russia Response Essay

• Choose 1 prompt. One page (minimum) due Monday.
  Remember AP is next year!!
• Is Russia a working democracy? Provide at least 3
  pieces of evidence to support your answer.
• Do you believe Russia is better today or during
  the time of the Soviet Union? Provide at least 3
  pieces of evidence to support your answer.
• Which Soviet/Russian leader had the greatest
  impact on Russia today? Provide at least 3 pieces
  of evidence to support your answer.