Day 67: My absence

I will be absent today.  My apologies.

Please DO NOT hand in your essays to the supply teacher.  They MUST be signed in with ME.

Here is the link to Luke and Kevin's seminar.  The question and seminar are due on WEDNESDAY.  Please print this out.

I still do not have the other seminar question and document to give you.  Your peer will certainly have them for you today in class.

Complete the Napoleon questions and readings that the supply will give you.  We will discuss them tomorrow.

Thanks and enjoy the day!

Day 66: Field Trip

Trip to the Bookshelf Cinema in Guelph to see The Social Network.

Day 65: Peer Editing

Day 2 of peer editing.

Essay due MONDAY DECEMBER 13, with a closure date of THURSDAY DECEMBER 16.

Day 64: Peer Editing

Day 1 of peer editing.
5 typed copies of your essay are due today.

Day 63: Words of the Revolution

1.  Seminar review: YAY FOR YOU!
2.  Outcomes of the Revolution: Think, Pair, Share
3.  Rights of the Revolution: For each declaration explain: 1) the right that was being demanded, 2) why the right was in question (what was lacking prior to the declaration being written), 3)the right for us, in Canada, today (how does it differ/how is it the same)

Reminder: Peer editing tomorrow: bring in 5 (FIVE) copies of your essay.

Day 62: Text work based on presentation

Based on the French Revolution Presentation, please complete the following:

1.  Read pages 182-183: How extensive were these rights? What is restricted?
2.  Read pages 185-186: Take notes on Mirabeau and Robespierre.
3.  Read pages 189-190: Take notes on revolutionary names and symbols.
4.  Read page 194: Take notes on After Thermidor
5.  Video Part 8    Part 9     Part 10

Day 61: Seminars

Seminars ... enjoy!

Day 60: French Revolution

Now today, really, we need to finish this!

Yay for us!

Day 59: French Revolution

See day 57.

A reminder that all essay steps will be accepted until TOMORROW only.  This will give me time to reflect on your work and provide feedback to help you write your draft to be peer edited.

Day 58: Seminars

Seminars for Shaelyn and Kelsey

Day 57: French Revolution and Seminar for Friday

1.  Presentation
2.  Video
3.  Video
4.  Video
5.  Video

Sarah and Alex's Seminar

Day 56: Revolution in Music

Kara: Presentation and Songs
          Document

Luke and Kevin:
Presentation
Document
Song 1
Song 2
Lyrics

Day 55: Bugging you ... French Revolution

1.  Talk about yesterday's homework.
2.  Video (see blog)
3.  Continue presentation.

Day 54: Essay Writing and French Revolution

1.  How to write a thesis
2. Structuring an essay
3.  Citing

4.  SEMINARS for Nov. 30:  Kelsey   Shaelyn (check tomorrow for Shaelyn's update where the question you must answer is added).

4.  See a few days ago, French Revolution videos and Presentation.

Day 53: Seminars

Emma: Document and Question

Megan and Caitlyn: Document and Question

Day 51: Revolution Friday and Day of Silence

Kelsey:
Song 1
Song 2
Presentation
Lyrics and Document

See two days ago for videos and presentation notes.

Day 50: Revolution Thursday

Sarah:
Video 1
Video 2
Document and Lyrics
Presentation

Jonathan
Presentation

Day 49: The French Revolution

1.  Review Mr. Nicholson's note.
2.  Video Part 2
3.  Video Part 3
2.  See presentation from Day 47.
3.  Video Part 4

Day 48 : Seminar

Eric: Seminar Outline and Question
        Document

Courtney and Nicole: Seminar Outline and Question
                                  Document

CHANGE OF PLAN
Courtney and Nicole will NOT present today.  Their seminar will be at a later date.
Your answer is STILL DUE today for BOTH original seminars.

Day 47: Revolution Monday

1.  Nicole and Sarah: Video 1
                                 Video 2
                                 Presentation
                                 Document

2.  Matt: Presentation

2.  Mr. Nicholson's French Revolution Intro

3.  French Revolution Overview

Day 44: French Revolution: An Introduction

1.  ABC's of Revolution
2.  Images of Revolution: Marat, Tennis Court Oath, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Storming of the Bastille,
the Guillotine
3.  Cell phone game
4.  Intro video

Day 43: Finish Movie

Finish the movie Man in the Iron Mask.

Day 42: Library

Work period on Rev in Music, Seminar or Essay.
Please email me with any questions.

Day 41: Ms. Nemat

Ms. Nemat will be in to speak with us today about her books Prisoner of Tehran and After Tehran.

Day 40: Getting ready for Ms. Nemat tomorrow

1.  What is an Ayatollah, intolerance, Evin
2.  History of Iran, 1978-2009 ... what is the bias seen here?  What ideas are introduced that you want further explanations of?
3.  Journalist who had been held in Evin ... why are the comments disabled?  What is your take on his experience?
4.  Dinner with Mom ... comments?
5.  Released from Evin ... comments?
6.  An overview of Prisoner of Tehran, by Ms. Nemat and CBS.
7.  A CBC interview Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Day 39: Movie day!

Watch "Man in the Iron Mask".

Day 38: Revolution Monday

Caitlin:
Video 1
Video 2
Presentation
Document

Shaelyne:
Presentation
Document
Video 1
Video 2

Day 37: Finish up the Philosophes

Recap of Wednesday: Satire Commercials 1 , 2,

1.  Presentation from your notes on Wednesday.
2.  Wrap up of the unit.
3.  Haunted House.

Day 35: Recap and Review

1.  Recap on yesterday: who is our absolute leader?  Why did he win?  Strategies? How was he as a leader?
2.  Presentation from two days ago: A Day in the life of Louis XIV.
3.  A finale of Philosophes: 5 facts, 1opinion, 1 significance
     a) In the groups below, find the philosophe you have been given, in the text, starting on page 142.
     b) On an overhead, write 5 facts about your philosophe.
     c)  Answer the question: How did __________'s idea(s) change the society in which he lived?
     d)  Where can we see his thoughts and ideas in our society today?
4.  Present to the class.

Groups:
Beccaria: p. 145: Kara, Jon, Caitlyn
Rousseau: p. 145: Shaelyn, Eric, Courtney
Smith: p. 146: Kelsey, Alex, Luke
Burke: P. 147: Sarah l., Kevin,  Nicole
Locke: Dallas, Sarah N., Megan
Voltaire:p. 143: Matt, Emma

Day 34: Absolute POKER

1.  Kingdoms: Their names, their king and his council.
2.  Do the following:

Instructions:

1.   In your kingdom groups, write 20 laws that you want your subjects to follow.

2.  Ensure that your laws cover topics such as economy, education, laws and punishments, the arts, the military and defense of your kingdom (among others you deem important).

3.  The King decides what goes on the page.  ONLY the king decides what shall be laws.

4.  The Secretary may NOT SPEAK or OFFER an opinion.  They must only write what they are told to write.

5.  wait for it ...

6.  wait for it ...

7.  wait for it ...

8.  Now, we all know that true power does not always lie with the leader.  Often advisors actually run the show.  THEREFORE,  

a.  The Secretary will now present three laws that fully encompass what their kingdom is all about.  This is the decision of the secretary ONLY.

b.  After the three laws have been explained, we will vote as to which kingdom in which we would most like to live.

9.  And now the game to the winner ... 5 card-Madelle poker.

Day 33: Absolutism and King Louis XIV

1.  What do you think of when you hear the word King?
2.  #1, #2, #3
3.  Video: An Overview of the life of Louis XIV
4.  Lecture 
5. Presentation: A Day in the life of the king.

Day 32: Les Philosophes

1.  What and how did the Philosophes change?
2.  Review notes from Tuesday.
3.  Get ready for our trip to the DALAI LAMA!

Day 31: Revolution Thursday

Eric Song 1: Lyrics
Eric Song 2: Lyrics
Eric Document
Eric Presentation

Megan and Alex
Song 1 &2: Lyrics
Document
Presentation

Day 30: Les Philosophes and Individual Interviews

1.  Continue to finish the work from yesterday, using the text.
2.  I will be by to speak with everyone about their upcoming due dates.

Day 29: The Enlightenment

1.  They said what???
2.  Introduction to the Enlightenment: Text Guide
3.  Les Philosophes

Homework:
Fill in date chart.  We will review these tomorrow.

Day 28: Martin Luther Seminar

Hand in your question at the beginning of the seminar.

Good luck everyone!

Day 27: Seminar Prep

Work in the library to prepare your seminar.

Day 26: Seminar Prep and Document Choice

1.  My seminar on the 95 Theses will be on MONDAY.  Please prep the document as discussed in class.  Answer the question given to you in order to hand it in on MONDAY at the beginning of the period.
2.  Your document for your seminar must be filled in on the spreadsheet by MONDAY.
3.  Start to prep your own document.

Day 25: Test and CHILEAN RESCUE!!!!!

Your first test.  Take your time, and write with conviction and understanding of the subjects.

Then we'll watch live coverage of the rescue of the Chilean miners.

Day 24: Seminar outline

1.  Seminar outline
2.  My seminar: 95 Theses
3.  Prep for test.
4.  Prep for seminar

Reminder:  Test tomorrow!

Day 23: Film and Review

1.  Finish the film Luther.
2.  Review notes.
2.  Review for the test on Wednesday ... go over review questions.  Please let me know if you have any questions about SIGNIFICANCE and how to prove it.

Day 22: Luther - the film

1.  Watch Luther.

Reminder: TEST next Wednesday.  Please prepare your review questions.

Day 21: Revolution Friday ... only it's Tuesday today!

Emma:
Song 1
Song 2
Presentation
Document

Dallas
Song 1
Song 2
Presentation
Document

Day 20: Test prep and Essay planning

1.  Essay prep questions: discuss and explain
2.  Library for Processfolio sheet 1

Tomorrow:
Revolution in song presentations

Day 19: Last of the Presentations

1.  King Henry VIII
2.  Da Vinci
2.  Discussion about yesterday.
3.  Essay planning

Day 18: Field Trip and ... wait for it .... ESSAY!

Field trip will leave at 10:45 am, and return at 3:15pm.

For the 40 minutes we have in class I will outline the major essay of the course.

Essay Outline
Rubric Evaluation
Annotated Bibliography
Processfolio Step 1
Conference #1
Conference #2

Day 17:Presentations

King Henry VIII
Queen Elizabeth I
Erasmus
Thomas More

Day 16: Presentations

Thomas More - Utopia
Thomas More - Presentation
Da Vinci
Machiavelli
Martin Luther

Day 15: The Reformation: A Revolution in Religion

1.  Reform: define, discuss.
2.  Video: An Introduction to WHY there was a reformation of the Catholic Church. (first 5 minutes)
3.  Presentation
4.  Notes during presentation
5.  Timeline

Day 13: Work Period and IMPORTANT DATES #2

In the Library!

Revolution Friday Presentations:

October 1: Dallas, Emma
October 15: Eric, Alex and Megan
October 28 (THURSDAY): Shaelyne, Courtney and Caitlyn
Nov. 12: Nicole and Sarah, Jonathan
Nov. 19: Sarah, Kelsey
Nov. 26: Matt and Mitchelle
Dec. 10: Kara, Luke and Kevin

Day 12: Work Period and IMPORTANT DATES

In the Library!

Here are the presentation dates for Famous Faces of the Renaissance:

Monday:
Shaelyne and Emma
Sarah and Kelsey
Megan and Courtney

Tuesday:
Eric
Caitlyn and Alex
Nicole and Sarah
Jonathan and Dallas

Wednesday:
Mitchell and Matt
Luke and Kevin
Kara

Day 11: Work Period

Work period today in the library lab.  Please ensure that you see me regarding your Revolution Friday project to let  me know your topic.
Presentations for Famous Faces of the Renaissance will begin on Monday.

Day 10: The Renaisance

1.  What do you think of when you hear the word Renaissance?
2.  Intro video
3.  Comments?
4.  Presentation Notes
5.  Project

Day 9: End of Animal Farm

1. Finish watching the movie.
2.  Chart
3.  Music Fridays: Songs of Revolution Project
4.  Evaluation
5.  Woman in the Wall
5.  Love the way you lie (clean)
6.  Presentation

 Schedule presentations

Day 8: Animal Farm

Watch the movie!

Day 6 and 7: Animal Farm

Thank you for reading during class time yesterday.  I look forward to discussing the idea of revolution in class tomorrow.

Today, as a result of the Terry Fox assembly, class will be cut short.  I encourage you to read to the end of chapter 10 for tomorrow.  We will them watch the movie and complete the chart.

Day 5: Revolution and Animal Farm

This course will be based around the idea of revolution; be they cultural, political or economic.

1.  Video: We Didn't Start the Fire
2.  Why is there revolution?  What are the characteristics of a revolutionist?
3.  Vocab: Utopia, Revolution, Capitalism, Anarchism
4.  Animal Farm Chart
5.  Read and takes notes on characters.

Homework:
1.  Please read to the end of chapter 5.

Day 4: How video enhances culture

1. 9/11
2.  JFK
3.  Princess Diana
4.  Obama
5.  MMVA
6.  Snow White
7.  Halo
8.  Columbine
9.  Charla Nash

Day 3: How dance imitates life

As we looked at yesterday, art is an essential way to record, revamp and invent history.  Today we will look at dance.

1.  Video
2.  What do you see in it?  Discussion.
3.  Dress-up
4.  Let's Dance!
5.  Field trip ideas
6.  In the News

Day 2: Introductions and Inventiveness

Order of the Day:
1. Look at yesterday's order of the day! Explain the blog.
2. Contact sheet.
3.  In the news.
4.  What does art tell us about history?
5.  Video
6.  Perception vs. Reality

Homework:
1.  Become a follower of the blog.

Day 1: WELCOME BACK!

It is lovely to see you in my class, and I look forward to your ideas and discussions this year.

Here is the order of the day:
1. Bigbeard's Hook
2. In the News
3. Contact Sheet
4. Course outline
5.  Agenda

Homework:
1.  Create a GMAIL account (free), using your real name (please no whitebunny@gmail.com)
2.  Become a follower of the blog.

Final Exam

Part 1:  ISMS
Match the definition with the ism.
If no definition is given, write a definition and then match it.

/10 matching
/8 definitions

Part B: 40 marks
Document justification:
I give you the criteria we wrote in class (radical, conservative, liberal) and you decide what KIND of document it is.  EXACTLY like the document test, with exact same marking.
CHOICE of 2 documents.

Part C: 12 marks
Choose 3 of 10.  Provide a definition and discuss the historical significance of it/him/her/the event.


Part D: 10 marks
Choose 2 of 3.  For each document excerpt outline the key
 concept/event/ideology involved and assess the historical significance.
MAXIMUM 1/2 page per response.

Part E: 18 marks
Read the document.  There is no choice.  Fill in the chart.
Part 1 of chart: Personal interpretation of the author's main idea. /3
Part 2 of chart: Write 3 questions the author is asking of you, the reader. (do not quote)
Part 3 of chart: Answers given to posed questions (in own words).
Part 4 of chart: Links to other major events/ideas/people ... sentence form, precise examples.

Enlightenment Notes and Video Links

Notes from class

Galileo 

Locke

Newton (first 2 minutes only)

Bacon

Today and LINK TO SEMINAR SCHEDULE

Here is the Seminar Schedule

Today you:
1) Finished the Famous Faces documents for presentations tomorrow
2) worked with me to prepare Machiavelli for next week's seminars

Tomorrow:
You will:
1) Present your Famous Faces documents
2) Prep Machiavelli

Machiavelli

Today you were introduced to Machiavelli.  Here is the video we watched in class.

Please complete the facts about each of the seven Famous Faces, and attempt the ideas of significance for tomorrow.
We will look at the Machiavelli seminar tomorrow in class.

Enjoy the day!

Good Monday Morning!

Thanks for your patience and questions in class today.  I hope nobody is scared off by the document package!  I am certain that it will be learning that will help you in uni!
Here are the notes from Thesis Writing 101.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Excellent first assignment!

Thank you to those of you have have completed both parts of the assignment.  I am VERY VERY impressed with your abilities to link major ideas in history with the concepts of revolution in Animal Farm.  I have to say WOW at the variety of choices of speeches.  WAY TO GO!

Here are the people who are missing one, or both parts of the assignment.  Please let me know when you have posted them, so that I may mark them.  I will be basing the letters of concern on missing assignments to this point.

Taylor B: response
Cassie: response
Tess: response
Jesse: response
Randy: response
Katelyn: response
Dustin: response
Lauren: response
Jessica: both parts
Emily: both parts (but I know you got the assignments late!)

Please let me know if I can help in any way.

Textbooks

Lauren: 2007-03
Jessica : 02 - 5
Katelyn: 2007-05
CC: book 16
Raven: 03 - 09
Kalsey: 2006-C
Amy: 2004-D-1
Tess: 2002/10
Emily: 02-10
Jesse: 03-10
Danny: 2002/09
Brandyn: Book 19
Randy: 2007-01
Dustin: 2004-B-B
Tia: 02-7
Taylor B: Book 18

Martin Luther

What faith is according to Luther?
- God's work in us
- Trust in God's grace
- A way of life
- Something you have faith in (enough) to be willing to die


What faith is NOT according to Luther:
- Not what some people think it is (a delusion)
- Just stating I believe but not doing anything with it
- Not doing only good deeds
- A human dream, but rather something created by God

1.  What is meant by "justification by faith"?
- Because of Christ's death, all sins can be forgiven
- Only need to BELIEVE in God to be saved, therefore do not have to pay for salvation

2.  Who can be a priest according to Luther?  According to the Catholic Church of the time?
- Everyone who believes can be a priest
- Cannot be: women, children, the poor, the undesirables

3.  What is the role of the Bible for Luther?  For the Church?
- For all to use for study
- A way to get to know God
- A true source of information regarding God
- CHURCH: a way to control people
- a way to justify their actions

4.  Main differences?
See above

Presentation 
You tube Video (part 1)

Week 2: Animal Farm Completed

Thank you for your great discussion in class today.
Here are the links to the national anthems you have chosen for your project.
Please remember that by start of class on Monday, you should have posted your responses to the speech assignment on the wiki.

Here is a copy of the national anthem assignment handed out in class today.  A reminder that we have agreed as a class that it is due on Friday.

I have changed a few national anthems below, as I can't find them all!  Please let me know if I can help in any way.

Lauren: New Zealand
Katelyn: China
Jessica: Israel
CC: Canada
Raven: Italy
Kalsey: Iran 1st
Tia: Germany
Amy: Slovenia
Tess: U.A.E.
Taylor B: U.S.
Taylor S: Brazil
Jesse: England
Danny: Poland
Brandyn:Lebanon
Randy: Peru
Dustin: France

Week 1: Well done everyone!

Thank you for the great discussion about the characters in Animal Farm. Your homework for this weekend is in three parts:

1) Read the three articles given in class and create a chart that identifies the 5 w's of each article.

2) Read to the end of Chapter 6 in Animal Farm. Continue to add to chart.

3) Check ouu the home pages of CNN, BBC, CBC, Al-Jezeera, and the ABC.  Try and do this daily.

Here is a link to an example of the speech assignment.  Thank you Cara!

Enjoy your weekend!

Today's Videos

In case you want a refresher on what we watched, here are the videos! Enjoy ... and remember that revolution does not always involve violence.

Thriller

Only You

Do You Hear the People Sing

Hammer to Fall

September

Susan Boyle

The Beatles - Revolution

Welcome ... and the A-Z of Revolutions

Welcome all!  By the end of today, I want to you all to be following this blog.  Thanks!

Here are the notes from today ...

Revolution A-Z

A- American, Anarchy, Abraham Lincoln, Angry Ancients
B- Bacon, Barbaric, Beatles, Bolshevik, Bentham
C- Change, Colonialism, Communism, Caesar, Conflict
D- Destruction, Democracy, D-Day, Determination
E- Enemies, Experience, Equality
F- French, Freedom, Fidel Castro
G- Germany, Greed, Gaius Marius, General Lee, Gandhi
H- Haiti, Hellish, Holocaust, Hitler
I- Imperialism, Industrial Revolution, Iraq
J- July 4th, John Locke, Jail, Justice
K- Knowledge, Killing
L- Loyalists, Lies, Lama Dalai, lack of freedom
M- Money, Monarch, Martin Luther (King), Mother Theresa, Marat
N- Napoleon, Newton
O- October, Oppression, Oprah, Obama, Obedience
P- Portugal, Political Science, Power, Pain, Peaceful Protests
Q- Queen Elizabeth
R- Russian, Rebellion, Religion, Revolt, Reason, Recession
S- Slavery, Santa?, Spanish, Shakespeare, Seventeen Eighty-Nine, Sherlock Holmes
T- Tyranny, Tyrant, Technology, Tragedy, Tsunami, Traitors, Time
U- Ulysses S. Grant, Utilitarianism
V- Violence, Victims, Vengeance, Vendetta, Voting
W- War, Witches, World, Women’s Rights, Workers Rights
X- ?
Y- Young Soldiers,
Z- Zoos

Documents

Thanks to Cindy for typing up the list we did in class regarding the documents we have read this year.  Please don't forget to review the 7 French Revolution documents, in addition to The Prince, and the South American Bolivar document.
Please don't hesitate to see me with any question.


95 Theses
Written by Martin Luther
Anti-clericalism, Deism
Freedom of religion

Origin of Species
Charles Darwin
Evolutionism
Survival of the fitness

On liberty
John Stuart Mil
Utilitarianism, Liberalism
Personal freedoms

Communist Manifesto
Carl Marx
Marxism, Socialism
Communism

The Divine Rights of Kings
James I
Absolutism
Kings are chosen by god

Social Darwinism
Harvard Spencer
Survival of the fitness in the society

Wealth of Nation
Adam Smith
Capitalism, Laissez-fideism
Invisible hand concept

Subjection of Women
John Stuart Mill
Feminism, Utilitarianism

The King Must Die
Robespierre
Rationalism, Radicalism

*Principle of Population*
Thomas Malthus
Social Darwinism

Nationality
Lord Acton
Nationalism

Social Contract
John Jacque Rousseau
Free willism, socialism
Unwritten laws of being nice

Accounts of WWII
Fascism, Radicalism, Isolationism
Nazis suck

Mein Kampf
Hitler
Socialism, Nazism

The Prince
Machiavelli
Absolutism
Better to be feared than loved

The Color of Money
Theism, Darwinism
De Las Casas
Slavery

The Right of man
Thomas Paine
Liberalism, Enlightened Despotism

Vindication of the Rights of Woman
Mary Wollstonecraft
Define the Ism

I'll be at school ...

If you heard the rumour that I went home sick today, that is true.  BUT the seminar will still run tomorrow!  I'll be certain to be at school for periods 1 and 2!

If I arrive a few minutes after the bell, please forgive my tardiness, as I have a school event before the day starts.

Enjoy your night, and please be certain to work on your national anthem/Animal Farm assignment due on Monday.

Your definitions ...

Please forgive any anti-americanism in this comic ...
I would like you to consider how differently we all see events in history ... just as you all wrote different defintions for the same words!  Personal interpretation is essential in deciding how history has played out.

Here are the defintions you wrote as a class last week.  We will do this exercise again this week.  In preparation for the exam, please be certain you can provide a definition of the isms we have discussed in class.  Pick a few isms each night and do this exercise at home.

Communism:
1) The direct unification of the proletarian class into a political power that directly advocates through all actions and policies for the betterment of the proletariat as a whole.

2)A left-wing political belief of where all the wealth of a country is shared amongst its people.  True communism has no leadership, as all citizens are equal.

3) The idea that government should be operated by and for the working class of people, making each person equal to the next.  No rich, no poor, universal wages and benefits were a goal never perfected.  The idea is adopted from theories of socialism and marxism.

Revolution:
1) A singular uprising, stimulated by an enlightenment of the proletariat, that aims to make known the thoughts, feelings and wishes of the suppressed class; to overthrow, sometimes with physical force and societal violence, the oppressive holding power to initiate desired changes in society.

2) New ideas of change are brought forth and people stand against old ways.  The revolt overtakes the old ways and new ones begin.

3) The uprising/revolt of the people in an area to bring about a much needed change.  Generally triggered by war, starvation and failing economy or government.  The action itself is usually a violent protest in large numbers of supporters.

Animal Farm: part 1

What a great discussion in class!  Thank you!  Many thanks to Albert for his excellent rendition of Old Major's speech!

Here are the links for the YouTube Russian Revolution videos.  Please review them if you are not comfortable with the events of the revolution.
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3

Read chapter 2 tonight for a discussion in class tomorrow.  Please feel free to read chapter 3 as well, as it will be your homework tomorrow!
A reminder that your first Animal Farm assignment is due AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS on Friday.  You will be signing it in with Mrs. Boychuk.

In response to the question of the character Napoleon in the book, here is what I have found during my research and interpretation of the character.
The character of Napoleon is indeed Joseph Stalin, the second leader of the Soviet Union. Animal Farm appears to skip the (comparatively) short rule of Lenin (and seems to combine Lenin with the character Old Major), and has Napoleon leading the farm from the beginning of the revolution.  This is more in line as the book deals with the Russian Revolution almost up until WWII.


Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Russian Revolution Intro

Here are a few notes that we spoke of today in class in regards to the text reading (pg. 386-391).

The RR had its root in the Russians' desire for a more progressive and industrial country. 
As Russia was still mostly a peasant land, it was not benefitting from the surge of industrialism in other parts of the developped world.  Czar Nicholas II (1868-1917) fired the finance minister that had been in charge when strikes and protest occured.
The Czar was considered a weak leader, who could not make decisions.
After the Russo-Japanese war, the Czar granted the people a constitution and the right to elect a parliament.  This was not done because it ws the right thing to do, but rather because he was trying to avoid revolution.
The Czar had a son, Alexis, who was next in line to the throne. 
Russia entered WWI, and the Czar took control of the army.
Russia sufferered major casualties in 1916.  This made the Russians unhappy with their Czar (they blamed him) and put stress on the working class, as so many people had died.  Women worked long hours.
Many soldiers went AWOL from the Russian army, and lived on the run from the law, however they were not being actively pursued.
March 8, 1917: International Women's Day: march looking for peace and bread turned into a riot, and then a revolt.  The military was called to calm the crowd, but they were unable.
Nicholas could not restore order and chose to abdicate. The Romanoc dynasty had come to an end.
Gov't power now in two different groups:
1.  The DUMA: who had been elected, mostly middle class, wanted liberal reforms
2. The Soviets (the council): large assemblies of delegates, elected by the people (like the 3rd estate) who wanted socialist ideas.
Both groups wanted to continue in the war.

Now read on the Lenin part ... notes to follow tomorrow.

EXAM: TUESDAY JAN. 26.