Cultural Geography

Tuesday, November 28th

 Warm Up
Seterra Team Challenge
Russia
 Russia
History and Government
Soviet Rule
In 1922, Lenin succeeded in creating the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
(USSR).
They had several republics under
communism.
 Russia
History and Government
Soviet Rule
Lenins successor, Josef Stalin, extended
communism through Eastern Europe.
After WWII, the U.S. and U.S.S.R were
at odds as the Soviet Union wanted to
extend communism and the U.S. wanted
to preserve capitalism.
 Russia
History and Government
Soviet Rule
The tensions between the U.S. and the
U.S.S.R were called the Cold War.
Both countries built up nuclear weapons,
fearing that the other country would
attack.
 Russia
History and Government
Soviet Collapse
In the 1980s, the Soviet Union was
struggling economically and politically.
Mikhail Gorbachev, the premier, wanted
to stabilize the Soviet Union and
instituted new reforms.
 Russia
History and Government
Soviet Collapse -
Perestroika restructuring. Free-
market reforms, private property
ownership.
Glasnost openness. Opened
relationships and trading with the West.
http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/perestroika-
and-glasnost
 Russia
History and Government
Soviet Collapse -
Everything collapsed between 1989-1991
as the republics in the Soviet Union
declared independence.
Boris Yeltsin, president of Russia, formed
the Commonwealth of Independent
States.
 Russia
History and Government
Soviet Collapse -
Yeltsin resigned in 1999 and Vladmir
Putin took over.
Putin increased the power of the
president and created a more centralized
government.
 Russia
History and Government
A Nation in Transition
The Soviet Union didnt manage their
resources or environment and has left
many countries struggling.
Nuclear waste, air pollution, health care.
Organized crime, murder, political
corruption.
 Russia
History and Government
Federation government
Devolution passing down or de-
evolution of power.
Under communism, Moscow ruled
everything.
After the breakup of the U.S.S.R., local
governments have received more power.
 Russia
History and Government
Federation government
U.S. states
Russia - oblasts, okrugs, krais, and
autonomous republics.
 Russia
History and Government
Federation government
Oblasts large region similar to a state.
Russia has 49 oblasts, 1 autonomous.
Okrugs northern, sparsely populated.
Krais territories governed by Moscow.
autonomous republics 21 ethnic areas
that are self-governing.
 Russia
History and Government
Federation government
Vladmir Putin grouped political divisions
into 7 federal districts based on
geography.
Allows Russia to govern Russia more
effectively.
 Russia
History and Government
Branches of Government
Today, Russia is called the Russian
Federation.
Most power resides in the executive the
president.
The president chooses a premier who runs
the government with the cabinet.
 Russia
History and Government
Branches of Government
1996 each oblast began electing its own
governor.
In 2005, Putin got authority to appoint
governors instead of elections.
He has held onto the presidency for 17
year.
 Russia
History and Government
Branches of Government
The Federation Assembly is the
legislature.
Federation Council upper house that has 2
representatives from each division.
State Duma lower house of elected officials.
Supreme Court highest court.
 Russia
Russian Orthodoxy
Dominant religion in Russia.
A branch of Eastern Orthodoxy.
Under the czars, the church had a lot of
influence and authority.
Under communism, it was persecuted.
 Russia
Russian Orthodoxy
Under the Soviet Union, many Russian
Christians were persecuted for their
faith.
Today, faith is more accepted, but there
are still many restrictions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOzBdx1S9v8
 Activity
7.3