Russia and the Eurasian Republics
By Sophie Billbe
Russia and the Eurasian Republics contain a wide variety of natural resources, as well as geographical features. They take up around one-sixth of the land on Earth. The historical background of these places is very interesting to learn about.
A Communist Government?
The Bolsheviks, (leaders of the Russian Revolution) wanted a
communist Government and a socialist economic system. Communism is a system of social organization in which all economic and social activity is controlled by a single political party. Socialism is a theory of social organisation that advocates the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution. The Bolsheviks wanted to end private ownership of land. From 1927 to 1953, Josef Stalin was in command of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was the union of soviet socialist republics. Stalin's government isolated the people. The U.S. went to war in Vietnam and Korea to try to prevent communism during the 1950s and 60s. Later, under Michail Gorbachev's rule, the Soviet Union collapsed. Republics gained independence once again.
Trans-Siberian Railroad
The Trans-Siberian Railroad is the longest continuous railroad in the world. Trans-Siberian means, across Siberia. This railroad began construction in 1891 and now connects Moscow and Vladivostok. During construction, people were enlisted to work hard, difficult labor. Enlisted means to volunteer for military service. Climate and terrain made progress difficult on the railroad. Terrain is the physical features of the land. Sometimes, workers had to lay tracks across permafrost, or permanently frozen ground. Today, the Trans-Siberian Railroad carries passengers and goods across Siberia.
Chernobyl
In 1986, a horrific accident took place in the city of Chernobyl. A nuclear power plant exploded, releasing tons of radiation. Radiation is the energy caused by the breakdown of atoms. Winds carried fallout into parts of Europe. Fallout is radioactive particles from a nuclear explosion that fall through the atmosphere. All the radiation from the explosion cause harm and injury to humans, plants, and animals. Contaminated, or infected areas around Chernobyl affected many people. Three months after the explosion, thirty people died. It also caused thyroid cancer, especially children. Today, many people still live on contaminated land. Radiation will remain in the soil for many years in the future. Chernobyl has made us more careful with nuclear power plants.