A. Slavs were Russia�s first people
B. Muscovy was made an independent territory by Ivan III
C. Muscovy was ruled by czars
D. As the czars conquered more land, a large Russian Empire formed
E. In the late 1800s Russia began to industrialize
F. Vladimir Lenin set up a communist state after a Russian Revolution in 1917
G. Russia�s capital was moved to Moscow by the communists
H. The USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), which contained Russia and many of the territories in the Russian Empire, was formed by the communists
I. Under communist rule, the Soviet Union became one of the most powerful nations in the world
J. The United States and the Soviet Union waged a cold war against each other
K. In 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev became leader of the USSR and let go of some of the communist ways
L. In 1991, the republics of the Soviet Union declared independence from the USSR
IV. Russia Today
A. Market Economy
1. Good for Russia
a. People can own their own businesses
b. People can choose what is made
2. Bad for Russia
a. Higher prices make it hard to buy necessities
b. People can now become unemployed
B. Environment is very polluted due to the lack of environmental protection during the era of communism
C. Life expectancy has decreased due to environmental pollutants
D. Government is a federal republic
E. City life is booming and has caused the development of suburbs
F. Russians may now practice any religion they wish with the largest group practicing the Eastern Orthodox Christian faith
G. The current president of Russia is Vladimir Putin