The Soviet Union was formed in December 1922.

Founded by Vladimir Lenin and other zealots on the premise it would become a political and economic prototype other countries would soon copy

Prospects would decline as Josef Stalin followed as predecessor and governed in an increasingly tyrannical manner

Most known for his development of SU state-owned economy, its emergence as a nuclear-armed superpower, and its acquisition of satellite states in astern Europe

Led bruising political purges and repressions that killed or imprisoned millions of people.

Communist Party goal was to forge the classless, communist society that German political theorist Karl Marx had sketched in the 19th century

In order to produce this “perfect society” Stalin felt that all external and more importantly internal enemies had to be destroyedFrom 1934- 1938 half of the urban population was on police lists

Known as The Great Terror5% of the people were arrestedFound themselves waiting on the

death penalty or en route to a Gulag (Soviet Labor

Camp)

Food $135

Clothing $55

Rent, utilities $10

Recreation $30

Income Tax $25

Misc. $15

TOTAL: $270

Soviet citizens continued to be the subjects of surveillance

Always required to carry their passports

Living conditions greatly decreased under Stalin

15% of families lived in a single room

47% lived in to rooms

Government-funded apartments rented for tiny sums

Nationalities Population (millions)

Russian 145.2

Ukrainians 44.2

Uzbeks 16.7

Belorussians 10

Kazaks 8.1

Azerbaijanis 6.8

Tatars 6.6

Armenians 4.6

Tajiks 4.2

Georgians 4

No official language however Russian was preferred in regards to the government and economics

“The life of youth is strongly influenced by the state. The government provides daytime nursery schools for the very young and organizes thoroughgoing physical

fitness program” (Thayer 126).

The inauguration of Stalin’s first Five-Year Plan in 1928 tightened political controls over cultural

activityLed to a censorship in all arts

Believed the only precept for creative ideas was “socialist realism”

Only themes that contribute to strengthening socialism

500 professional theaters which included 35 for opera and ballet

Ballet is the supreme example of Russian achievement in performing arts

Moscow Bolshoi Theater is the pride of all Russians

Tradition dates back to the 18th century when Catherine the Great brought Italian choreographer Angiolini to St. Petersburg to teach imperial dance

Russia has also given the world some of its greatest musicians/composers

Works were frequently banned during Stalin’s era

Included: Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shostakovich, Aram Khachaturyan

In the 1930’s Stalin began to cut down on the free expression of ideas

All prominent writers had to join the Union of Writers which controlled literary intelligentsia

Writers included: Vladimir Dudintsev, Yuri Trionov, Yevgeny Yevtusheknko, Vasily Aksenov

As their world was drastically changing around them, they still tried to keep some traditions alive.

Easter or ‘Paskha’ represents the major Russian religious celebration of the year

Could not be eliminated by the communists

Celebrated with special bread called Paskha and colored Easter eggs

Usually celebrated at a later date than in the West

Spend all day on the Saturday before in church

Common practice to visit cemeteries and bring eggs, Paskha, and beer to gravesites

Most popular Russian souvenir that dates back to the 1800’s

First created by a man named Murmantov

Approximately 50% of Soviet Citizens identified themselves with Russian Orthodox Church

The center of faith for devout Russins for 6 centuries has been the Monastery of the Holy Trinity and St. Serguis in Zagorsk

Church art shone above all other forms

Characteristic onion-shaped domes of Orthodox churches were developed by native architects.