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)
$270TOTAL:
$15Misc.
$25Income Tax
$30Recreation
$10Rent, utilities
$55Clothing
$135Food 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 two rooms
Government-funded apartments rented for tiny sums
4Georgians
4.2Tajiks
4.6Armenians
6.6Tatars
6.8Azerbaijanis
8.1Kazaks
10Belorussians
16.7Uzbeks
44.2Ukrainians
145.2 Russian
Population (millions)Nationalities
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.