The Soviet Union was formed in December 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 destroyed From half of the urban population was on police lists Known as The Great Terror 5% of the people were arrested Found themselves waiting on the death penalty or en route to a Gulag (Soviet Labor Camp)

$270TOTAL: $15Misc. $25Income Tax $30Recreation $10Rent, utilities $55Clothing $135FoodSoviet 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 145.2Russian 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 activity Led 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 18 th 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.