LIFE UNDER COMMUNISM

By: Jasmine N. & Kaylin M.

Social Changes

Theory: communism created to form a classless society in which everyone’s needs were met.

Bolsheviks abolished old titles of nobility In result, they set out to

end the inequalities that existed under capitalism.

Czarist officials, landlords, and business owners lost their wealth and power.

The Party Elite New elite emerged Leaders of Communist party

became a privileged class Ordinary people waited in long

lines in stores whose shelves were empty

Party leaders shopped in special stores stocked with high-quality domestic and foreign goods Had access to best medical care Received new apartments Enjoyed vacations in summer

houses reserved for them Their children attended top

schools Their children were given good

jobs and graduated

The Party Elite Continued.. Less than 10% of Soviet

people belonged to the party

Many children joined communist youth groups that opened the way to future party membership

To join the party, people had to have recommendations from several party members and pass an investigation to make sure they held correct Communist attitudes and beliefs

Nationalities

Russification Tried to force everyone in the

empire to adopt the Russian language and culture

Russian was made official language of Soviet Union

Government encouraged Russians to settle in non-Russian republics

Schools emphasized communist beliefs over local traditions

Nationalism remained a strong force among the many peoples of the Soviet Union

Attacks on Religion

Communist government was hostile to all regions, since they competed with communism for peoples’ loyalty

Government used antireligious propaganda

Soviet government campaigned against the Russian Orthodox Church

It seized Church property and imprisoned and even executed some priests

Economic Life Soviet economic

system provided its citizens with several basic benefits Public transportation

was inexpensive Health care was free Basic food prices low Guaranteed every

individual a job Provided workers with

old age pensions

Shortages

Many goods remained in short supply

Families in city apartments had to share kitchens and bathrooms with their neighbors

Meat, fresh fruit, and vegetables were difficult to find

People spent most of their lives waiting in long ridiculous lines to buy food and other goods

Shortages continued..

Average person spent years on waiting list for a car

Soviet goods were poorly made

Black Market- people trade goods and services illegally in defiance of government rules

Shortages were common, government invested so much in military spending

Soviet economy was used for military goods in the country’s effort to keep up with the arms race during the Cold War

Education

After 1917, the Bolsheviks worked hard to provide education for everyone

By 1960’s Soviet Union had virtually ended illiteracy

All Soviet children received at least eight years of schooling

In large cities children attended school for ten years

By fifth grade students learned English

Education continued..

Emphasized math and science

Government felt that these subjects were essential to a modern industrial nation

By 7th grade students have already studied geometry, algebra, biology, chemistry, and physics

Male students in 9th and 10th grade began taking military training

In reality, Soviet schools were a propaganda machine for the government

Family Life After 1917, the

Communists simplified marriage and divorce laws

Instead of having church weddings, couples married at government offices

Getting a divorce was easy, and the divorce rate soared as a result

The government hoped to replace close family ties with loyalty to the state

Urbanization led to smaller families