LIFE UNDER COMMUNISM By: Jasmine N. & Kaylin M.
Feb 23, 2016
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