R is for Russia

I wish this post could be one of those long and elaborate posts where I show how worldly and wise I am...yeah, not gonna happen.

Nope, this post is here to show my pure ignorance and to ask for some help!

When I was in elementary school there was a place on our maps in our history books called Russia. Before too long we were told we had to call it the U.S.S.R because Russia wasn't politically correct. Being the excellent social studies student I was, I promply forgot why we had to not call it Russia, but called it the U.S.S.R. anyway. Over time, though I don't know any specifics, it seems that Russia became much more divided, unlike its shiny new name suggested. Now we are back to calling some of the former Soviet Union Russia.

So here's where you can help. Tell me what happened! Oh sure, I could wikipedia it, I could google it, but I want a simple, watered down answer from someone who knows so I can go on with my life, but still have a little knowledge. So someone, please, make me more globally aware!