Collapse of the USSR and the resignation of Gorbachev

Question 1

How did Gorbachev’s reforms influence the collapse of the USSR?

Answer 1

Reforms of perestroika and glasnost unintentionally weakened communist control

Question 2

What four major reasons influenced the collapse of the USSR?

Answer 2

-Economic stagnation
-Political unrest
-Nationalist movements
-Reforms

Question 3

Who declared independence from the USSR in 1990?

Answer 3

February 1990 Lithuania
March 1990 Estonia
May 1990 Latvia

Question 4

How did the Soviets make a last attempt to regain control in January 1991?

Answer 4

Sent troops to Lithuania and Latvia, killing 12 people in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius

Question 5

What attempt was there to overthrow Gorbachev in August 1991?

Answer 5

Coup to overthrow Gorbachev set in place by communist hardliners who felt Gorbachev’s policies had failed
-Coup failed but Gorbachev’s position never the same again

Question 6

When did Gorbachev resign as General Secretary of the Party?

Answer 6

24th August 1991

Question 7

What was the Commonwealth of Independent States?

Answer 7

Created in December 1991
-Leaders of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine met an Minsk

Question 8

What was the process of Gorbachev’s resignation?

Answer 8

26th December 1991 USSR Supreme Soviet voted to dissolve itself and formally end existence of Soviet Union
-The next day Yeltsin seized Gorbachev’s office in the Kremlin