The Collapse Of The Soviet Union Flashcards
What was Gorbachev seen as ?
The darling of the west
This is because he was widely respected for his willingness to reform and the fact that his policies encouraged the break up of Eastern Europe
How was Gorbachev seen by the Soviet Union ?
He was seen as a villain by many
What was Gorbachev awarded in 1990?
The Nobel peace prize
How were Gorbachevs policies treated in the Soviet Union ?
With suspicion with lead to increasing criticism of him
- This lead to members of the communist party to believe Perestroika and glasnost had weakens communism rather than reviving it
What happens on 19 August 1991?
A group of senior communist government officials organized a coup to remove Gorbachev from power
Did the coup work ?
Briefly for three days as the new government declared a stage of emergency and a removal of perestroika and glasnost
However this government only lasted three days
Who was crucial to retaking the government from the new government ?
Boris Yeltsin
He described the new government as illegal and called upon the people of Moscow to resist it
When did Gorbachev return to power?
21 August 1991
However the coil had damaged the authority of Gorbachev and made Yeltsin a hero
What was Gorbachevs final attempt to save the Soviet Union?
Introduction of a new constitution which would give soviet republics such as Latvia and Ukraine much greater independence
Did this introduction of a new constitution work ?
No as these counties wanted full independence
What did the many nationalist and groups want ?
They saw how the satellite states had been able to break away from Moscow and wanted the same
What happens in 1990 and when was this accepted ?
The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuanian declared themselves as independent which was accepted by Moscow in 1991
What did the acceptance of the Baltic states lead to ?
Demands for more independence
What were the fears ?
Many feared that the country was about disintegrate and Gorbachev found that he was opposed by most sections of society
What did Gorbachev do as a result of the fears ?
Announced the dissolution of the Soviet Union and his resignation on 25 December 1991
Leading to the Soviet Union to split into several independent states
