SOVIET UNION (USSR) FALL OF THE

BACKGROUND } PROBLEMS FACING THE USSR

▸  Non-Russian ethnic groups not assimilating

▸  Communist planned economy unable to meet demands of its nation

▸  Ideology of Communism never fully took hold of the Russian citizens.

AFTER WWII

▸  The Cold War

▸  Natural resources put towards the Nuclear Arms Race

▸  Economic stagnation

▸  Political stagnation

MIKHAIL GORBACHEV

Elected President of the USSR in March 1985

GORBACHEV’S REFORMS

PERESTROIKA (“RESTRUCTURING”)

▸  Opened up the economy to enterprise

▸  Encouraged international businesses to come into Russia and joint ventures

▸  Government still set prices and controlled many forms of production

GORBACHEV’S REFORMS

GLASNOST (“OPENNESS” OR “TRANSPARENCY”)

▸  Multi-candidate elections

▸  Stopped military intervention to control satellite regions

RESULTS OF GORBACHEV’S REFORMS

▸  Many satellite countries began clamoring for independence

▸  1987 - Estonia’s government demands autonomy

▸  Beginning a trend for satellite countries to claim independence

“MR GORBACHEV - TEAR DOWN THIS WALL”

President Ronald Reagan

TEXT

THE COUP

▸  August 1991

▸  Communist group kidnapped Gorbachev

▸  Announced Gorbachev was ill and unable to govern

▸  Massive protests —> Communists called out the military

▸  Military join protesters

▸  Coup surrenders after 3 days

TEXT

RESULTS

▸  Gorbachev resigned on December 25, 1991

▸  USSR dissolved by Jan. 1992

▸  15 independent nations emerge from the USSR