The Collapse of the The Collapse of the Soviet UnionSoviet Union

AimAim: How did internal issues lead to the : How did internal issues lead to the collapse of the Soviet Union?collapse of the Soviet Union?

Do NowDo Now: How did Gorbachev’s policies : How did Gorbachev’s policies impact the Soviet Union politically? impact the Soviet Union politically?

socially? economically?socially? economically?

Unrest in the Soviet UnionUnrest in the Soviet Union

As Eastern Europe gained freedom from the As Eastern Europe gained freedom from the Soviet Union, various nationalities in the Soviet Soviet Union, various nationalities in the Soviet Union began to call for their independenceUnion began to call for their independence

More than 100 ethnic groups lived in the Soviet More than 100 ethnic groups lived in the Soviet UnionUnion

Russians were the largest, most powerful groupRussians were the largest, most powerful group Non-Russians formed the majority in the 14 Non-Russians formed the majority in the 14

Soviet republics other than RussiaSoviet republics other than Russia Nationalist groups in Georgia, Ukraine, and Nationalist groups in Georgia, Ukraine, and

Moldavia demanded self-ruleMoldavia demanded self-rule The Muslim peoples of Soviet Central Asia called The Muslim peoples of Soviet Central Asia called

for religious freedomfor religious freedom

The Dissolution of the Soviet The Dissolution of the Soviet Union (1991)Union (1991)

As the nationalistic spirit spread to other As the nationalistic spirit spread to other Soviet republics, Gorbachev sought to end Soviet republics, Gorbachev sought to end the growing conflictthe growing conflict

He began negotiating a new Treaty of Union He began negotiating a new Treaty of Union with the leaders of the republicswith the leaders of the republics

On the eve of signing the treaty, in August On the eve of signing the treaty, in August 1991, Communist hard-liners staged a coup 1991, Communist hard-liners staged a coup d’etat d’etat

The conspirators sought to return the Soviet The conspirators sought to return the Soviet Union to its condition before Gorbachev, Union to its condition before Gorbachev, when the Communist government was in when the Communist government was in control and the army was used to put down control and the army was used to put down independence movementsindependence movements

The Dissolution of the Soviet The Dissolution of the Soviet Union (continued)Union (continued)

The coup lacked popular support and quickly The coup lacked popular support and quickly collapsed collapsed

The Communist Party, which had supported the The Communist Party, which had supported the coup, was completely discreditedcoup, was completely discredited

Gorbachev recognized the independence of Gorbachev recognized the independence of Lithuania and the other Baltic StatesLithuania and the other Baltic States

In December of 1991, Russia, Belarus, and In December of 1991, Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine declared independence and formed the Ukraine declared independence and formed the new Commonwealth of Independent States new Commonwealth of Independent States (C.I.S.)(C.I.S.)

Other former republics soon joinedOther former republics soon joined Only the Baltic states and Georgia refused to joinOnly the Baltic states and Georgia refused to join

Yeltsin Denounces GorbachevYeltsin Denounces Gorbachev

As Mikhail Gorbachev became less As Mikhail Gorbachev became less popular, many Soviet citizens looked to popular, many Soviet citizens looked to Boris Yeltsin for guidanceBoris Yeltsin for guidance

In June 1991, Yeltsin became the Russian In June 1991, Yeltsin became the Russian Republic’s first directly elected presidentRepublic’s first directly elected president

Yeltsin criticized Gorbachev’s reforms Yeltsin criticized Gorbachev’s reforms and policiesand policies

On Christmas Day 1991, Gorbachev On Christmas Day 1991, Gorbachev resigned as president of the Soviet Unionresigned as president of the Soviet Union

Yeltsin’s ReformsYeltsin’s Reforms

Boris Yeltsin implemented reforms to Boris Yeltsin implemented reforms to solve Russia’s economic problems:solve Russia’s economic problems:Introduction of a free market systemIntroduction of a free market systemEnded price controls on most goodsEnded price controls on most goodsBegan to privatize state-owned Began to privatize state-owned

businessesbusinesses

Economic Problems ContinueEconomic Problems Continue

Despite Yeltsin’s reforms, the Despite Yeltsin’s reforms, the Russian economy failed to improveRussian economy failed to improveHigh unemploymentHigh unemploymentPoor healthcarePoor healthcareMalnutrition and food shortagesMalnutrition and food shortagesinflationinflation