Collapse of the USSR Flashcards
Why was Gorbachev in a threatened position after 1989?
Hard-line communists blamed him for losing control of Eastern Europe and threatening Soviet security. His position became worse when Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia declared themselves independent of the USSR in 1990 - for which the hardliners also blamed Gorbachev.
What happened to Gorbachev in 1991?
Hard-line communists performed a coup to remove him from authority. He continued in his position, but with very weak authority.
When was the coup which attempted to remove Gorbachev from authority?
1991.
What happened after hard-line communists performed a coup which attempted to remove Gorbachev from authority?
Boris Yeltsin (president of the Soviet republic of Russia), who had once famously stood on a tank, rallying in support of Gorbachev, supported him again and rallied the people of Moscow to oppose the coup.
After the coup, Gorbachev continued in his position, but with very weak authority. What f
The USSR was being held together by thin thread. 12 (out of 15) premiers of the Soviet republics took advantage of Gorbachev’s weakness, joining together in a Commonwealth of Independent States.
What did Gorbachev do after 12 of the premiers of the Soviet republics joined together in a Commonwealth of Independent States?
He couldn’t continue under these circumstances; on Christmas day, 1991, he announced his resignation.
What followed from Gorbachev’s resignation?
It was followed by the breakup of the USSR. The country of which Moscow was capital became Russia, Boris Yeltsin becoming its president.
