Why did the USSR collapse in the 1990's?

Gorbachev's Reforms

1.) Glasnost 2.) More Open Emigration 3.) Perestroika 4.) Decentralized Government 5.) Democratization 6.) Foreign Policy

Why was Communism collapsing in the USSR by the 1980's

1.) economics 2.) wasteful military Involvement 3.) Human rights 4.) rising nationalism in Eastern Europe and the Baltic States and among ethnic groups within USSR

in what sections did Gorbachev fail?

1.)Economic collapse: 2.) Political upheaval: 3.) Military weakness:

More Open Emigration

400,000 Soviet Jews were allowed to leave People felt freer and less frustrated. Critics were removed and relations with other countries improved

Wasteful Military Involvement

A huge defense budget took resources away from civilians/consumer goods and drained the domestic economy

What was the August coup d'état?

A state committee of Communist Party hardliners who were unhappy with Gorbachev demanded his resignation as President of the Soviet Union: hundreds of tanks poured into Moscow in an effort to push Boris Yeltsin from power

Poor Leadership

Aging old time Communist leaders like Brezhnev were difficult to replace

Foreign Policy

Arms control agreements signed with President Ronald Reagan Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty (1987): Banned nuclear missiles with ranges of 300-3,400 miles

What did Gorbachev do with glasnost?

Censorship was lessened. Russians were able to speak out more openly. Writers, artists, film makers and politicians could criticize the government. Churches reopened

Human Rights

Critics/dissidents were imprisoned, exiled or killed This led to a "brain drain" and killed morale - brain drain = when skilled & talented people leave the country b/c don't have opportunity

Overall result

Declining production, shortages, poor quality goods, rising unemployment and a low standard of living

What was a result of communism?

Entrepreneurship, innovation and the profit incentive were killed. People stopped working hard or competing. Russian companies could not compete on the world market Foreign direct investment - which would have brought capital and technology - was limited

Why he did this?

Freedom of ideals/information would make people more loyal to the Soviet Union Economic reform makes you more loyal

How is Gorbachev seen today?

Gorbachev is loved in the West (even today) but is hated in Russia today. Communist hardliners consider him a traitor while reformers feel he never went far enough

Gorbachev Fails

Gorbachev's reforms were not enough. By opening the lid, all the anger/frustration spilled out

What did Mikhail Gorbachev want?

He recognized the danger of collapse; his goal was to reform Communism and to hold the USSR together

What did the USSR do in 1978?

In 1978, the USSR invaded Afghanistan - leading to many deaths in a war that was perceived as wasteful and unnecessary - arms race is taking a toll on USSR.

Democratization

In 1987 Gorbachev called for the creation of a new legislative body in which voters would participate in free and open elections where they would choose from a list of candidates for offices

Who did people turn to instead?

In June 1991, voters elected Boris Yeltsin: to be Russia's first democratically elected president. Gorbachev remained as head of the Communist Party and President of the Soviet Union.

Who became the head of the USSR?

Mikhail Gorbachev

Glasnost

Openness

Decentralized Government

People in the USSR's ethnic regions were given more power to run their local region: religion, education, taxes, culture and city services. People again felt less frustrated and more free

How did the coup lead to the fall of the Soviet Union?

The failed August Coup led to the collapse of the Soviet Union Russian republics realized Russia's weakness and declared their independence By December 1991, 15 republics had declared independence 10 former republics agreed to form a loose confederation

Rising Nationalism in Eastern Europe & the Baltic States & Among Ethnic groups within USSR

The people of Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania wanted an end to Soviet occumpation and control

Why couldn't Gorbachev put all his critics down by force?

The people would not support the use of force anymore. The army would not support the discredited communist leaders anymore

What happened in Moscow?

Yeltsin emerged from his office at the Russian parliament, climbed on top on top of a Soviet tank and declared: "We proclaim all decisions and decrees of this this committee to be illegal... We appeal to the citizens of Russia to...demand a return of the country to normal constitutional developments."

Boris Yeltsin

a Communist reform mayor of Moscow -

What did the Cold War end with?

a US/Western victory The US emerged as the only world superpower.

What was the result?

a loss of power abroad and at home.

coup d'état

a sudden seizure of power; blow to the state

Why was foreign policy necessary

bc Gorbachev recognized the Soviet economy and could not compete with the US in an arms race

Why was this needed

command economy can be inefficient. Individuals don't have an incentive to work hard

Economic collapse:

corruption and mismanagement by unskilled/untrained managers and workers who were unable to work in a more competitive marketplace

Perestroika

economic restructuring Gorbachev lessened government control of the economy. Managers and workers were paid according to productive and profits. Managers were to make decision s regarding production, pricing and marketing Farmers were to keep some of their production for sale into the free market

Political upheaval:

ethnic groups within the USSR rebelled and demanded independence. Easter European stated demanded the same full independence.

Emigration

leaving someplace

What was a high percentage of output tied to?

military equipment, nuclear weapons and foreign aid

What did the state committee do?

ordered the troops to attack Yeltsin and Parliament - they refused.

What happened with Russia's control over its Eastern European satellites?

steadily weakened between 1989-1991 The Russian army was unwilling to fight

What happened with Eastern European countries?

teadily gained their independence Hungary: Soviet occupation ended in June 1991 Poland: last Soviet troops left in 1993 Germany: Berlin Wall falls in November 1989; Germany was officially reunified on October 30, 1990.

What programs did Mikhail Gorbachev want?

that helped keep the USSR united and the Communists in power

Military weakness:

the USSR had no money to match the US' increase in military spending under Reagan ($2 trillion). The Soviets were unable to finance the war in Afghanistan and general upkeep, desertions became more widespread

What did this mean?

the end of communism in Russia

Under communism__________

the state owns all farms and factories All management decisions were made by government central planners Wages were low and set by the government

What did the ethnic nationalities of the USSR want?

wanted independence This was nothing new but coupled with reasons #1-3 weakened the USSR and encouraged Eastern Europeans and ethinc groups within the USSR to act more boldly

What was the goal?

was economic growth more job and higher wages but the government still owned all the property.

How did this reflect on Yeltsin?

was the man of the hour. Troops were withdrawn from Moscow. Gorbachev resigned. The Parliament voted to stop all Communist Party activities.