1.5d How far was Gorbachov responsible for the collapse of the USSR in 1991? Flashcards
How was Gorbachov to blame when it came to the Nagorno-Karabakh situation?
He inflamed the situation by claiming their referendum had no meaning
How was Gorbachov to blame for democratisation and Nationalism?
He introduced Glasnost
What was Gorbachov awarded by the West for the collapse of the Soviet Union?
Nobel Peace Prize
Why was Gorbachov not suited to the role of leader of the USSR?
He had no economic knowledge
What term is the best way to describe Gorbachov?
Naive
What did Gorbachov do to attack his own power base?
Tried to reduce the power of the Communist Party
Who used popular support to gain power against Gorbachov?
Yeltsin
What position did Gorbachov use a poor substitute for power?
President
What did Gorbachov do (or not do) regarding the 1990 elections and why was it significant?
He didn’t put the President position to popular election
- He would’ve won anyway
Why was Gorbachov hated regarding people’s expectations?
He raised expectations politically and materially but failed to deliver
What was Gorbachov’s main failure regarding foreign policy?
Ending the Brezhnev Doctrine - countries left the USSR
How did Gorbachov harm the relationship between the USSR and national minorities? (3 specifics)
- Replacing Kunyev with Kolbin
- Handling of Nagorno-Karabakh
- Handling of the Baltics
Give one example of how Gorbachov gave mixed messages
In a speech in 1987, he praised Stalin’s leader qualities whilst condemning his actions which ended up alienating liberal reformers
Give 2 examples of how Gorbachov kept changing the people in his government
- Replaced Bakatin with Pugo (hardline) as ‘Minister of the Interior’
- Replaced Ryzhkov with Yanaev
Give one of Gorbachov’s bad qualities put on display with the Chernobyl disatser
Indecision - waited several days before speaking to the public
Who did Gorbachov support in the elections for ‘Chairman of the Congress of People’s Deputies’?
Vlasoc - dull & uninspiring
What is meant by the term ‘Internationalist Historian’?
Someone who focuses on individuals and how their actions cause events
What is meant by the term ‘Structuralist Historian’?
Someone who focuses on the political structure i limiting the ability of a leader
What is meant by the term ‘Social Historian’?
Someone that views history from the viewpoint of citizens
How can Gorbachov be defended when discussing Nagorno-Karabakh in terms of the collapse of the USSR?
It didn’t create a direct threat to the USSR
Give 1 way in which Gorbachov can be defended in his actions leading to the collapse of the USSR? (Evaluation point)
He had good intentions
What does Suny believe the reason for the collapse of the USSR was?
Economic reform, democratisation and decolonising at the same time
By which events was Gorbachov undermined that were out of his control? (3)
- Afghanistan war
- Fall in oil prices
- US Star Wars policy
In 1988, there was a major earthquake in the USSR: where was it and how many died?
Armenia
25,000
Give 2 good personal qualities of Gorbachov?
Charming and Intelligent
What government position did Yeltsin hold?
Party Chief in Moscow
Where did Gorbachov move Yeltsin?
Into the Politburo
Why was Yeltsin removed from the Politburo?
For criticising Gorbachov
Why was Yeltsin such a threat to Gorbachov?
He had a lot of popular support and took advantage of his opportunities
Despite being removed from the Politburo, how was Yeltsin able to get back into a position of power?
He won the election for the ‘Chairman of the Congress of People’s Deputies’ that was allowed due to Gorbachov’s decision to have free elections
What did the position of ‘Chairman of the Congress of People’s Deputies’ give Yeltsin that Gorbachov lacked?
Legitimacy - gave him power to attack Gorbachov
What political party was Yeltsin made chairman of after being expelled from the Communist Party?
‘Democratic Russia’
Despite resigning from the Communist Party, what did Yeltsin retain?
The title of President
Why did Yeltsin encourage nationalism?
To go against Gorbachov’s attempts to keep the USSR in tact
What did Yeltsin’s encouragement of Nationalism help create?
The unrest in the republics
When did Yeltsin and Gorbachov briefly join together and why?
To support the Novo-Oganrevo agreement to form a new 1991 Union treaty
How is Yeltsin and Gorbachov briefly joining together to support the Novo-Oganrevo agreement seen by historians?
As Yeltsin keeping Gorbachov in power long enough to let Yeltsin become powerful enough to take over
What was the August Coup of 1991?
A last ditch attempt to preserve the territorial integrity of the USSR by hard-line Communists
During the August Coup of 1991, Gorbachov was on holiday in Crimea, who/what ruled in his place?
A state emergency committee
Which significant figure did the 1991 August Coup have as a leader?
Gorbachov’s vice-president Yanaev
What was it announced that Gorbachov was doing during the August Coup of 1991 and what was the reality?
Told: ill
Reality: House-arrest
What was done to resolve the August Coup of 1991?
Tanks were ordered to come in and uphold the law
What did Yeltsin do to the military as they came in during the August Coup of 1991?
Told them to stop
What was the result of the August Coup of 1991 for Gorbachov?
His stand against the military greatly increased his image
What did Yeltsin do after the conclusion of the August Coup of 1991?
Demanded that Gorbachov come back
What did demanding that Gorbachov come back after the August Coup of 1991 do for Yeltsin?
Made it seem less like he was using the coup as an opportunity to address his agenda
The increased support for Yeltsin allowed him to do what after the August Coup of 1991?
Speed up the collapse of the USSR
Give 1 policy that Yeltsin used to speed up the collapse of the USSR
Launched a programme of market reform
By the end of ____, the Monopoly of the Communist Party was legally ended and Yeltsin was free to establish the _____________________________ movement
1991
Democratic Reform Movement
What did Yeltsin do in November 1991?
Banned the Communist Party
What did Yeltsin bring in in place of the Communist Party?
The Commonwealth of Independent States
What was the Commonwealth of Independent States?
A much more relaxed agreement with no central government
