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EDEXCEL Russian History > 1.5d How far was Gorbachov responsible for the collapse of the USSR in 1991? > Flashcards

1.5d How far was Gorbachov responsible for the collapse of the USSR in 1991? Flashcards

1
Q

How was Gorbachov to blame when it came to the Nagorno-Karabakh situation?

A

He inflamed the situation by claiming their referendum had no meaning

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2
Q

How was Gorbachov to blame for democratisation and Nationalism?

A

He introduced Glasnost

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3
Q

What was Gorbachov awarded by the West for the collapse of the Soviet Union?

A

Nobel Peace Prize

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4
Q

Why was Gorbachov not suited to the role of leader of the USSR?

A

He had no economic knowledge

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5
Q

What term is the best way to describe Gorbachov?

A

Naive

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6
Q

What did Gorbachov do to attack his own power base?

A

Tried to reduce the power of the Communist Party

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7
Q

Who used popular support to gain power against Gorbachov?

A

Yeltsin

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8
Q

What position did Gorbachov use a poor substitute for power?

A

President

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9
Q

What did Gorbachov do (or not do) regarding the 1990 elections and why was it significant?

A

He didn’t put the President position to popular election

- He would’ve won anyway

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10
Q

Why was Gorbachov hated regarding people’s expectations?

A

He raised expectations politically and materially but failed to deliver

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11
Q

What was Gorbachov’s main failure regarding foreign policy?

A

Ending the Brezhnev Doctrine - countries left the USSR

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12
Q

How did Gorbachov harm the relationship between the USSR and national minorities? (3 specifics)

A
  • Replacing Kunyev with Kolbin
  • Handling of Nagorno-Karabakh
  • Handling of the Baltics
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13
Q

Give one example of how Gorbachov gave mixed messages

A

In a speech in 1987, he praised Stalin’s leader qualities whilst condemning his actions which ended up alienating liberal reformers

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14
Q

Give 2 examples of how Gorbachov kept changing the people in his government

A
  • Replaced Bakatin with Pugo (hardline) as ‘Minister of the Interior’
  • Replaced Ryzhkov with Yanaev
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15
Q

Give one of Gorbachov’s bad qualities put on display with the Chernobyl disatser

A

Indecision - waited several days before speaking to the public

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16
Q

Who did Gorbachov support in the elections for ‘Chairman of the Congress of People’s Deputies’?

A

Vlasoc - dull & uninspiring

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17
Q

What is meant by the term ‘Internationalist Historian’?

A

Someone who focuses on individuals and how their actions cause events

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18
Q

What is meant by the term ‘Structuralist Historian’?

A

Someone who focuses on the political structure i limiting the ability of a leader

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19
Q

What is meant by the term ‘Social Historian’?

A

Someone that views history from the viewpoint of citizens

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20
Q

How can Gorbachov be defended when discussing Nagorno-Karabakh in terms of the collapse of the USSR?

A

It didn’t create a direct threat to the USSR

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21
Q

Give 1 way in which Gorbachov can be defended in his actions leading to the collapse of the USSR? (Evaluation point)

A

He had good intentions

22
Q

What does Suny believe the reason for the collapse of the USSR was?

A

Economic reform, democratisation and decolonising at the same time

23
Q

By which events was Gorbachov undermined that were out of his control? (3)

A
  • Afghanistan war
  • Fall in oil prices
  • US Star Wars policy
24
Q

In 1988, there was a major earthquake in the USSR: where was it and how many died?

A

Armenia

25,000

25
Q

Give 2 good personal qualities of Gorbachov?

A

Charming and Intelligent

26
Q

What government position did Yeltsin hold?

A

Party Chief in Moscow

27
Q

Where did Gorbachov move Yeltsin?

A

Into the Politburo

28
Q

Why was Yeltsin removed from the Politburo?

A

For criticising Gorbachov

29
Q

Why was Yeltsin such a threat to Gorbachov?

A

He had a lot of popular support and took advantage of his opportunities

30
Q

Despite being removed from the Politburo, how was Yeltsin able to get back into a position of power?

A

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

31
Q

What did the position of ‘Chairman of the Congress of People’s Deputies’ give Yeltsin that Gorbachov lacked?

A

Legitimacy - gave him power to attack Gorbachov

32
Q

What political party was Yeltsin made chairman of after being expelled from the Communist Party?

A

‘Democratic Russia’

33
Q

Despite resigning from the Communist Party, what did Yeltsin retain?

A

The title of President

34
Q

Why did Yeltsin encourage nationalism?

A

To go against Gorbachov’s attempts to keep the USSR in tact

35
Q

What did Yeltsin’s encouragement of Nationalism help create?

A

The unrest in the republics

36
Q

When did Yeltsin and Gorbachov briefly join together and why?

A

To support the Novo-Oganrevo agreement to form a new 1991 Union treaty

37
Q

How is Yeltsin and Gorbachov briefly joining together to support the Novo-Oganrevo agreement seen by historians?

A

As Yeltsin keeping Gorbachov in power long enough to let Yeltsin become powerful enough to take over

38
Q

What was the August Coup of 1991?

A

A last ditch attempt to preserve the territorial integrity of the USSR by hard-line Communists

39
Q

During the August Coup of 1991, Gorbachov was on holiday in Crimea, who/what ruled in his place?

A

A state emergency committee

40
Q

Which significant figure did the 1991 August Coup have as a leader?

A

Gorbachov’s vice-president Yanaev

41
Q

What was it announced that Gorbachov was doing during the August Coup of 1991 and what was the reality?

A

Told: ill
Reality: House-arrest

42
Q

What was done to resolve the August Coup of 1991?

A

Tanks were ordered to come in and uphold the law

43
Q

What did Yeltsin do to the military as they came in during the August Coup of 1991?

A

Told them to stop

44
Q

What was the result of the August Coup of 1991 for Gorbachov?

A

His stand against the military greatly increased his image

45
Q

What did Yeltsin do after the conclusion of the August Coup of 1991?

A

Demanded that Gorbachov come back

46
Q

What did demanding that Gorbachov come back after the August Coup of 1991 do for Yeltsin?

A

Made it seem less like he was using the coup as an opportunity to address his agenda

47
Q

The increased support for Yeltsin allowed him to do what after the August Coup of 1991?

A

Speed up the collapse of the USSR

48
Q

Give 1 policy that Yeltsin used to speed up the collapse of the USSR

A

Launched a programme of market reform

49
Q

By the end of ____, the Monopoly of the Communist Party was legally ended and Yeltsin was free to establish the _____________________________ movement

A

1991

Democratic Reform Movement

50
Q

What did Yeltsin do in November 1991?

A

Banned the Communist Party

51
Q

What did Yeltsin bring in in place of the Communist Party?

A

The Commonwealth of Independent States

52
Q

What was the Commonwealth of Independent States?

A

A much more relaxed agreement with no central government

EDEXCEL Russian History (16 decks)

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