Fall f the USSR

Question 1

The New Union Treaty Reaction

Answer 1

The New Union Treaty

• Hardliners were afraid that this would give too much power to the Republics.

Question 2

The Hardline Coup goals

Answer 2

• The group wished to use emergency powers:
○ Arrest and suppress free-market advocates.
○ Repeal the New Union Treaty.
○ Glasnost newspapers were banned.
○ Tanks were moved to strategic positions in Moscow.

Question 3

The Hardline Coup

Answer 3

erred to themselves as State Emergency committee.
§ Consisting of 8 leaders in the Kremlin.
• Gorbachev refused to resign or declare emergency powers.
• The group assumed power in Moscow.
• On public knowledge of this the people were against.
• Yeltsin spearheaded this and protected the parliament.
• Yeltsin issued a decree (as Russian President) accusing the plotters of treason.
• Yeltsin called for a general strike that failed.
• Increased protests lead to wavering of the State Emergency committee.
○ A majority of armed forces decided not to back the coup.
○ The plotters also decided not use force against the large population of protestors.

Question 4

The Hardline Coup aftermath

Answer 4

○ Yeltsin banned the communist party.
○ Gorbachev accepted that the USSR and Russian Federation were now equal.
○ Gorbachev resigned as secretary of the CPSU on 24 August 1991.
§ He remained president of the USSR.
○ The Supreme Soviet banned the CPSU from the USSR on 29 August 1991.

Question 5

Yeltsin’s ambitions

Answer 5

• Republican leaders feared that Yeltsin intended to take over all Soviet assets making Russia the dominant power.
• It made nationalists see independence as the only way to protect their power.
○ Reasons:
§ Yeltsin took over the Soviet budget.
§ He promised to defend all Russians living in the various republics.

Question 6

USSR federation

Answer 6

• December 1991 Ukraine voted to leave the Union.
	• A commonwealth of independent states formed:
		○ Members:
			§ Belorussia 
			§ Ukraine
			§ Russia
		○ Functions:
			§ No parliament
			§ No presidency
			§ Unitary control of Nuclear weapons

Question 7

Nail in the Coffin

Answer 7

• Gorbachev resigned as president of the USSR.

* This marked the formal end of the USSR.