fall of the ussr Flashcards
How much did defence spending increase from 1965 to 1985?
From 12% to 17% of the total GDP
How did the economy change under different leaders?
The economy declined under Khrushchev, stagnated under Brezhnev and collapsed under Gorbachev
How did the economic growth rate change?
Mid 1950s = 7.1%
1970s = 2%
1980 = 0.6%
Why was there little incentive to work?
The USSR was becoming increasingly egalitarian
How much richer were the richest 10% of the population compared to the poorest and how was this different to America?
They were 3x wealthier, compared to 7x in America
How did Gosplan contribute to waste?
In the 1980s, they demanded the production of 400,000 tractors and over 20% were never used because of driver shortages. Additionally they prioritised production quotas over quality, so many products were unfit for use and so were wasted.
How much more productive were American farms than Soviet farms?
6
What was Gosplan?
The state planning committee
When was rationalisation?
1985-86
When was reform?
1987-90
When was transformation?
1990-99
What was illegally manufactured alcohol called?
Samogon
How much loss in government revenue did the anti-alcohol campaign cause?
67 billion roubles
How much did the price of oil per barrel decrease?
From $70 in 1981 to $20 in 1985
What was the impact of the drop in oil prices?
Soviet oil revenue dropped by 2/3
How did Gorbachev finance acceleration?
By borrowing from Western countries
How did Gorbachev’s borrowing of money increase debt?
It rose from $18.1 billion in 1981 to $27.2 billion in 1988
How did the Law on State Enterprises 1987 fail?
It attempted to decentralise but Gosplan maintained central control and by allowing factories to set their own prices, the government had to pay more for goods which increased their debt
How did Gorbachev’s approval rating drop?
It was 52% in 1989 and dropped to 21% in 1990
What was proposed in the 500 day programme?
Widespread privatisation and complete marketisation in less than 2 years
What did Gorbachev think of the 500 day programme?
He initially supported it but backed down after pressure from hardline communists
Who was made responsible for the Soviet media after the 1986 congress?
Aleksandr Yakovlev
What happened under Glasnost?
Dissidents released from prison, previously banned literature and film was released (e.g. the film Repentance) and more criticism was allowed (e.g. Tsipko openly criticised Marx and Lenin)
When were multi-candidate elections introduced?
19th Party Congress of 1988
How did Yeltsin do in the 1989 election?
He won 89% of the vote in Moscow
What was the IRDG?
Inter-regional Deputies Group
When did Gorbachev appoint himself president?
March 1990
How did the anti-corruption campaign impact nationalism?
Gorbachev removed leaders of the republics and replaced them with Russians, angering people in the republics
How did Gorbachev’s reforms impact nationalism?
Glasnost allowed people in the republics to see the extent to which Stalin had persecuted non-Russian people and they saw the higher standard of living in the West.
Give two examples of when the government failed to contain Nationalist demands and solve issues of intercommunity.
1) Issues of Armenian nationalists living in Azerbaijan in 1988
2) Uzbeks massacring the Meskhetians in 1989
What was the effect of the Tbilisi Massacre?
Soviet forces killed 19 Georgian protestors and injured thousands more but refused to take responsibility and blamed it on local authorities which made them unwilling to use force against nationalists
What led to an increase in Russian nationalism?
Growing environmentalism after Chernobyl 1986 and environmental data published under Glasnost
What happened when Lithuania declared independence in March 1990?
Gorbachev applied economic sanctions to try and force them to accept Soviet rule and when this didn’t work, troops were sent in and 14 people were killed
How many voters supported a reformed union in March 1991?
76% (6 republics refused to vote)
When was Yeltsin elected as Russian president?
June 1991
What were the impacts of the coup?
1) the party, army and KGB were discredited as they were behind it
2) Yeltin’s authority grew as the defender of democracy
3) Gorbachev’s position was weakened and his statements after revealed his priorities were not aligned with those of the majority
Which agreement led to the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States?
Minsk agreement
How did Yeltsin’s resignation from the party impact party membership?
During 1990, party membership dropped from 19.2 million to 16.5 million
How did Yeltsin weaken Gorbachev’s power base?
By embracing and encouraging nationalism
