What explains the fall of the USSR? 1985-1991

Question 1

What was the USSR’s economy like in the 1980’s?

Answer 1

In a worrying, accelerating decline

Question 2

What was the Novosibirsk report? And what was the Politburo’s reaction to it? (1983)

Answer 2

It highlighted the economies poor state.

They chose to ignore it

Question 3

What was some of Gorbachev’s initial reform?

Answer 3

Reshuffled ageing Politburo (removing rivals such as Romanov, replacing with reformists)
An anti-alcoholism campaign
An anti-corruption campaign

Question 4

What happened in the Twelfth Five Year Plan? (1986-90)

Answer 4

Increased investment on science and research (to improve technology
Did not work well, too many opposing it in superministries (which were set up to complete the plan) - plus due to reoccurring issues in the USSR

Question 5

What was Perestrokia? (1987)

Answer 5

Means restructuring. Gave the command economy more flexibility - introducing market mechanisms

Question 6

Features of Perestrokia? (1987)

Answer 6

Foreign firms could establish business
Wage and price flexibilities
Cooperatives legalised

Question 7

Impact of Perestrokia? (1987)

Answer 7

Food production 1% increase (still relied on imports)
Cooperatives became only for the rich
Some food rationing introduced
Foreign companies put off by ‘red tape’
worked worse because state officials resisted change

Question 8

What did the State Commision of Economic Reform conclude by 1989?

Answer 8

More radical change was needed. Such as Shatalin’s 500 day programme to change to a market economy
rejected by USSR but wanted by Russian parliament

Question 9

What was Glastnost?

Answer 9

Means openness. Designed to encourage engagement in politics

Question 10

Why was Glastnost introduced?

Answer 10

Generally, due to a disengaged population. But after the cover up of the 1986 Chernobyl crisis it was needed to piece together his reputation

Question 11

What were the initial effects of Glastnost?

Answer 11

A flood of criticisms about the regime. More about Gorbachev personally than he was expecting.
Main criticisms: Stalin’s terror state, Poor housing, Environmental issues

Question 12

What were the long term effects of Glastnost?

Answer 12

A politicised population. By 1989 there were over 60,000 informal groups
many criticising Gorbachev’s lack of reform

Question 13

What were Gorbachev’s reforms of party structure?

Answer 13

Attempted to separate Party from State
Allocating Soviets more finance (meaning more power)
Streamlining (Central Committee from 20 to 9)

Question 14

What was the start of the democratisation process?

Answer 14

1988 - Multi-candidate election nationally (for Congress of People Deputies)

Question 15

What was peoples reaction to Multi-candidate elections in 1988?

Answer 15

Seen as minimal reform so angered allied reformists.

Also angered conservatives as it was reform

Question 16

What was the result of Gorbachev’s minimal reform?

Answer 16

Clear factions developed within and outside of the party

Question 17

What did the growing disunity forced Gorbachev to do in 1990?

Answer 17

Abolish Article 6 (a one-Party state)

This lead to the introduction of pluralism

Question 18

What did pluralism quickly cause?

Answer 18

Many seats at the Congress of Peoples Deputies won by nationalists and other opposition Parties

Question 19

What was the Soviet Union divided into?

Answer 19

15 Republics and satellite states across Eastern Europe

Question 20

Why did Gorbachev put an end to the Brezhnev Doctrine? (1985)

Answer 20

For ideological reasons - he did not believe in violent suppression
Also satellite states had become to expensive to maintain

Question 21

What did ending the Brezhnev Doctrine (1985) lead to?

Answer 21

Eastern European countries leaving the Soviet Union

Question 22

How did Poland leave the Soviet Union?

Answer 22

Workers party Solidarity defeated the Communists in an election

Question 23

How did Hungary leave the Soviet Union?

Answer 23

Kadar was sacked, reformers allowed pluralism - communists lost in an election

Question 24

How did East Germany leave the Soviet Union? (1989)

Answer 24

Unstoppable mass demonstrations meant Krenz allowed access across the Berlin Wall

Question 25

How did Romania leave the Soviet Union?

Answer 25

Demonstrations met with violence from the Romanian Army. Leader eventually executed

Question 26

What reasons were there for growing nationalism?

Answer 26

Culture and language
Ideology
Environmental concerns

Question 27

What happened in Nagorno-Karabakh - in Azerbaijan? (from 1988)

Answer 27

Local nationalist Armenians wanted to join Armenia and leave Azerbaijan. An unofficial referendum meant Armenia announced control of the region. Violence erupted, the USSR intervened inflaming the situation further

Question 28

How did the Baltic Republics become independent?

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

Answer 28

Many demonstrations (human chain in 1989 across all nations)
After Nationalists won most seats after pluralism, independence was declared
The Red Army took over a TV station (killing 13)
Gorbachev, denying giving the orders, said if constitutional paths were taken they could be independent

Question 29

What limits were there to nationalism?

Answer 29

Soviet Union was essential to some economies
Many ethnic Russians population republics
The USSR allowed some autonomous control

Question 30

What was the timeline of Yeltsin?

Answer 30

Removed from Politburo in 1988
Is Mayor of Moscow
Elected in the Congress of Peoples Deputies 1989
Resigns from the Communist Party while elected the Chairman of the Russian Supreme Soviet in 1990

Question 31

About Yeltsin?

Answer 31

An expert at rallying people, giving inspiring speeches. He always encouraged nationalist movements - “take as much sovereignty as you can stomach”

Question 32

What were Gorbachev’s main failings?

Answer 32

Lack of vision
Naivety
Support base
Foreign policy

Question 33

How could you defend Gorbachev?

Answer 33

Positive intentions
Lack of terror
Situation impossible to handle for almost anyone

Question 34

What happened in the August Coup 1991?

Answer 34

While Gorbachev was on holiday, a State of Emergency Committee was set up by conservatives (including Vice President Yanaev). Measures hastily announced and tanks ordered to Moscow to uphold law.
Did not have the peoples backing so failed - partly due to Yeltsin’s speech

Question 35

Impacts of the August Coup? (1991)

Answer 35

Yeltsin even more popular
Communist Party banned
Yeltsin abolished the Union Treaty and set up the Commonwealth of Independent States