Why did Comm in EE&USSR Collapse

Question 1

what 2 major reasons caused the collapse

Answer 1

1. solidarity 2. role of gorbachev

Question 2

why was the USSR in crisis by the 1980s?

Answer 2

econ & political probs

Question 3

why did it have econ probs?

Answer 3

faced bankruptcy cuz spent too much on military

Question 4

what evidences did they have for spending on military? (3)

Answer 4

• warsaw pact military alliance- paid for Soviet soldiers to station in EE
• arms race w/ USA- Pres Reagan increased USA nuclear weapon spending :. USSR reciprocated
• Afghanistan war- tried to defeat Mujahideen but unwinnable

Question 5

why was there political probs?

Answer 5

increasing resentment to Comm rule in both USSR & EE

Question 6

what evidences were there of increasing resentment to Comm?

Answer 6

• many Comm officials were corrupt who often abused positions of power by accepting bribes –> ppl turned away
• West’s living standards were way better –> low wages & food/consumer good shortages in caused resentment among EE/USSR

Question 7

what policies of Gorbachev contributed to the collapse?

Answer 7

glasnost, perestroika, reduce military/defense spending

Question 8

what was glasnost & how did it contribute?

Answer 8

openness/reduced censorship –> greater criticism of Comm rule + led to greater EE democracy demands

Question 9

what was perestroika

Answer 9

restructed Soviet political/econ system (added a bit of capitalism) & allowed greater democracy (no longer illegal to buy/sell for profit) –> greater democracy & free EE election demands

Question 10

how did Gorbachev reduce military spending?

Answer 10

• withdrew Soviet soldiers from Afghanistan and EE

- ended Brezhnev Doctrine + told EE warsaw pact members the USSR’d no longer intervene to reinforce Comm rule

Question 11

what happened after Gorbachev’s announcement?

Answer 11

EE ppl surprisingly overthrew Comm govs & demanded free elections

Question 12

evidences of overthrowing gov after G’s announcement?

Answer 12

• Hungarians dismantled barries w/ non-Comm Austria
• East Germans tore down Berlin Wall w/ east guards–> E/W reunited w/ free elections
• Romanians had a short but violent revolution –> Comm dictator Ceausescu and wife= executed
• In 1980, USSR republics (Lithuania, Ukraine, Latvia) declared independence from Comm –> other repubs followed
• Comm group staged coup holding G prisoner & sent tanks to Moscow in 1991 –> thousands demonstrated against causing it to fail in 3 days; new liberal pres (Yeltsin) elected