The Collapse of the Soviet Union World History

1. Cause and Effect Problem/Crises Response Soviet society had stopped growing as a result of totalitarian policies banning political dissent Initiated glasnost, encouraging free flow of ideas

2. Cause and Effect Problem/Crises Response The Soviet economy was inefficient and unproductive Initiated perestroika giving managers more authority over their farms and factories; creation of small private businesses

3. Cause and Effect The Soviet-US arms race had become too costly Problem/Crises Response The Soviet-US arms race had become too costly Signed the INF treaty, that limited intermediate range nuclear weapons, with President Reagan

4. Cause and Effect Problem/Crises Response In August 1991, hard-liners staged a coup against Gorbachev Boris Yeltsin mobilized support against the coup; refused to obey hard-liners – the coup fails

5. Cause and Effect The Soviet Union broke up Problem/Crises Response The Soviet Union broke up Estonia and Latvia declare their independence; other republics soon follow; CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) is formed

6. Cause and Effect The Russian economy under Boris Yeltsin was ailing Problem/Crises Response The Russian economy under Boris Yeltsin was ailing Yeltsin adopted “shock therapy” – the abrupt shift to free enterprise economics; lowered trade barriers and ended subsidies to state industries

Cause and Effect In 1991, Chechnya declared their its independence Problem/Crises Response In 1991, Chechnya declared their its independence Yeltsin denied their right to secede and ordered Russian troops into Chechnya despite a cease-fire; Putin deals forcefully with rebellion