Date_____Page____ Title: The Collapse of the Soviet Union Warmup Explain this quote: “The most dangerous time for bad government is when it decides to reform itself.” -Professor Stephen Berk, Union College

Gorbachev Moves Toward Democracy Brezhnev died in 1982 – his two successors died after a year in office Politburo (ruling committee of Communist Party) chose Mikhail Gorbachev (youngest Soviet leader since Stalin) – pursued new ideas Past Soviet leaders created a totalitarian state; Soviet society rarely changed, economy stagnated Gorbachev announced policy of glasnost (openness), which brought remarkable changes

Reforming the Economy and Politics Gorbachev blamed economic problems on Soviet Union’s inefficient system of central planning (party officials told farm & factory managers how much to produce, what wages to pay, prices to charge) Perestroika introduced in 1986– economic restructuring to revive the Soviet economy; made more open 1987 – democratization introduced – gradual opening of the political system Called for election of new legislative body Soviet Union couldn’t afford costly arms race with U.S. – December 1987, Gorbachev and Reagan signed Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty – banned nuclear missiles with ranges of ,400 miles

The Soviet Union Faces Turmoil Move to reform the Soviet Union ultimately led to its breakup More than 100 ethnic groups lived in the Soviet Union – began to call for freedom March 1990 – Lithuania declared independence; Gorbachev ordered economic blockade and due to fear of other republics seceding, Soviet troops attacked unarmed civilians in January 1991 June 1991 – voters chose Boris Yeltsin to become Russian Federation’s first directly elected president Hard-liners – conservatives who opposed reform – were angry at Gorbachev for giving up Soviet Union’s role as dominant force in Eastern Europe – attempted a coup in August 1991, failed, and the Communist Party collapsed

The Soviet Union Faces Turmoil (continued) Estonia and Latvia quickly declared independence – no one listened to Gorbachev’s plea for unity By early December, all 15 republics declared independence Yeltsin met with leaders of other republics to form the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a loose federation of former Soviet territories = death of Soviet Union December 25, 1991 – Gorbachev announced resignation as president

Russia Under Boris Yeltsin To reform the economy, Yeltsin adopted “shock therapy” plan  abrupt shift to free-market economies; lowered trade barriers, removed price controls, ended subsidies to state-owned industries Caused massive inflation as prices soared Economic problems fueled political crisis – Oct. 1993, legislators opposed to Yeltsin shut selves inside parliament building; Yeltsin ordered troops to bombard building, many people killed

Russia Under Boris Yeltsin (continued) 1991 – Chechnya, a largely Muslim area in southwestern Russia, declared independence; Yeltsin denied right to secede 1994 – Yeltsin ordered 40,000 troops into the republic and destroyed the capital city of Grozny 1996 – cease-fire signed as Yeltsin won reelection; war soon broke out again and in 1999, Yeltsin resigned and named Vladimir Putin as acting president

Russia Under Vladimir Putin July 2002 – Kremlin said it would begin pulling some of its 80,000 troops out of Chechnya, but in Oct , Chechen rebels seized a theater in Moscow – more than 150 people died Russia continued to fight against Chechen terrorist attacks; as of 2009, Russia had severely disabled the rebel movement and on April 16, 2009, the counter-terrorism operation officially ended Decade of change caused enormous social upheaval 30,000-50,000 homeless children in Moscow High rates of domestic violence and unemployment Steep population decline Declines in standard of living and average life expectancy

Russia Today Moscow Bombing Nuclear Security Summit (4/12/ /13/2010) Sochi Olympics Predict what the nuclear weapon situation will look like in 10 years.