Collapse of the USSR

• 1a. The USSR was under huge economic strain from the invasion of Afghanistan, the arms race, and years of economic mismanagement, while Glasnost allowed for more open criticism of the government.
• 2a. There were growing calls for independence from the Baltic states, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia (all of which eventually declared independence in 1990), and the satellite states.
• 3a. In July 1991, the Warsaw Pact came to an end.
• 4a. Gorbachev tried to save the Soviet Union by issuing a new constitution that would have given the Soviet republics more independence, but the leaders of these states rejected it because it did not go far enough.
• 5a. Unable to hold the Republics together, Gorbachev announced the dissolution of the Soviet Union and his resignation as President on 25 December 1991.
• 6a. Many ex-Soviet republics became independent, including Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia and Kazakhstan.
• 7a. The Soviet Union became the Commonwealth of Independent States in January 1992.
• 1b. The eventual independence of a number of the Republics, including Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.
• 2b. Growing calls for reform from within the satellite states, leading to the dismantling of the Eastern bloc and eventual collapse of the Warsaw Pact, which was dissolved in July 1991.
• 3b. The ending of the pact meant that Europe was finally able to be reunited again and relatively free travel across borders was allowed, ending fifty years of division.
• 4b. The end of Warsaw Pact and the Berlin Wall now meant that the Iron Curtain ceased to exist.
• 5b. This led countries in Eastern Europe to finally become independent nations where they chose the type of political and economic system, they wanted for themselves.
• 6b. The downfall of Gorbachev, who was replaced by Yeltsin, on 25 December 1991, and the end of the Soviet Union.
• 7b. The end of the Cold War.
• Remember the collapse of the USSR was a process that took place over several years, so some of these ‘consequences’ were already evident before the dissolution of the Soviet Union at the end of 1991 and so could be also included in a ‘narrative account’.
• What were the main factors contributing to the economic strain of the USSR?

  Invasion of Afghanistan, arms race, mismanagement
• How did Glasnost affect the government in the USSR?

  It allowed for more open criticism of the government
• Which Baltic states declared independence in 1990?

  Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia
• When did the Warsaw Pact come to an end?

  July 1991
• What was Gorbachev's attempt to save the Soviet Union?

  Issuing a new constitution for more independence
• Why did the leaders of the Soviet republics reject Gorbachev's new constitution?

  It did not go far enough for independence
• What significant announcement did Gorbachev make on 25 December 1991?

  He announced the dissolution of the Soviet Union
• Which ex-Soviet republics became independent after the dissolution?

  Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Kazakhstan
• What did the Soviet Union become in January 1992?

  The Commonwealth of Independent States
• What were the consequences of the collapse of the USSR?

  • Independence of several Republics
  • Calls for reform in satellite states
  • Dismantling of the Eastern bloc
  • Dissolution of the Warsaw Pact
  • Reunification of Europe and free travel
  • End of the Iron Curtain
  • Countries choosing their political systems
  • Downfall of Gorbachev and rise of Yeltsin
  • End of the Cold War
• Which Republics gained independence after the USSR collapse?

  Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan
• What did the end of the Warsaw Pact signify for Europe?

  It allowed for reunification and free travel
• What was the impact of the end of the Iron Curtain?

  Countries in Eastern Europe became independent
• Who replaced Gorbachev after the collapse of the USSR?

  Yeltsin
• What major global conflict ended with the collapse of the USSR?

  The Cold War
• How did the calls for reform in satellite states contribute to the collapse of the USSR?

  They led to the dismantling of the Eastern bloc