World Cultures 11

Unit II: Russia

Name Casey Marshall

Date 11/13/14_____

Block 4

Read the article entitled The Collapse of the Soviet Union and complete the questions below.
Indentify/define each of the following: [remember to answer fully]
a. Politburo The ruling committee of the communist party.
b. Soviet hard-liners - Those who rebelled against the Soviet Union and its government
systems and staged a coup against Gorbachev.
c. coup - A very sudden, violent, and illegal seizure from a government.
d. CIS A loose federation of former Soviet territories.
e. shock therapy-A quick and abrupt shift to a free-market economic ways.
1. Identify and define two early changes that Gorbachev made? How were these changes
different from previous Soviet leaders?
They let churches open, which was something that had never been allowed before. Also, it
released dissidents from prison and allowed the publication of books for previously banned
authors to take place. This was different than before because old leaders used to be very
strict on not showing self expression of any type, and these are both ways that Gorbachev was
allowing it.
2. Why would it be ineffective for the central government to decide what should be produced
all over the country?
It would be ineffective because people all across the country demand different things, and
some things are easier to producer in certain areas of the country. People would rise up and
fight against the central government trying to control what should be produced for this reason.
3. Explain Gorbachevs third reform and how it would help to move the country toward
democracy.
Perestroika, which was the idea of economic restructure and make it stronger. He allowed
people to have more control over their businesses, regardless of social class, and also let people
open their own private businesses. This is a step towards a democracy because everyone is equal
and capable of making their own decisions economically under this reform.
4. What was the INF Treaty? Why did Gorbachev agree to sign it? What effect do you think
this Treaty had on the Cold War?
The INF treaty was the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty which was signed in order
to ban nuclear missiles with ranges of 300 to 3,400 miles. He agreed to sign it because he began
to realize that the Soviet Union couldnt afford to take part in the very expensive arms race. I
believe the effect it had on the cold war was that it made it less violent, due to the fact that it
assured that bombings with nuclear weapons could not be used.
5. What effect did Gorbachevs reforms have on Russian ethnic minorities?

It helped them a lot and gave them some of the same opportunities of those in other groups. It
showed that in some way, people could be all equal throughout the Soviet Union at one point, and
work hard to gain the same kind of living as everybody else.
6. Which satellite nation was first to defy Gorbachev? How did Gorbachev respond?
Lithuanian was the first to defy Gorbachev and he responded by sending troops who were
armed, tanks, and cannons. The only difference from before was that this time, the Soviet
people werent afraid to fight for their rights.
7. What was Boris Yeltsins position in Soviet government. Why did he oppose Gorbachev?
He was a member of parliament and a former mayor of Moscow. He did not like the how slow the
pace had been with putting in place the reforms he had. He also opposed the fact of the
crackdown he put on Lithuania.
8. What name was given to the older communist members in parliament? What opinion did they
have regarding both Gorbachev and Yeltsin? Explain your answer.
9. What was the August Coup? Who orchestrated it?
The hardliners kidnapped Gorbachev at one of his vacation homes, and were trying to force him
to give up his role as the Soviet Union president. Later, tanks, bombs, guns, and soldiers rolled
into the streets of Moscow; however, the people werent scared this time around and were
willing to stand up and fight for their rights.
10. What were the most important reasons for the failure of the Coup?
11. How did the 15 soviet Republics respond to the failed Coup?
It sparked anger amongst the group, and after Gorbachev resigned, they voted to stop all party
activities, leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
12. When Gorbachev stepped down as president, who became the next president?
Boris Yeltsin became the next president.
13. What was the new name of the Soviet Union after this coup?
it was called the Russian Federation
14. What was Yeltsin attempting to do by forming the CIS? What effect would it have on the
traditional Soviet Union?
He was attempting to have a loose federation of former territories. It put a definite and final
end to the Soviet Unions existent.
15. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Yeltsin was faced with economic issues. What did
he do to attempt to solve these issues? Did it work? Why or why not?
He started using a free market economy, and multiple new reforms were made to help the issue.
However, it had not worked and many kids were homeless and hungry on the streets of Moscow.
16. When Yeltsin stepped down, a new leader was elected. What are some of the problems
that faced this new leader, Vladimir Putin?

He was faced with problems economically, politically, and socially. He used a market economy for
good at this point, and controlled the people and what they were doing regularly more so.
17. What was the Chechnya issue? How did Putin deal with it? Was he able to end this issue
for the new Federation? Explain.
They are a large Muslim group in the southwest of Russia. They declared their independence,
but Yeltsin denied their request. this angered the people. They started becoming a terrorist
group, and although Putin tried to stop the war with them, it still occurs regularly and people die
frequently from their doings.
18. In what ways were the policies of Gorbachev, Yeltsin, and Putin similar?
They ultimately came up with reforms and plans to make the region a stronger country, and have
a better living for the people. They all wanted to make some type of change, and didnt use
complete communism either.