1. Ch. 19 sec 3 The Collapse of the Soviet Union I
Ch. 19 sec 3 The Collapse of the Soviet Union I. Gorbachev Moves Toward Democracy A. A Younger Leader
The Politburo was the ruling committee of the Communist Party which promoted censorship and restrictions on freedom of speech

2. A. A Younger Leader
3. After Brezhnez’s death and the deaths of the next two leaders in successive years the Communist Party chose Mikhail Gorbachev to lead the country 4. Gorbachev was praised for his youth, energy & political skills but the Politburo had no idea that he would unleash another Russian Revolution

3. B. Glasnost Promotes Openness
Gorbachev realized that economic and social reforms were needed if Russia was to prosper
Glasnost (1985) reform brought remarkable changes: churches opened, dissidents were released & allowed publication of banned books
This was all done to end the stagnate economy and society that was developing

4. II. Reforming the Economy & Politics A. Economic Restructuring
1st step that needed fixing was improve the inefficient system of central planning
Controlling wages & production created a lack of motivation thus creating a disinterested worker

5. A. Economic Restructuring
3. In 1985 Gorbachev introduced the idea of perestroika which means economic restructuring
4. His goal was to add a little capitalism without throwing out communism and so he allowed small private businesses to open

6. B. Democratization Opens the Political System
To improve the economy and loosen the grip of the Communist Party, Gorbachev created a policy called Democratization
This policy opened up the election process allowing voters the option to vote for lesser known candidates

7. C. Foreign Policy
Gorbachev stopped the Soviets competition with the U.S. in arms race (U.S. spent 2 trillion) because he realized their economy could not keep up
In Dec Regan and Gorbachev signed the Intermediate- Range Nuclear Forces Treaty banning nuclear missiles with ranges of 300-3,400 miles

8. III. The Soviet Union Faces Turmoil A. Lithuania Defies Gorbachev
Reforms loosened central control allowing for Soviet Republics that were non-Russian to vie for independence
Lithuania, Estonia, & Latvia split from the Soviets causing the Soviets to enact a economic blockade and then an attack by its military on Lithuanian citizens

9. B. Yeltsin Denounces Gorbachev
Boris Yeltsin, a former mayor of Moscow, became the 1st directly elected president replacing his rival Gorbachev
Yeltsin criticized the crackdown in Lithuania and the slow progress of reforms
Yeltsin was challenged by the old guard Communist officials who didn’t want to give up being the dominant Eastern European force

10. C. The August Coup
Aug. 18,1991 hardliners of the Communist Party detained Gorbachev and demanded his resignation
They sent tanks & armored vehicles into Moscow surrounding the Russian Parliament and Yeltsin himself

11. C. The August Coup
Yeltsin Climbed out a window and gave words of hope to all the citizens protesting the hardliner communists use of military force
Aug. 24th the soldiers listening to the people and the hardliner communist decide to refuse the order to attack

12. D. End of the Soviet Union
As a result of the failed coup the Communist Party collapsed which also led to the breakup of the Soviet Union
All 15 republics declared independence forcing Yeltsin to form the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)-a loose federation of former Soviet territories

13. D. End of the Soviet Union
3. Dec. 25th Gorbachev announced his resignation as president of the Soviet Union thus ended the Soviet Union