1. The Collapse of the Soviet Union
Aim: How did internal issues lead to the collapse of the Soviet Union?
Do Now: How did Gorbachev’s policies impact the Soviet Union politically? socially? economically?

2. Unrest in the Soviet Union
As Eastern Europe gained freedom from the Soviet Union, various nationalities in the Soviet Union began to call for their independence
More than 100 ethnic groups lived in the Soviet Union
Russians were the largest, most powerful group
Non-Russians formed the majority in the 14 Soviet republics other than Russia
Nationalist groups in Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldavia demanded self-rule
The Muslim peoples of Soviet Central Asia called for religious freedom

3. The Dissolution of the Soviet Union (1991)
As the nationalistic spirit spread to other Soviet republics, Gorbachev sought to end the growing conflict
He began negotiating a new Treaty of Union with the leaders of the republics
On the eve of signing the treaty, in August 1991, Communist hard-liners staged a coup d’etat
The conspirators sought to return the Soviet Union to its condition before Gorbachev, when the Communist government was in control and the army was used to put down independence movements

4. The Dissolution of the Soviet Union (continued)
The coup lacked popular support and quickly collapsed
The Communist Party, which had supported the coup, was completely discredited
Gorbachev recognized the independence of Lithuania and the other Baltic States
In December of 1991, Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine declared independence and formed the new Commonwealth of Independent States (C.I.S.)
Other former republics soon joined
Only the Baltic states and Georgia refused to join

5. Yeltsin Denounces Gorbachev
As Mikhail Gorbachev became less popular, many Soviet citizens looked to Boris Yeltsin for guidance
In June 1991, Yeltsin became the Russian Republic’s first directly elected president
Yeltsin criticized Gorbachev’s reforms and policies
On Christmas Day 1991, Gorbachev resigned as president of the Soviet Union

6. Yeltsin’s Reforms
Boris Yeltsin implemented reforms to solve Russia’s economic problems:
Introduction of a free market system
Ended price controls on most goods
Began to privatize state-owned businesses

7. Economic Problems Continue
Despite Yeltsin’s reforms, the Russian economy failed to improve
High unemployment
Poor healthcare
Malnutrition and food shortages
inflation