World Cultures 11

Unit II: Russia

Name _______________________________
Date _______
Block ___________

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 ruling committee of the communist party
b. Soviet hard-liners old members of gov. that oppose reform
c. coup a group of people in the gov. that work to make a change
d. CIS Commonwealth of Independent states
e. shock therapy shift to free market economics

1. Identify and define two early changes that Gorbachev made? How were these changes
different from previous Soviet leaders? He introduced Perestoika, which was restricting
economy. He also promoted industrial growth.
2. Why would it be ineffective for the central government to decide what should be produced
all ove the country? It would be ineffective when the central government told the factories how
much to produce and pay then the production would rise and the price would stay the same.
3. Explain Gorbachevs third reform and how it would help to move the country toward
democracy. His third reform was called democratization. It was made to open up the political
system to the soviets
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? It was the Intermedate Range Nuclear Forces. It banned
nuclear missiles with ranges from 300-3400 miles long. He did not have money to spend on the
war. This was a good effect because it made it so less weapons were used leading to less deaths.
5. What effect did Gorbachevs reforms have on Russian ethnic minorities?
It made it so over 100 ethnic groups demanded their freedom.
6. Which satellite nation was first to defy Gorbachev? How did Gorbachev respond?
Lithuania, he ordered an economic blockade.
7. What was Boris Yeltsins position in Soviet government. Why did he oppose Gorbachev?
He was a member of the Parliament and a former mayor of Moscow. He did not like that
Gorbachev attacked Lithuania and also did not like his slow paced reforms.
8. What name was given to the older communist members in parliament? Whatopinion did they
have regarding both Gorbachev and Yeltsin? Explain your answer. They were given the name
hard-liners. They were given this name because they did not want reform.
9. What was the August Coup? Who orchestrated it?
It was an attempt to take over and overthrow Gorbachev. It was orchestrated by Yeltsin.
10. What were the most important reasons for the failure of the Coup?

The anger that sparked from the communists and Gorbachevs resignation.
11. How did the 15 soviet Republics respond to the failed Coup?
They all declared independence.
12. When Gorbachev stepped down as president, who became the next president?
Boris Yeltsin
13. What was the new name of the Soviet Union after this coup?
The Commonwealth of Independent States
14. What was Yeltsin attempting to do by forming the CIS? What effect would it have on the
traditional Soviet Union? He wanted to integrate the newly independent states. It would not
have promoted these new states
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 proposed shock
therapy as an answer. It did not work. It caused an inflation rate of 800 percent.
16. When Yeltsin stepped down, a new leader was elected. What are some of the problems
that faced this new leader, Vladimir Putin? The problems with Chechnya have continued under
Putin.
17. What was the Chechnya issue? How did Putin deal with it? Was he able to end this issue
for the new Federation? Explain. This was a battle between Russia and the Soviet Union. He
could not put an end to it right away. He withdrew troops, but it did not help.
18. In what ways were the policies of Gorbachev, Yeltsin, and Putin similar?
They all thought that they could help Russia become a better nation even though they all could
not accomplish this goal.