The FALL of the SOVIET UNION [AP Euro Review—Unit 9 Topic 7]

Summary

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 was the result of a combination of economic stagnation, inefficient government policies, and social unrest. Despite the promises of communism, the Soviet economy was plagued by inefficiency and a lack of innovation. Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms, including perestroika (economic restructuring) and glasnost (openness), aimed to address these issues but led to increased ethnic tensions and nationalism. The Soviet Union's inability to maintain control over Eastern Europe, exemplified by the fall of the Berlin Wall, further hastened its downfall. Ultimately, these factors combined to end the Cold War and dissolve the Soviet regime.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Cold War was a long-standing tension between the United States and the Soviet Union that culminated in the Soviet Union's collapse in the 1980s.
• 😀 Leonid Brezhnev, who came to power in 1964, was a status-quo leader who failed to address the growing economic problems of the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s.
• 😀 The Soviet Union’s economy was a centrally planned system, leading to inefficiency and stagnation due to the lack of consumer-driven supply and demand.
• 😀 Economic troubles in the Soviet Union were worsened by poor crop yields and a 1972 drought, leading to the country asking the U.S. for grain, which further drained its resources.
• 😀 In 1982, Mikhail Gorbachev became the leader of the Soviet Union and introduced reforms like perestroika (economic restructuring) and glasnost (openness).
• 😀 Perestroika aimed to introduce limited market elements into the Soviet economy, such as removing government price controls and allowing some private property.
• 😀 Glasnost encouraged more openness and political freedoms, including allowing multiple political parties and releasing those imprisoned for speaking out against the government.
• 😀 The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 highlighted the new transparency under glasnost, as the Soviet government disclosed the extent of the radiation leak, which would have been hidden in previous years.
• 😀 Gorbachev's reforms inadvertently sparked ethnic tensions and nationalist movements across the Soviet Union, as previously suppressed groups began to express their grievances.
• 😀 In 1989, Gorbachev ended Soviet military intervention in Eastern Europe, leading to revolutions in places like Poland, where a labor movement called Solidarity gained significant political power.
• 😀 The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 symbolized the collapse of Soviet power and marked the end of the division between East and West Germany, leading to reunification.
• 😀 The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 resulted in the end of the Cold War, the creation of independent states in Eastern Europe, and the spread of democratic and capitalist systems in the region.

Q & A

What were the economic conditions of the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s?

In the 1970s and 1980s, the Soviet Union experienced economic stagnation, with a planned economy that led to inefficiencies and low productivity. This was compounded by crop failures, poor agricultural conditions, and a lack of incentives for innovation or hard work, resulting in an overall decline in the standard of living.

How did the Soviet Union handle the food crisis in the 1970s?

The Soviet Union faced severe food shortages due to crop failures and droughts in the early 1970s. In a desperate move, they sought help from the United States, purchasing $750 million worth of grain on credit. However, the crisis was so severe that they exhausted this credit in just one month.

What reforms did Mikhail Gorbachev introduce in the 1980s?

Mikhail Gorbachev introduced two major reforms in the 1980s: perestroika, which aimed at restructuring the Soviet economy by allowing limited market mechanisms and private property, and glasnost, which encouraged openness, allowing people to speak freely about societal issues and political problems.

What was the effect of Gorbachev's reforms on Soviet society?

Gorbachev's reforms led to an increase in openness and political freedoms, allowing ethnic minorities to express grievances and leading to nationalist movements across the Soviet Union. However, these changes also exposed long-standing issues and led to a loss of control over various regions, contributing to the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union.

How did the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 impact the Soviet Union?

The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 was one of the worst environmental catastrophes of the 20th century. Under Gorbachev’s glasnost reforms, the Soviet Union acknowledged the disaster publicly, which was a significant departure from past practices of suppressing information. This transparency further eroded the legitimacy of the Soviet regime.

What role did nationalism play in the collapse of the Soviet Union?

Nationalism played a crucial role in the collapse of the Soviet Union as ethnic minorities, given more freedom to speak out under glasnost, began to demand independence or greater autonomy. This wave of nationalism, combined with political reforms, contributed to uprisings and conflicts in several Soviet republics.

How did the events in Poland in 1989 challenge Soviet control?

In 1989, Poland held free elections that resulted in the Solidarity movement winning the majority. This challenged Soviet control as it marked the beginning of a shift away from communist rule. The Soviet Union, under Gorbachev’s new policy, did not intervene militarily, which weakened Soviet influence in Eastern Europe.

What was the significance of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989?

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 symbolized the weakening of Soviet power. The wall, originally built by Stalin to prevent East Berliners from fleeing to the West, was dismantled as the Soviet Union ceased to intervene in Eastern Europe. This event became a powerful symbol of the crumbling of the Iron Curtain and the end of Soviet control over its satellite states.

What factors led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991?

The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 resulted from a combination of economic stagnation, Gorbachev’s political and economic reforms, rising nationalism among Soviet republics, and the loss of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe. These factors led to the collapse of the Soviet regime and the establishment of independent states.

What were the broader effects of the Soviet Union's collapse on Europe?

The collapse of the Soviet Union led to the end of the Cold War, the establishment of capitalist economies and democratic governments in former Soviet republics and Eastern Europe, and the reunification of Germany. Additionally, Yugoslavia split into several states, and many new countries joined the European Union.