The Disintegration Of The Soviet Union

Front 1

Non-Russian Repbulics

Back 1

- Feb. 1990, Russian politicians noisily presented their programs
- Nationalists demanded autonomy or independence from the S.U.
- Resulted in the Communist Party's stunning defeat in local elections throughout the country
- Democrats and anticommunists won clear majorities in the leading cities of the Russian Federation

Front 2

Lithuania

Back 2

- the people elected an uncompromising nationalist as president
- The new parliament declared Lithuainia an independent state
- Gorbachev placed an economic embargo on Lithuania, but refused to use the army to crush the separatist govt.

Front 3

Gorbachev

Back 3

- Asked Soviet citizens to ratify a new constitution, which formally abolished the Communist Party's monopoly of political power and expanded power of the Congress of People's Deputies
- As Party Secretary, he convinced a majority of deputies to elect him President of the S.U.
- Power was eroding and he was unwilling to risk universal suffrage election for the presidency, strenthened his rival, Yeltsin

Front 4

Boris Yelstin

Back 4

- Radical Reform Communist
- Was purged in 1987 by the party conservatives
- Elected in May 1990 as leader of the Russian Federation's parliament
- Boldly pronounced that Russia would declare its independence from the S.U., broadening the base of the anticommunist movement

Front 5

Kidnapping Gorbachev

Back 5

- Gorbachev was defeated at the Communist Party congress in July 1990
- Hardliners kidnapped him and his family in the Caucasus and tried to seize the Soviet govt. in Aug. 1991
- The Coup collapsed in the face of massive popular resistence
-Yelstin denounced the rebels and declared the "rebirth of Russia" atop a stalled tank in Moscow
- Gorbachev was rescued and returned to power as head of the S.U.
- The Coup destroyed Communist power, state ownership and the multinational S.U.

Front 6

Outlawed the Communist Party

Back 6

- Anticommunist revoluton swept the Russian Federation as Yelstin and his supporters outlawed the Communist Party and confiscated property
- Yelstin and his democratic allies declared Russia independent and withdrew from the S.U.
- The S.U. and Gorbachev's job ceased to exist on Dec. 25, 1991

Front 7

The Commonwealth of Independent States

Back 7

- Formed by the independent republics of the S.U.
- The S.U. formed a loose confederation
- the Commonwealth of Independent States