The Fall of the Soviet Union

The transcript details the political and social upheaval in the Soviet Union during Gorbachev's leadership. His reforms led to increased demands for independence among various ethnic groups, notably in Lithuania. Gorbachev's popularity waned as economic progress stalled, and Boris Yeltsin emerged as a key figure. The August Coup by hardliners failed, leading to the collapse of the Communist Party and the Soviet Union. The Commonwealth of Independent States was formed, marking the end of the Soviet era.

What was one of the main reasons for the rise of democracy within the Soviet Union?

• Foreign intervention

• Economic prosperity

• Military strength

• Gorbachev's new thinking

Which ethnic groups in the Soviet Union demanded self-rule?

• Poles, Czechs, and Hungarians

• Russians, Estonians, and Latvians

• Georgians, Ukrainians, and Moldovans

• Finns, Swedes, and Norwegians

What action did Gorbachev take in response to Lithuania's declaration of independence?

• He ignored the declaration

• He immediately recognized their independence

• He ordered an economic blockade

• He sent diplomats to negotiate

What was the outcome of the Soviet troops' attack on unarmed civilians in Lithuania's capital?

• The attack was repelled

• The civilians surrendered

• 14 were killed and hundreds wounded

• The troops joined the civilians

Who was elected as the Russian Federation's first directly elected president in June 1991?

• Leonid Brezhnev

• Boris Yeltsin

• Nikita Khrushchev

• Mikhail Gorbachev

What did the hardliners demand from Gorbachev during the August Coup?

• Military intervention in Eastern Europe

• A new economic plan

• His resignation as Soviet president

• His support for their policies

How did the Soviet people respond to the August Coup?

• They remained neutral

• They fled the country

• They supported the hardliners

• They defended their freedoms

What was the immediate result of the failed August Coup?

• The continuation of the coup

• The annexation of Baltic states

• Gorbachev's resignation as General Secretary

• The strengthening of the Communist Party

Which republics quickly declared their independence following the failed coup?

• Estonia and Latvia

• Czechoslovakia and East Germany

• Poland and Hungary

• Romania and Bulgaria

What was formed by the leaders of the former Soviet republics after the collapse of the Soviet Union?

• The United Nations

• The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

• The European Union

• The Warsaw Pact