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What two reforms did Gorbachev introduce to save the USSR, but instead sped up its collapse?
Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring)
What war (1979-1989) drained Soviet resources and morale, similar to the US in Vietnam?
The Soviet-Afghan War
By the 1980s, what percentage of GDP did the USSR spend on its military, starving other sectors?
15-20%
What 1986 disaster did glasnost expose, eroding trust in the government?
The Chernobyl nuclear disaster
How many bureaucrats were needed to run the USSR’s command economy?
30 million
Which three Baltic republics used protests and songs to defy Moscow?
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
What 1991 event saw Soviet troops kill civilians in Lithuania, turning global opinion against the USSR?
The Vilnius massacre
Which republic’s 1991 independence referendum (90% approval) was the final nail in the USSR’s coffin?
Ukraine
On what date did Gorbachev resign and the Soviet flag last fly?
December 25, 1991
What was Glasnot's aim?
To reduce government censorship, encourage public debate, and expose corruption
What was Perestroika's objective?
To reform the failing Soviet economy by introducing limited market mechanisms, private enterprise, and decentralization
What were the unintended consequences of Glasnot
State media exposed government incompetence and atrocities, eroding public trust and angering the countries that wanted independence
Which three Baltic republics used protests and songs to defy Moscow?
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
Why was the USSR affected by the crash of oil prices in the 1980s?
Because their economy relied on oil and they had no backup plan. When the prices crashed, the revenues dropped by 60%
Why did the USSR spend so much in military defense?
To maintain parity in the Cold War
What kind of effect the nationalism movements caused?
Domino Effect: Once one republic left, others followed
