Final answer:
Gorbachev anticipated the coup attempt due to advice from his advisors, signs of political unrest, and the external indicators of a splintering Communist Party and shifting power dynamics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mikhail Gorbachev wasn't surprised by the coup attempt for several reasons. First, Gorbachev was warned by his advisors about potential threats to his power, reflecting an internal awareness of the political climate. Second, he could anticipate political unrest due to his reforms like 'glasnost' and 'perestroika', which upset the status quo, leading to factionalism within the Communist Party. Third, there were clear signs of a potential coup, such as the series of uprisings across Eastern Europe and the disintegration of the Soviet Union's political structure, indicating growing opposition to his leadership.
Boris Yeltsin, the popular leader of the Russian republic, played a crucial role in the coup's failure, demonstrating how the power dynamics had shifted within the USSR. The clear lack of support from key military leaders for the coup further elucidated the erosion of Gorbachev's authority and the changing political landscape of the Soviet Union.