Final answer:
The collapse of the Soviet Union was contributed to by multiple factors including revolutions in Central and Eastern Europe and attempts by hardliners to remove Gorbachev. Bush's relationship with Gorbachev and the signing of the START treaty played a role as well.
Step-by-step explanation:
The collapse of the Soviet Union was contributed to by multiple factors. One factor was the series of revolutions that led to the collapse of Communist governments in Central and Eastern Europe, including the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Another factor was the attempt by Communist party hardliners to remove Mikhail Gorbachev from power. These events, along with other factors such as the economic and political difficulties faced by the Soviet Union, eventually led to its dissolution in 1991.
George H.W. Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev played a role in the events leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union. They signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in 1991, which committed their countries to reducing their nuclear arsenals. Bush's refusal to gloat or declare victory helped maintain his relationship with Gorbachev and preserve the progress made in negotiations.