Question

How did Mikhail Gorbachev’s actions bring about responses that hastened the collapse of the Soviet Union?

a) Gorbachev’s Communist Party opponents charged him with treason to expose his corruption in a televised trial that eroded global support.
b) Gorbachev’s close ties with President Ronald Reagan opened trade and made Soviets reassess why they had chosen Communism over capitalism.
c) Gorbachev’s brutal crackdown on internal party opposition triggered a wave of assassinations that eliminated half of the politburo members.
d) Gorbachev’s sweeping reforms created political enemies whose failed coup attempt further weakened the overextended Soviet system.

Answer 1

Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms of perestroika and glasnost, along with economic difficulties and the rise of nationalist movements within the Soviet Union, led to its collapse, culminating in the dissolution of the USSR in December 1991 after a failed coup attempt.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mikhail Gorbachev's bid to strengthen the Soviet Union through reforms like perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness) inadvertently accelerated its dissolution. Gorbachev’s sweeping reforms yielded unexpected outcomes:

• They exacerbated existing economic difficulties and highlighted the systemic failures of the Soviet government.
• Reforms led to an increased desire for independence among the Soviet republics, fostering nationalist movements.
• The relaxation of control over Eastern European countries resulted in a decline of Soviet influence and the rise of democratic governments in the region.
• A failed coup attempt in August 1991 by hardline Communist Party members eroded Gorbachev’s power and bolstered his opponents, particularly Boris Yeltsin.

Finally, in December 1991, the Soviet Union officially dissolved after leaders from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus decided to create the Commonwealth of Independent States, effectively replacing the USSR. This marked the definitive end of the Cold War and the fall of communism in Eastern Europe.