Question

To gain a better understanding of the collapse of the U.S.S.R., complete the following assignment, starting with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 and ending with the dissolution of the U.S.S.R. in 1991. Assess the events that led to the collapse of the USSR. List six events that took place between these two critical ones, and explain how they contributed to the collapse of the U.S.S.R. Make sure to define each event and explain how it led to the next one.

Answer 1

The collapse of the USSR was influenced by events such as the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Glasnost and Perestroika, the fall of the Berlin Wall, independence movements in Eastern Europe, the August Coup, and the dissolution of the USSR.

Step-by-step explanation:

The collapse of the USSR was influenced by several events that took place between the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 and the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. Six of these events include:

1. The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan: In 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, leading to a costly and long-lasting war. The invasion strained the USSR's resources and military.
2. Glasnost and Perestroika: In the mid-1980s, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev introduced policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to revive the Soviet economy and political system.
3. The Fall of the Berlin Wall: In 1989, the Berlin Wall, which symbolized the division between East and West Germany, fell. This event marked a significant turning point in the Cold War and increased calls for independence among Soviet satellite states in Eastern Europe.
4. Independence Movements in Eastern Europe: The late 1980s saw numerous independence movements in Soviet satellite states such as Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia. These movements weakened the USSR's control over Eastern Europe.
5. August Coup: In 1991, a group of hardline Communists attempted to overthrow Gorbachev and reverse his reforms. The coup failed, but it further destabilized the USSR.
6. Dissolution of the USSR: Finally, in December 1991, the USSR officially dissolved, with the individual republics declaring their independence.

Each of these events contributed to the collapse of the USSR by introducing internal conflicts, weakening the Soviet economy and military, and fostering desires for independence among satellite states and republics.