-
The Annexation of Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia
The Baltic nations of Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia had been independent during WWI and WWII but in 1940 they were annexed by the Soviet Union. -
The Election of Mikhail Gorbachev by the Politburo
Gorbachev was made the general secretary of the Politburo for his youth and political skills in 1985, making him the youngest leader of the Communist Party since Stalin. Five years later (1990), he would become the president of the Soviet Union. -
The Announcement of the policy Glasnost
Glasnost means openness. The government allowed churches to open. Dissidents were released from prison. Reporters could investigate problems and criticize officials. Also, banned authors and their books were allowed to be published. -
The Introduction of Perestroika
Perestroika means economic restructuring. Local managers were given more authority over their farms and factories while the people were allowed to open their own small businesses. -
The Announcement of the policy Democratization
The political system was gradually be opened up. A new legislative body was elected and many lesser-know candidates were picked over powerful party bosses -
The Signing of the INF by Reagan and Gorbachev
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty banned nuclear missiles with ranges of 300-3,400 miles. This treaty was signed because the Soviet economy could not afford an arms race with the U.S. -
The Rise of Ethnic Tensions
The non-Russian ethnic groups within the Soviet Union began to call for reform of the government, religious freedom, and self-rule. (Georgia, Ukraine, Moldavia, etc.) -
The Defiance of Lithuania
In March of 1990 Lithuania would declare its independence from the USSR. Despite an economic blockade and attacks from Soviet troops the people refused to be forced back into the USSR. -
Boris Yeltsin Elected President of the Russian Federation
Yeltsin rose in popularity due to Gorbachev's damaged popularity after the economic failures and the situation in Lithuania. -
The August Coup
Conservatives who opposed reforms detained Gorbachev at his vacation home near the Black Sea in an attempt to get him to resign as Soviet president. The army would become involved and protestors would gather at the Russian parliament building (Yeltsin's office location) to defend their freedoms. On the 21, the troops refusing to attack the parliament building withdrew from Moscow and Gorbachev returned to Moscow that night. -
The Formation of the CIS
The Commonwealth of Independent Sates would be formed as a loose federation of former Soviet Territories. Only Georgia and the Baltic republics refused to join. -
The Resignation of Gorbachev
Gorbachev announced his resignation as president of the Soviet Union. -
The Breakup of the Soviet Union
Starting with Estonia and Latvia each republic of the Soviet Union began to declare their independence after the August Coup.
