What Explains the Fall of the USSR, c1985–1991? - Historical Interpretations (Edexcel A Level History: Route E: Communist states in the twentieth century): Flashcards
Exam code: 9HI0
1/480Still learning
Know0
Define perestroika.
Was this flashcard helpful?
Cards in this collection (48)
Define perestroika.
Perestroika was the name given to Gorbachev's economic and political reforms, which aimed to revive the Soviet economy.
At what annual rate did the Soviet economy grow in the mid-1950s?
In the mid-1950s the Soviet economy grew at an annual rate of 7.1%.
True or False?
The Soviet economy began to decline immediately after the Second World War.
False.
The Soviet economy was the fastest-growing in the world after the war and only began to decline in the late 1950s.
Between 1986 and 1990, Soviet GDP shrank by instead of the planned 20% increase, the worst economic performance in Soviet history.
Between 1986 and 1990, Soviet GDP shrank by 4% instead of the planned 20% increase, the worst economic performance in Soviet history.
Define acceleration (uskorenie).
Acceleration, or uskorenie, was the policy at the heart of Gorbachev's Twelfth Five-Year Plan that aimed to end economic stagnation through investment to modernise the economy.
How did Soviet spending on weaponry change between 1965 and 1985?
Soviet spending on weaponry rose from 12% to 17% between 1965 and 1985, which was greater than American defence spending.
Define Gosplan.
Gosplan was the Soviet central planning agency whose control of production led to large amounts of industrial waste, and which was abolished in 1990.
Why did Gorbachev's anti-alcohol campaign damage government finances?
The anti-alcohol campaign cost the government around 67 billion roubles, equal to 9% of GDP, because it earned far less from alcohol sales.
True or False?
Gorbachev fully implemented the '500 Day Programme'.
False.
Gorbachev effectively rejected the programme under pressure from hard-line communists, arguing the transition should be slower.
In the 1980s around 400,000 tractors were produced each year, but approximately of them were never used.
In the 1980s around 400,000 tractors were produced each year, but approximately 20% of them were never used.
Define the '500 Day Programme'.
The '500 Day Programme' was a plan by Stanislav Shatalin and Grigorri Iavlinskii to move from central planning to a full market economy through full privatisation in under two years.
What happened to the global price of oil between 1981 and 1985?
The global price of oil fell from $70 a barrel in 1981 to $20 in 1985, cutting Soviet oil revenues by more than two-thirds.
Define glasnost.
Glasnost was Gorbachev's policy of openness, introduced in 1986 to expose corruption and allow the Party to correct its mistakes.
Who was made responsible for the Soviet media under Gorbachev?
Aleksandr Yakovlev was made responsible for the Soviet media, appointing new editors to Communist newspapers.
True or False?
By the 1980s, the Soviet state survived mainly through genuine popular support.
False.
By the 1980s the state could only survive through fear and repression rather than genuine support.
Gorbachev introduced glasnost in to encourage openness and expose corruption.
Gorbachev introduced glasnost in 1986 to encourage openness and expose corruption.
Define democratisation (under Gorbachev).
Democratisation was Gorbachev's attempt to introduce genuine participation, but it reduced the Communist Party's authority and encouraged opposition.
When was the Twenty-Seventh Party Congress held?
The Twenty-Seventh Party Congress was held in February and March 1986, but it produced no structural change.
Define gerontocracy (in the Soviet context).
Gerontocracy means rule by the elderly; under Brezhnev the USSR was dominated by a small group of elderly leaders with no mechanism for political renewal.
Which disaster did the media eventually report on under glasnost?
Under glasnost the media eventually reported on Chernobyl, exposing continued secrecy and corruption within the Party.
True or False?
The Soviet film 'Repentance' criticised Stalin's terror.
True.
Once controls were relaxed under glasnost, the film 'Repentance' was released, criticising Stalin's terror.
Khrushchev's removal from power in showed that the Party was unwilling to tolerate major political change.
Khrushchev's removal from power in 1964 showed that the Party was unwilling to tolerate major political change.
Define centralisation (in Soviet politics).
Centralisation concentrated major decisions in a small group of leaders in Moscow, causing inflexibility and slow decision-making.
Approximately how many nationalities did the USSR contain?
The USSR contained over 100 nationalities, each with their own cultures and histories.
Define the Sinatra Doctrine
The Sinatra Doctrine was Gorbachev's 1989 policy, replacing the Brezhnev Doctrine, that satellite states could follow their own path to Communism.
Why did replacing local non-Russian officials with Russians fuel nationalism?
Sacking non-Russian officials and replacing them with Russians created resentment, sparking riots such as those in Kazakhstan in 1986.
True or False?
Before Gorbachev, Soviet nationalism was largely contained through censorship, repression and the idea of a unified 'Soviet people'.
True.
Earlier leaders used the KGB to monitor nationalist groups, and Russian dominance reinforced the idea of one 'Soviet people'.
Lithuania declared independence in March , which Gorbachev declared illegal.
Lithuania declared independence in March 1990, which Gorbachev declared illegal.
Define the Brezhnev Doctrine
The Brezhnev Doctrine was the Soviet Union's claimed right to interfere in other socialist countries, which Gorbachev renounced in 1989.
Whose appointment triggered the 1986 riots in Kazakhstan?
Riots broke out in Kazakhstan in 1986 when the local First Secretary was replaced by Gennadii Kolbin.
Define democratisation (under Gorbachev)
Democratisation was Gorbachev's introduction of competitive elections in 1989–1990, which allowed nationalist candidates to win in several republics.
How did glasnost encourage nationalism?
Glasnost encouraged nationalism by exposing the discrimination non-Russians had faced under Stalin and allowing nationalist groups to publish demands for autonomy.
True or False?
During the 1991 coup, the army obeyed orders to arrest Yeltsin.
False.
The soldiers sent to the White House refused to follow orders, and without army support the coup failed.
By December 1991, of the 15 former Soviet republics had joined the CIS.
By December 1991, 11 of the 15 former Soviet republics had joined the CIS.
Define the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
The CIS was the association of former Soviet republics created by the Minsk Agreement as the USSR collapsed.
What happened to the August 1991 coup against Gorbachev?
The coup collapsed on 21 August 1991 after soldiers refused to follow orders, discrediting the Party, army and KGB.
Define perestroika.
Perestroika was Gorbachev's policy of 'reconstruction' and reform, intended to revive the USSR but which instead weakened its economy and political system.
What share of the vote did Yeltsin win in the June 1991 Russian presidential election?
Yeltsin won the June 1991 Russian presidential election with 58% of the vote.
True or False?
Perestroika succeeded in reviving the Soviet economy.
False.
Perestroika was meant to revive the USSR but instead weakened its economy and political system, helping to cause its collapse.
Yeltsin resigned from the Communist Party in July , weakening the Party.
Yeltsin resigned from the Communist Party in July 1990, weakening the Party.
Define glasnost.
Glasnost was Gorbachev's policy of 'openness', which exposed the failures and crimes of previous governments and lost the support of Soviet citizens.
How did Yeltsin respond to the August 1991 coup?
Yeltsin denounced the coup as unconstitutional and demanded that Gorbachev be reinstated as President.
Define the SDI ('Star Wars') programme.
SDI, the US 'Star Wars' programme, was advanced missile-defence technology the USSR lacked the economic strength to match in the arms race.
What did Yeltsin do to the Communist Party in Russia after the 1991 coup?
After the coup Yeltsin banned the Communist Party in Russia and seized its property and money.
True or False?
The USA had never formally recognised the Soviet annexation of the Baltic states.
True.
The USA never recognised the 1940 annexation, and by 1990–91 Western governments openly backed Baltic independence.
Around % of Yeltsin's government came from the new elite, compared with just 13% from Gorbachev's reformers.
Around 70% of Yeltsin's government came from the new elite, compared with just 13% from Gorbachev's reformers.
Define the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
The CIS was the association Yeltsin backed instead of Gorbachev's 'new Union', persuading Ukraine and Belarus to reject Gorbachev's plan.
Why did the USSR struggle to compete in the arms race with the USA?
The USSR lacked the economic strength to match US spending on new technologies like SDI, forcing it to divert money away from consumer goods.
Sign up to unlock flashcards
or