The Rise of Democracy & Boris Yeltsin

The Rise of Democracy & Boris Yeltsin

Tensions in the Soviet UnionAs countries in Eastern Europe gained freedom, many of the ethnic groups in the Soviet Union wanted to be free as well and develop their own nation – states.

Tensions in the Soviet Union

The various Soviet republics also wanted to be free from the Soviet Union.

Lithuania Defies GorbachevLithuania had been independent from the Soviet Union until World War II and was eager to regain their independence.

In March 1990, Lithuania declared themselves to be independent.

Lithuania Defies GorbachevGorbachev ordered a blockade of Lithuania to try to get them to re-join the Soviet Union.

When this didn’t work, he ordered Soviet troops in, and they attacked unarmed civilians.

Yeltsin Denounces GorbachevBoris Yeltsin, a parliament member who wanted change, denounced Gorbachev’s actions in Lithuania.

As Gorbachev was losing popularity with the people, Yeltsin was gaining their support.

Yeltsin Denounces GorbachevGorbachev faced opposition from two sides:

1. Boris Yeltsin who believed his measures in Lithuania were too harsh and that the current system should be drastically changed.

2. Hard-liners, conservatives who opposed the reforms Gorbachev had made and wanted to go back to the days of Stalin.

Hardliners Take ActionOn August 18, 1991, a group of Hard-liners detained Gorbachev in his summer home to try to get him to resign as president so they could put someone more conservative into power and undo his policies.

Hardliners Take ActionThey sent in tanks with soldiers to intimidate Gorbachev and the people.

However, the people were not intimidated by the tanks and didn’t want the freedoms Gorbachev had given them taken away.

August Coup During the Hard-liners coup attempt,

Boris Yeltsin climbed atop one of the tanks and made an inspiring speech to the people – he demanded that the soldiers stop being used to intimidate their own people and to let Gorbachev have a chance to speak.

August CoupThe Hard-liners ordered the soldiers to attack after this, but they refused.

This takeover attempt became known as the August Coup and resulted in the end of the Soviet Union.

End of the Soviet Union

Gorbachev resigned and Yeltsin formally took over as leader.

All the individual republics that had once been a part of the Soviet Union declared their independence.

End of the Soviet UnionThis was the end of the Soviet Union, the end of communism in Russia, and the end of the Cold War.

Yeltsin Faces ProblemsYeltsin faced many issues once he took control-one of which was reforming the economy of Russia.

Yeltsin introduced shock therapy, a rapid shift to free-market economics that eliminated government involvement in the economy.

Yeltsin Faces ProblemsYeltsin tried to encourage foreign countries to invest in Russia to get their economy on track.

Prices in Russia soared and they struggled greatly with inflation.

Chechnya RebelsIn 1991, the people of Chechnya (a largely Muslim area in southern Russia) tried to declare their independence, but Yeltsin wouldn’t allow it.

Chechnya RebelsChechnya fought for their independence, and Yeltsin had the capital city bombed.

Chechnya RebelsYeltsin was able to reach a peace with the Chechens, but they still desire an independent nation state to this day.

Poland and CzechoslovakiaAfter become President in 1991, Walesa tried to dig Poland out of bankruptcy.

Like Yeltsin, he adopted a strategy of shock therapy to move Poland toward a free market economy. Inflation and unemployment increased drastically (like in Russia).

Poland and CzechoslovakiaBy the mid-1990s, the economy was slowly improving; however, people were still unhappy with the pace of change.

In 1995, the Polish people voted out Walesa, electing a former Communist Aleksandr Kwasniewski.

Poland and CzechoslovakiaKwasniewski vowed to combine free market policies with greater social benefits.

Poland and CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakian reformers tried to introduce a shock therapy program which led to many economic problems and disagreements. These issues eventually led to Czechoslovakia splitting into Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Film Clip Discovery Channel - End of the USSR Part 1https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g6arFbKZ60

Discovery Channel - End of the USSR Part 2 (includes issue in Lithuania ~ 11:24) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FS9WYyKN3Y&list=PLD9316DC99DA38798

Discovery Channel - End of the USSR Part 3 (includes August Coup ~2:30 seconds)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkskpshY16A&list=PLD9316DC99DA38798&index=3

Discovery Channel - End of the USSR Part 4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZghRk-_CDv8&index=4&list=PLD9316DC99DA38798