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Significant Events and Figures in the Collapse of the Soviet Union Quiz

#1

Who was the last leader of the Soviet Union?

Mikhail Gorbachev
Explanation

Gorbachev's policies of perestroika and glasnost contributed to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

#2

Which Soviet republic declared independence in August 1991, leading to the final collapse of the Soviet Union?

Ukraine
Explanation

Ukraine's independence dealt a severe blow to the viability of the Soviet Union.

#3

Which city hosted the signing of the Belavezha Accords, leading to the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in 1991?

Minsk
Explanation

The Belavezha Accords signed in Minsk marked the formal dissolution of the Soviet Union and the creation of the CIS.

#4

Which Baltic state had the 'Singing Revolution,' a series of peaceful mass demonstrations in the late 1980s that played a role in the dissolution of the Soviet Union?

Lithuania
Explanation

Lithuania's Singing Revolution fueled independence movements and contributed to the collapse of the USSR.

#5

Which Eastern European country experienced a series of protests and a non-violent revolution in 1989, leading to the end of communist rule?

Czechoslovakia
Explanation

The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia marked the end of communist rule and the beginning of democracy.

#6

Which year marked the official dissolution of the Soviet Union?

1991
Explanation

The collapse was finalized in 1991 after a series of events, including declarations of independence by several republics.

#7

What economic and political restructuring policy was introduced by Gorbachev in the 1980s?

Perestroika
Explanation

Perestroika aimed to reform and revitalize the Soviet economy and political system.

#8

What event in 1986 significantly contributed to the public's distrust in the Soviet government's transparency?

Chernobyl disaster
Explanation

The mishandling and secrecy surrounding the Chernobyl disaster eroded public trust in Soviet authorities.

#9

Who was the first and only President of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR)?

Boris Yeltsin
Explanation

Yeltsin's presidency marked a significant shift towards Russian sovereignty and away from Soviet centralization.

#10

Who succeeded Leonid Brezhnev as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1982?

Konstantin Chernenko
Explanation

Chernenko's brief tenure continued the stagnation of the Brezhnev era, leading to calls for reform.

#11

Which Baltic state was the first to declare independence from the Soviet Union in 1990?

Estonia
Explanation

Estonia's declaration of independence set off a chain reaction among other Soviet republics.

#12

Who played a crucial role in resisting the 1991 coup attempt against Gorbachev?

Boris Yeltsin
Explanation

Yeltsin's defiance helped thwart the coup and bolstered his political standing.

#13

Which treaty signed in 1990 symbolized the end of the Cold War by reducing the number of nuclear weapons between the U.S. and the Soviet Union?

START I
Explanation

START I was a landmark arms reduction treaty, signaling a thaw in Cold War tensions.

#14

What term is commonly used to describe the period of political openness and transparency initiated by Gorbachev in the mid-1980s?

Glasnost
Explanation

Glasnost aimed to increase transparency and public participation in Soviet governance.

#15

Which republic was the first to declare sovereignty within the Soviet Union in 1990, sparking similar movements in other republics?

Estonia
Explanation

Estonia's sovereignty declaration catalyzed movements for independence across the Soviet Union.

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