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Downfall of the Soviet Union

On August 19, 1991, Boris Yeltsin, president of the Russian republic, learned that communist hard-liners had seized control of the Soviet government from President Mikhail Gorbachev. Yeltsin addressed the citizens of Russia from a tank, calling on them to resist the putschists and demanding a return to normal constitutional development. Yeltsin was a key figure in the collapse of the Soviet Union and the establishment of the Russian Federation as an independent state.

On the night of 18-19 August 1991, the legally elected president of the country was removed from power... The leadership of Russia has adopted a resolute position toward the Union Treaty striving for the unity of the Soviet Union and unity of Russia... Tomorrow's signing has been canceled... These developments gave rise to angry reactionary forces, pushed them to irresponsible and adventurist attempts to solve the most complicated political and economic problems by methods of force... We considered and consider that such methods of force are unacceptable... All of this forces us to proclaim that the so-called committee's ascendancy to power is unlawful... We appeal to citizens of Russia to give a fitting rebuff to the putschists and demand a return of the country to normal constitutional development... Undoubtedly it is essential to give the country's president, Gorbachev, an opportunity to address the people. Today he has been blockaded... We demand an immediate convocation of an extraordinary Congress of People's Deputies of the Union... Until these demands are met, we appeal for a universal unlimited strike.

Speech by Boris Yeltsin, Moscow, Soviet Union, August 19, 1991.

Question 1

Short answer

Identify one historical development that influenced the events described in the excerpt.

Question 2

Short answer

Explain how the events described in the excerpt hastened the downfall of the Soviet Union.

Question 3

Short answer

Explain how one other factor besides the one described in the excerpt caused the downfall of the Soviet Union.

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