was promoted to assistant of a harvester operator in a tractor station. In 1950 Gorbachev
finished his schooling and then he entered law at Moscow’s Lomonosov State University.
As a, one of his friends was Zdenek Mlynarc, who much later became theleader of the
Czechlosovakia communist party in 1968. He joined the Junior Communist League and
joined the real Russian Communist party in 1952. In 1955 through 1956, he was deputy
chief of the propaganda and agitation division of the Stavropol committee. In 1956
through 1958 he was first secretary of the Stavropol and in 1958 he became second
secretary of the Stavropol. In 1960he became the first secretary of the Stavropol. In
November 1961 Gorbachev was a delegate of the CPSU congress, at which Nikita
Khrushchev disclosed to the public Stalin’s crimes. In March 1962 Gorbachev became
secretary of the Stavropol CPSU territorial committee in the state farms department. In
1970 Gorbachev was elected to the USSR Supreme Soviet. From 1979 to 1984
Gorbachev was on the Commission on legislative proposals of the Soviet Union. In 1984
he was the foreign affairs minister until 1985. In 1971 the CPSU elected Gorbachev a
member of the Central Committee. At a Central Committee meeting in October of 1978
Mikhail Gorbachev was elected into an agricultural job, and then Gorbachev moved to
Moscow. In 1980 Gorbachev became a full time member of the Communist party’s
Politburo. Gorbachev wanted power of the Communist Party after Brezhnev’s death in
1982. Soon, the Politburo there began to emerge as a group of politicians, who’s ideals
and decisions were much, much more reform based. Gorbachev had a reform based mind.
In December of 1984, at a meeting of the Central Committee members, Gorbachev
compiled a report on the “Living Creativity of the People,” in the report he discussed the
need to overcome to develop an economic self governed areas, the need to support
innovative initiatives.”This report, that was later published, became the principals of the
perestroika. After the death of Chernenko on March 11, 1985(Chernenko was the leader
after Brezhnev died for a few short years), Gorbachev was elected General Secretary of
the Communist Party. During the very first months that Gorbachev was in power, he
began a series of personnel changes of the Central Committee, sending politicians away
on a pension, mostly those who worked under Brezhnev. While speaking in Leningrad in
May of 1985, Gorbachev openly disclosed for the first time in history of the USSR, the
slowdown of economic growth, the lack of mechanical engineering, and the great need to
raise the living standards of the Soviet people. This speech that was delivered by
Gorbachev was published by newspapers around the world, yet it took four days to
release it on television due to the lack of modern technology. In June, Gorbachev
presented his slogan for the speeding up of scientific and technological progress. The
word “acceleration” in became the term to describe the changes that had began in the
economy and politics. In May of 1985, the Central Committee issued its decision, and the
government passed decisions that started the anti-alcohol campaign, which, among other
things, leading to a flourishing underground market/black market activity. In May of
1985, during the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the victory over fascism,
Gorbachev, for the first time in nearly twenty years, mentioned Joseph Stalin in a positive
way, which caused an ovation from the crowd. Gorbachev delivered a report in which he
called for greater independence for enterprises, curtailments of the states restrictions, a
democratic change in society, and increasing the people’s political activity as well as
political power. From June 1986 the policy was named “Perestroika.” The looseness of
censorship in the media became known as “Glasnost.” This abolished state censorship. In
December 1986 Gorbachev ordered for a man named Andrei Sakharov to be released
from his political exile and allowed him to take part in international anti-war meetings in
Moscow. Sakharov was the creator the hydrogen bomb. In January of 1987, Gorbachev
pointed out the need for democracy In October of 1987 Gorbachev delivered a report in
which for the first time he openly spoke about the criminal disturbances and problems of
Stalinism. Boris Yeltsin, demanded a much more aggressive approach to perestroika.
Gorbachev passed a law condemning the publication as a “manifesto of anti-perestroikian
forces.” In June of 1988, members wished to speed up the process, and add more ideas to
Gorbachev’s political decision making. The result of this was the start of political reform
of the Soviet system, the resolution on Glasnost, which contributed to progress towards
freedom of speech which was not in progress until then. In October of 1988, Gorbachev
cut personnel in the party and restructured it. In 1985, Gorbachev carried out large, drastic
changes in the USSR’s foreign policy. Gorbachev unveiled his plan to have a world with
out nuclear weapons by the year 2000, while unveiling this policy. During his visit to
India, he signed the New Delhi Declaration as a first step to free the world of nuclear
weapons. Gorbachev had many meetings with US president Ronald Reagan, discussing
about ridding the world of some of its nuclear and weapons. In the year 1988, Gorbachev
published his book, “Perestroika and New Thinking for Our Country and the Whole
World.” In late 1989, during a meeting with the new US President George Bush,
Gorbachev said for the first time that the USSR was finally able to not have to regard the
USA as its military advisors and aid. Gorbachev decided against constructing a change in
the political map of Europe. The USSR’s first parliamentary elections with other
candidates in the running for the same position, took place in the spring of 1989. The
Communist Party ceased to be the only agent in Soviet politics, but it could still, sift away
many candidates to its disliking. Gorbachev was re-elected as the people’s leader of the
USSR. Gorbachev was elected Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Deputies
from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia worked together to stop the monopoly of the
Communist Party, and wished to get sovereignty, and their countries recognized.
Gorbachev recognized the need for people to need to vote in their leader. Some republics
later declared their independence. Gorbachev responded by passing documents describing
separatist decisions as illegal, which did not stop the process of separation. In October of
1990, Gorbachev implemented “Guidelines for Stabilizing the National Economy and
Transition to a Market Economy,” Gorbachev, was then warned of a possible upcoming
dictatorship. The attempt by Red Army troops to dispose of lawful authorities in
Lithuania “at the request” of a self-appointed Committee of National Salvation hurt
Gorbachev’s authority. Despite the demands from both sides, Gorbachev did not provide a
clear evaluation of those events. Gorbachev banned a manifestation by Yeltsin as well as
his supporters, at the request of his opponents “to help security,” introduced additional
army units into the city. In the spring of 1991, close to the time of the break up of the
USSR, Gorbachev had to negotiate with a miners movement, who demanded his
resignation and a change in the economic policy. In April of 1991, Gorbachev signed a
contract with Yeltsin and the leaders of nine other republics on joint approval of the
development a new Union Treaty. In June 1991, after much criticism, Gorbachev stated
he was submitting his resignation from the leadership of the USSR. The majority of
politicians voted to remove the resignation request from the agenda as posing a threat to
the party’s existence. On August 19, 1991, the closest associates of the USSR President
attempted an overthrow of Gorbachev. The day before they demanded that Gorbachev
impose a state of emergency on the country or turn power temporarily over to Vice
President Genially Yanayev. Refusing to step down, Gorbachev spent three days in
isolation, with no telephone or possibility to leave the compound. Gorbachev returned to
Moscow on August 21st. On August 22, Gorbachev resigned leader of the Communist
Party, the reason was he was receiving new information about the degree of involvement
by party bodies in the attempted overthrow.
C.
In 1985, nobody had any understanding of Mikhail Gorbachev. He was not like any of his
predecessors— he wanted to change the system, rather than improve it. Gorbachev was
the single motivating force for reform in the Soviet Union. Notably, Gorbachev did not
resort to shows of military power to enforce the Warsaw Pact, or to preserve the Soviet
Union, unlike Stalin. Brutal suppression of Warsaw Pact countries and Soviet states by
Stalin, Khrushchev, and Brezhnev had generated extreme distrust and fear of the Soviet
leaders. This left some work for Gorbachev to improve relations.
D.
Mikhail Gorbachev was very different from his Communist brethren. More than just
being younger and more energetic than his comrades, he thought differently than they did:
“he was a rare idealist in a sea of guardians,”RL. Gorbachev was the sole man who
contributed the most to the USSR, immediately before its breakup.
Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin
A.
Boris Yeltsin was elected right before the break up of the USSR, in 1991. Yeltsin, was
later re-elected into office in 1996. Yeltsin is still in power of Russia.
B.
In 1930, Ignaty Yeltsin, Boris’ grandfather, a peasant who lived conformably in a Butka
village, in the Sverdlovsk region, was declared a kulak. His dwelling, his mill, and his
other valuable possessions, were confiscated. On February 1, 1931, Ignaty’s grandson,
Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin, was born in Butka. Soon afterwards, the Yeltsins moved to
the city of Kazan, where his father, Nikolai, worked at a construction site. On May 23,
1934, Nikolai Yeltsin was convicted of anti-Soviet crimes. He served 3 years in Stalin’s
GULAGS. When Boris was young, he blew off two of his fingers on his left hand while
“playing” with a live grenade! Yeltsin graduated from Pushkin High School. After
graduation, Boris went to the Ural Polytechnic Institute in Sverdlovsk. In 1955, he
graduated from Ural Polytechnic Institute, majoring in construction, like his grandfather.
In 1961, Yeltsin joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. March of 1989 became
the major stepping stone in Yeltsin’s career. Yeltsin came out ontop, in the first multi-
candidate election for a position. He therefore received a seat in the Supreme Soviet,
where he held the title of Chair of the Committee of Construction. Yeltsin became the co-
chair of a committee that delt with human rights. Yeltsin was elected speaker of the
Supreme Soviet in May of 1990. By then, Yeltsin was well-known as a harsh criticism of
Mikhail Gorbachev. In Yeltsin’s opinion, Gorbachev had to speed up the pace of reforms
in the USSR. In July of 1990, Yeltsin quit the Communist Party. In August, Yeltsin and
Gorbachev signed a document, according to which a new economic program had to be
created. The program became known as “500 days”. Gorbachev withdrew his support of
their program in Autumn, 1990, and it was never used. The breakdown of the 500 days
plan to a market economy went as follows; Days 1-100, major cuts for-KGB, foreign aid,
defense private farms allowed some state owned shops sold. Days 100-250, more price
controls ended. Days 250-400, all price controls ended ? of state factories owned
privately. Days 400-500, most state factories and farms privately owned all retail trade
private most planning ministries closed free movement of people can purchase foreign
currency Yeltsin called for resignation of Gorbachev in February of 1991. In the first
democratic presidential elections in Russia, in 1991, Yeltsin earned a surplus of 57% of
the vote to defeat Nikolai Ryzhkov, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, and three other candidates.
President of the USSR Gorbachev attended the inauguration ceremony and congratulated
the newly elected President Yeltsin. On December 1, 1991, the Ukraine held a
referendum, and its citizens voted for independence from the Soviet Union. A week later,
presidents of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus signed a treaty on creation of the
Commonwealth of Independent States. Yeltsin was against Communists who lived
conformably, while the rest of the population was struggling to purchase basic goods.
Yeltsin closed many “special” food stores and hospitals for Communist Party members.
C.
Yeltsins leadership style was not always the best. Yeltsin was a leader with the people in
mind. While he was president many bad things occurred. Economic reforms conducted by
the government of President Yeltsin and Prime Minister Chernomyrdin had serious
negative consequences. Crime increased beyond all expectations, organized crime
became a serious obstacle on the way of economic recovery. The GDP fell rapidly,
unemployment had risen several times. The standard of living for most Russian citizens
plummeted, and one third of the population lived below the poverty line set at
approximately $60 per month. The education, health care, science, police and military
industry got hit the hardest by the bust in the Russian economy. Yeltsin criticized, and
was fully against people on the Communist Party who engaged in the stealing of state
property, black market activists, and those who accepted bribes, he fired many
communists like these. Yeltsin was not afraid to be a critic.
D.
A great Russian politician, Yeltsin was an engineer and minor Communist Party, who
won the Russian presidency by popular vote in 1989. Eager to speed up reforms, he
opposed the policies of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, yet was instrumental in
shutting down a coup against Gorbachev in 1991. After the Soviet Union collapsed,
Yeltsin remained in power, and despite political setbacks and at least two heart attacks,
(no one knows for sure how many more heart attacks Yeltsin has suffered, as he has been
hospitalized many times, but no one the than advisors and family truly knows why),
Yeltsin was reelected to office in 1996.