Changes

As explained in more detail below, Eastern Europe took advantage of Gorbachev’s reforms to the point where they broke away from strict communism.  This led Lithuania, which had been annexed to the Soviet Union in 1940, to declare its independence in March 1990.  Gorbachev responded as his communist predecessors would have:  he blockaded the rebellious country and, when that did not work, in January 1991 he ordered the Soviet troops to attack the capital of Lithuania.  Civilians were slaughtered.

As explained in more detail below, Eastern Europe took advantage of Gorbachev’s reforms to the point where they broke away from strict communism.  This led Lithuania, which had been annexed to the Soviet Union in 1940, to declare its independence in March 1990.  Gorbachev responded as his communist predecessors would have:  he blockaded the rebellious country and, when that did not work, in January 1991 he ordered the Soviet troops to attack the capital of Lithuania.  Civilians were slaughtered.

But perhaps Providence intervened this time.  Boris Yeltsin, a charismatic Russian, emerged to challenge Gorbachev’s leadership.  Yeltsin had been a popular mayor of Moscow and was a powerful member of the parliament.  In June 1991 the voters elected Yeltsin as president of a new Russian Republic.

But perhaps Providence intervened this time.  Boris Yeltsin, a charismatic Russian, emerged to challenge Gorbachev’s leadership.  Yeltsin had been a popular mayor of Moscow and was a powerful member of the parliament.  In June 199,1 the voters elected Yeltsin as president of a new Russian Republic.

Communists were angry and determined to stop Yeltsin’s challenge.  In August 1991, they ordered the soldiers to kill Yeltsin.  Providence must have intervened, because the troops refused the order.  Rarely, if ever, do troops refuse orders like this.  In a communist country such refusal was unheard of.  Gorbachev promptly resigned as head of the Communist Party, and then Latvia, Estonia and other Soviet republics declared their independence as Lithuania had.  On Christmas Day, 1991, Gorbachev resigned as president of the Soviet Union.

Communists were angry and determined to stop Yeltsin’s challenge.  In August 1991, they ordered the soldiers to kill Yeltsin.  Providence must have intervened, because the troops refused the order.  Rarely, if ever, do troops refuse orders like this.  In a communist country, such refusal was unheard of.  Gorbachev promptly resigned as head of the Communist Party, and then Latvia, Estonia and other Soviet republics declared their independence as Lithuania had.  On Christmas Day of 1991, Gorbachev resigned as president of the Soviet Union.

By then Russia and the other newly independent republics had formed a federation to replace the Soviet Union, known as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).  All joined except for the Baltic republics and Georgia, a large former Soviet state not to be confused with the American state of Georgia.

By then, Russia and the other newly independent republics had formed a federation to replace the Soviet Union, known as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).  All joined except for the Baltic republics and Georgia, a large former Soviet state not to be confused with the American state of Georgia.

After Gorbachev resigned, Yeltsin brought free enterprise to Russia.  He ended price controls, cut taxes, stopped subsidizing government-controlled industries and reduced trade barriers.  Churches opened and flourished.  The people of Leningrad changed the name of their city back to St. Petersburg.  Critics of Yeltsin complained about inflation and the loss of jobs, and organized crime became a problem without the KGB controlling everything.  But the people were certainly not going to return to communism.  Today Russia has lower taxes than the United States.

After Gorbachev resigned, Yeltsin brought free enterprise to Russia.  He ended price controls, cut taxes, stopped subsidizing government-controlled industries and reduced trade barriers.  Churches opened and flourished.  The people of Leningrad changed the name of their city back to St. Petersburg.  Critics of Yeltsin complained about inflation and the loss of jobs, and organized crime became a problem without the KGB controlling everything.  But the people were certainly not going to return to communism.  Today Russia has lower taxes than the United States.

Muslim-dominated Chechnya in southwest Russia became a difficult issue for Yeltsin.  In 1991, it declared its independence from Russia, but Yeltsin suppressed that by sending troops to Grozny, its capital city.  Resistance by the Chechens was intense, and the troops were initially withdrawn.  But a bloody civil war has ensued for over a decade, including hostage-takings and, in 2004, the Chechen rebels seized a large school near Chechnya and killed over 300 of the children and teachers.  In 2006, Russia claimed to have killed the leader in charge of the seizure of the school.  The trouble continues.  

Muslim-dominated Chechnya in southwest Russia became a difficult issue for Yeltsin.  In 1991, it declared its independence from Russia, but Yeltsin suppressed that by sending troops to Grozny, its capital city.  Resistance by the Chechens was intense, and the troops were initially withdrawn.  But a bloody civil war has ensued for over a decade, including hostage-takings and, in 2004, the Chechen rebels seized a large school near Chechnya and killed over 300 of the children and teachers.  In 2006, Russia claimed to have killed the leader in charge of the seizure of the school.  The trouble continues.

=== F. Eastern Europe ===

=== F. Eastern Europe ===