Why did Gorbachev dissolve the Soviet Union?

When the Soviet Union's oil and gas revenue dropped dramatically, the USSR began to lose its hold on Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, Gorbachev's reforms were slow to bear fruit and did more to hasten the collapse of the Soviet Union than to help it. read more

That is a common misconception, Gorbachev never really wanted to dissolve the Soviet Union. He wanted to improve it, to make it better, he wanted to forget the Stalin led era of the USSR. He’s massive radical reforms known as Glasnot were the ones that eventually led to the fall of the USSR. read more

The dissolution of the Soviet Union occurred on December 26, 1991, officially granting self-governing independence to the Republics of the Soviet Union. It was a result of the declaration number 142-Н of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. read more

Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev gestures during his news conference ahead of the 20th anniversary of August 19, 1991, hardline coup that tried to oust him and precipitated the collapse of the Soviet Union, in Moscow, Russia, August 17, 2011. read more