... USSR. While Gorbachev attempted to keep the rest of the union together, the opposing forces were too many and too strong. Boris Yeltsin, Gorbachev's main opponent from the Russian Republic, announced the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The republic saw Yeltsin as a hero, and he destroyed Gorbachev in his quest for personal power. On December 25, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as the ... ...

• Word Count: 366
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... at home. A military coup was attempted by a group of anti-reformists. Leaders of the army, the KGB and the Interior Ministry placed Gorbachev under arrest and took over the government. Boris Yeltsin, a supporter of immediate reform, called on the people to resist the coup. Demonstrations and strikes broke out across the country and the coup collapsed. Reformists took control and the final ... ...

• Word Count: 1987
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School