When Did Gorbachev Become Leader of Russia?

The 1980s and 1990s were turbulent times, especially in the USSR and Eastern Block countries. Russian policy was changing and the results were being felt by the satellites of the USSR and by the Russian people. The new polices were the result of new ideas being implemented by the new Russian President Gorbachev, allowing more freedom to the people. 

On March 15, 1991, Mikhail Gorbachev became the President of the USSR and assumed the supreme power of the government. He began taking action immediately. The moves that he made on the International front included the removal of all intermediate range nuclear missiles from the Russian arsenal.

He also declared that the USSR would no longer follow the Brezhnev Doctrine. This allowed the satellite countries of the Soviet Union to handle their own internal affairs. These decisions made satellite leaders and the other members of the Politburo nervous.

While all of his policy changes were making advances in freedom and were democratic changes, they were having severe effects on the economic status of the Soviet Union. By the end of the 80s, there were severe shortages of basic food in cities and they were forced back to the food card rationing of the war. Debt was growing and reserves were dropping.

A resurgence of nationalism was also beginning in the soviet and this Russian nationalism was becoming a problem. Bloody riots were seen all over the Soviet Union. New elections were being called for and the elections were bringing in more pro-independence leaders. Boris Yeltsin was finding huge support among the populace.

Gorbachev Meets Resistance

Glasnost and Perestroika were welcomed among many of the Russian people, although there was resistance among the old hard liners of the government. As they began to voice their concerns and disagreement with the direction the government was going, Gorbachev began to strengthen his political base and supporters.

As the eastern block countries felt the control by the Russian government easing, they began asserting their own independence. Other soviets within the USSR were also making noises about demanding their independence. Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, for example, were all demanding their freedom.

These actions by the states were provoking the other soviets to foresee the dissolution of the USSR. Gorbachev was trying to alleviate some of these fears and attempt to stabilize his country.

Coup that Ended it All

On the eve of the signing of a new treaty with the Unions, the hardliners struck. They attempted to strip Gorbachev of all his powers, but they failed. The coup in the Soviet Union stripped Gorbachev of all his power except control over the military. The leaders of the Coup, the Gang of Eight, were arrested and charged with treason.

All the Soviets were then declaring their independence and demanding dissolution of the United Soviets. They decided on the formation of the Federation of Democratic States.

Gorbachev resigned his position as President of the Soviet Union and advised that the Central Committee be disbanded. Gorbachev finally backed Yeltsin in his policies.

Gorbachev's fall was sudden and final but his resignation did not keep him from being involved in Russian politics. He was an outspoken advocate of taking democratic steps for the Russian people and for the openness of information to the people. He helped to form a new political party and then withdrew from it when he didn’t agree with the direction they want to take the country.

Gorbachev become leader of Russia shortly before the end of the Soviet Union. It didn’t last very long and the end was brought on by the rapid changes that he put in place. The country wasn’t ready for the large scale changes that he was forcing upon them. Had the changes been introduced more slowly, there is no telling how events might have played out.