Which sequence describes the collapse of the USSR?

• A. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania declared independence in 1990; August 1991 coup; Gorbachev resigned December 1991; USSR split into several states
• B. The USSR dissolved in 1985
• C. The USSR expanded its influence in the 1990s
• D. The USSR remained a unified state through 1999

Answer: (A)

The collapse of the USSR unfolded in a sequence where nationalist moves in the republics challenged Soviet control first, then a failed attempt to reverse reforms accelerated the break-up, and finally the leader’s resignation led to the formal dissolution into independent states. Baltic independence declarations around 1990-1991 showed the pressure from within; the August 1991 coup attempt by hardliners weakened the central authority; and in December 1991 Gorbachev resigned as president and the USSR was formally dissolved, breaking into multiple independent republics. The other options don’t fit the actual timeline or outcome: the USSR did not dissolve in 1985, did not expand in the 1990s, and did not remain unified through 1999.