How did Mikhail Gorbachev differ from previous Soviet leaders?
Mikhail Gorbachev was born on March 2nd, 1931 in the village of Privolnoye, Stavropol Krai, in the then-Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, one of the Soviet Union’s constituent republics. In Privolnoye during the time, ethnic Russians and Ukrainians were split almost equally. Gorbachev’s mother’s family was of ethnic Ukrainian descent and originated in Chernihiv, whereas…
Mikhail Gorbachev was born on March 2nd, 1931 in the village of Privolnoye, Stavropol Krai, in the then-Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, one of the Soviet Union’s constituent republics.
In Privolnoye during the time, ethnic Russians and Ukrainians were split almost equally.
Gorbachev’s mother’s family was of ethnic Ukrainian descent and originated in Chernihiv, whereas his father’s family was of ethnic Russian descent and originated in Voronezh.
How did Mikhail Gorbachev differ from previous Soviet leaders?
The first Soviet leader who had not been trained by Joseph Stalin personally was Mikhail Gorbachev. The consequences of Chornobyl, the largest nuclear catastrophe in history, had to be dealt with by Mikhail Gorbachev and could not be conveniently ignored politically or concealed through secrecy. Mikhail Gorbachev agreed that the Soviet economy was experiencing major supply and demand problems. Mikhail Gorbachev admitted that Soviet industry was shockingly inefficient. Mikhail Gorbachev requested more open and honest reporting in the media. Mikhail Gorbachev increased the cost of a loaf of bread.
