Which of the following led to the collapse of the Soviet Union? A. Private corporations avoiding paying taxes
B. A weakened Soviet military
C. Calls for independence from Eastern bloc nations
D. The election of Vladimir Putin

The unsuccessful August 1991 coup against Gorbachev sealed the fate of the Soviet Union. Planned by hard-line Communists, the coup diminished Gorbachev's power and propelled Yeltsin and the democratic forces to the forefront of Soviet and Russian politics

uncle sam would be tossing and turning in his grave : *)