What were some of the important after-effects of the collapse of Soviet communism in 1991? Identify three ways this process affected Europe.

Answer:

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: The Soviet Union broke up into a number of independent, noncommunist states in 1991. The largest former Soviet state is Russia. Germany was reunited as East Germany and was no longer separated from West Germany by the Berlin wall. As a result of these changes, Eastern Europe began to transition from communism to democracy. As the iron rule of the former Soviet state was lifted, longstanding ethnic conflicts erupted in some formerly communist states.