> In 1991, who resigned as president of the Soviet Union?And the answer: Mikhail Gorbachev. Between 1985 and 1991, Gorbachev led the Communist Party of the Soviet Union,and then served as president in 1990 and 1991. As several states declared theirindependence, the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.) dissolved in 1991 and Gorbachevresigned.Photo credit: foto.rg.ru via weebly.com[https://17535051.weebly.com/early-politics.html].In the 1980s, the U.S.S.R.faced some significant problems. While the economy plummeted, the politicalelite began to fade out as corruption took a steady grip on society. What'smore: three successive leaders died holding office, bringing even moreinstability to a state in crisis. Enter: Gorbachev. Recognizable by the birth mark on his forehead, Gorbacheventered office in 1985 with the nickname "The Marked One." At 54 years old, hewas one of the youngest members of the Communist Party – a stance which wasreflected in his ideas for the Soviet Union. Gorbachev was convinced he couldreform and modernize the Soviet Union, and that the nation faced new problemsthat could be tackled with new solutions. Throughout his 6.5 years as the leaderof the U.S.S.R., Gorbachev attempted to radically restructure the nation. Two policies that define the era that followed were called Perestroika and Glasnost. The former, Russian for "restructuring," was an attempt by Gorbachevto revitalize and restructure the country's stagnant economy. He began bysuggesting a new market model that would allow businesses more freedom andrestore balance organically. While his ideas were frowned upon by senior membersof the Communist Party, implementation of the new plans allowed small businessesto open and thrive, and government-owned businesses to hold more agency overtheir own work. Glasnost, or "openness," was the second main reform Gorbachev implemented. Ittargeted three main affairs: corruption, media, and culture. As corruption ranrampant in the Communist Party, Gorbachev structured the reforms aroundincreasing transparency to prevent economic misconduct. Policies were alsointroduced to reduce censorship in the state, which until that point was aprimary source of the Party's propaganda. Under these new, liberating policies,Russian culture began to blossom, finding newfound power in the right to expresspolitical beliefs. Learn more about Gorbachev's legacy and the fall of the Soviet Union below.