Analyze the impact of the year 1989 on the collapse of the Soviet Union. In 3–5 sentences, describe at least one event from 1989 and explain how it factored into the collapse of the Soviet Union.

One significant event from 1989 that factored into the collapse of the Soviet Union was the fall of the Berlin Wall in November. This event symbolized the end of the Cold War and signified the decline of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe. The opening of the borders between East and West Germany highlighted the failure of Soviet ideology and policies, as people sought freedom and democracy instead of communism. The fall of the Berlin Wall also emboldened other Eastern European countries to push for independence, leading to a domino effect that ultimately contributed to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.