The fall of communism in the Soviet Union is marked by the year 1991. This collapse was a result of various internal and external factors, including economic stagnation, political unrest, and a loss of public faith in communist leadership. Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms, such as glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), aimed to revitalize the stagnant Soviet economy but ultimately weakened the central authority. The dissolution of political control, exemplified by the failed coup attempt in August 1991, led to the independence of various Soviet republics. On December 25, 1991, Gorbachev resigned as president, officially marking the end of the Soviet Union.