Before the attempted coup in 1991, Gorbachev responded to the demands of the republics within the Soviet Union for greater independence by __________.

agreeing to their complete independence by the end of the year

strengthening the military to put down any independence movements

negotiating a Union Treaty for a looser confederation of the republics

accepting the right of only the non-Russian republics to secede

Question

Before the attempted coup in 1991, Gorbachev responded to the demands of the republics within the Soviet Union for greater independence by __________.



agreeing to their complete independence by the end of the year



strengthening the military to put down any independence movements



negotiating a Union Treaty for a looser confederation of the republics 



accepting the right of only the non-Russian republics to secede