In 1917, Communists seized control of the Russian government. In 1922, the country became known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.), or the Soviet Union. Over the years, Communist governments came to power in many other countries, especially in Eastern Europe and in Asia. The Soviet Union became a leader of these nations during the Cold War, a period of intense rivalry between Communist and non-Communist countries.<NP> By 1985, the Sovet Union faced a declining economy. Many Soviet citizens became dissatisfied with the Communist system. In l991, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union lost control of the government. By the end of that year, most of the republics that made up the Sovet Union had declared independence, and the Soviet Union ceased to exist. After the Soviet collapse, Communism continued to lose support around the world.
