Title: Boris Yeltsin: Russian Federation's First President
Headings: Boris Yeltsin: First President of the Russian Federation
Boris Yeltsin: First President of the Russian Federation
Boris Yeltsin Fast Facts
Early and Personal Life
Political Career
First Term
Second Term and Resignation
Death and Legacy
Sources

Content: After the fall of the Soviet Union and the resignation of Gorbachev, Yeltsin was elected as the first president of the Russian Federation on June 12, 1991. First Term
In his first term, Yeltsin began to shift the Russian Federation to a market economy, defying the economic and social system that defined the Soviet Union during the decades prior. He lifted price controls and embraced capitalism. However, prices rose substantially and brought the new nation into an even deeper depression. Later in his term, Yeltsin worked toward nuclear disarmament by signing the START II treaty with George H. W. Bush on January 3, 1993. The treaty stated that the Russian Federation would cut two-thirds of its nuclear weaponry. This treaty increased his unpopularity, with many Russians opposed to what appeared to be a concession of power. In September 1993, Yeltsin decided to dissolve the existing parliament and give himself broader powers. This move was met with riots in early October, which Yeltsin quelled with an increased military presence. In December after the riots were quelled, the parliament approved a new constitution with greater powers for the president as well as laws which allowed freedom to own private property.