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The End of The Cold War

The End of The Cold War. Events in the USSR & E. Europe. Mikhail Gorbachev. Young, energetic, Gorbachev represented a new generation of communist leaders Early success, studied law, was minister of Agriculture, Communist Party member since age of 20. Gorby the Reformer.

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The End of The Cold War

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  1. The End of The Cold War Events in the USSR & E. Europe

  2. Mikhail Gorbachev • Young, energetic, • Gorbachev represented a new generation of communist leaders • Early success, studied law, was minister of Agriculture, • Communist Party member since age of 20

  3. Gorby the Reformer • Glasnost: (openness) attacks social ills present in society • Effort to be transparent: Opened records on Stalin’s horrors • Showed weakness of Soviet system (instead of weakness of Stalin) • Intellectual groups allowed to meet • Dissidents released, encouraged to be part of the public debate • Attacks alcoholism by closing sales, increasing prices – creates more problems • RISKY!

  4. Gorby’s Economic Reforms • PERESTROIKA • Wants to compete w/ West and Japan • Opens to some foreign investment & joint ventures • Wants to turn around Brezhnev’s economic legacy • Forces industry to abide by profit margins; profit now ok in USSR • Reaction is mixed: people want better (I.e. competitive) consumer goods, but want job security and sure wages

  5. Gorby & Reagan Make Agreements • Gorbachev said SDI violated 1972 ABM Treaty (US maintains this is not so) • SDI would allow the US to have a first strike advantage • Both sides agreed on a limitation of intermediate range nuclear forces (INF Treaty) 4%1987 • Mutual onsite inspection • First time superpowers agree to destroy existing weapons • Mostly a psychological breakthrough

  6. Gorbachev & Eastern Europe • Gorb. Abandons the Brezhnev Doctrine in March 1988 • Pulls out of Afghanistan • Results in more activity in E. Europe

  7. The Door is Kicked Open • Reforms fall in line with spirit of people • Movements both within the USSR and the Eastern Bloc • Eastern Bloc falls first, then USSR

  8. Eastern Europe Falls: Poland • Poland’s Solidarity Movement (since 1980) now takes off • 1987 – Gorby encourages a series of reforms in Poland; strikes, Lech Walensa & Solidarity returns – • June 1989…Solidarity wins 99 out of 100 seats in the Senate, ousting the Communist Party

  9. Then the rest of the Eastern Bloc… 1989 Hungary draws new constitution (no Soviet control) • 1989 Czech demonstrations & activity bring Vaclav Havel in as freely elected leader • E. German demonstrations bring orders to fire on people by Hoenecker – his ministers cancel the order; cabinet resigns shortly after; • Nov 9, a cheering crowd watches the Berlin Wall come down

  10. 1989 – A big Year • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM2qq5J5A1s • Peter Jennings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnCPdLlUgvo&NR=1 • Reagan: Tear Down This Wall http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnCPdLlUgvo&NR=1

  11. Back in the USSR… • By 1991 the Baltic states have declared themselves independent • Then others follow suit • Russia creates the Russian Federation which ends up competing for power in Moscow

  12. Gorbachev is Caught • Gorbachev caught between extreme reformers like Yeltsin and old-line communists • Soviet people suffered economically • Miners strikes led to the central gov’t relinquishing control • Yeltsin has plan to bring about a free-market economy – this would effectively dissolve the USSR • Rumors of coup sweep through Moscow

  13. Boris Yeltsin to the Rescue! • Yeltsin prevents coup from happening • Calls on KGB, police, army to switch sides • Yeltsin’s move is self-serving and wins support of the people over Gorbachev • As pres of Russian SSR, Yeltsin had disbanded the Russian commjnist central committee

  14. The USSR is No More • Gorbachev tries to maintain power by granting independence to Latvia, Lithuania, & Estonia • Soon one republic after another declared their independence • Dec. 25, 1991, Gorbachev transfers control of nukes to Yeltsin & resigns

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