The Collapse of the Soviet Union Throughout the Cold War, the Soviet Union continued to extend its power throughout Eastern Europe. Up until the 1980 s, the Soviet Union had absolute power over its own people, offering them little freedom. With the help of new Soviet leadership and people who demanded change, the Soviet Union would entirely collapse by the mid 1990 s. DIRECTIONS: In groups of 4-6 (we need exactly 6 groups), examine each of the documents and fill in the chart below. Questions Document #1- Video A) What were the problems facing the Soviet Union? B) What was the INF? Why would this agreement help the Soviet economy? Document #2- A) What is Glasnost? B) What was the result of this new policy? Explain. Document #3- A) Explain Gorbachev s criticisms of the old Soviet economic system. B) What might be the consequences or effects of these new economic freedoms? Document #4- A) What was the Solidarity movement? B) What effect did the Solidarity movement have on the rest of Eastern Europe? Document #5- A) Top (map):list the names of all the nations who became independent from the Soviet Union. B) Bottom: Explain how these people feel about the collapse of the Soviet Union. Document #6- A) Which nation had a greater GDP (earned more money) in 1990? Which nation spent more on weapons in 1990? B) How can this data be connected to the collapse of the Soviet Union? Explain your answer
DOCUMENT #2- Mikhail Gorbachev and Glasnost Mikhail Gorbachev was the youngest leader ever elected in the Soviet Union. He was open minded and willing to pursue new ideas. One of Gorbachev s greatest legacies was his policy of Glasnost. GREATER GLASNOST TURNS SOME SOVIET HEADS November 1986 Glasnost is usually translated as "openness or "publicity"... To give glasnost is to give people a voice, to allow people to speak out boldly and openly. Of all Mikhail S. Gorbachev's programs none have had so visible and far-reaching an impact as his call for greater glasnost in Soviet life... In recent weeks, literary journals have announced plans to publish long-suppressed (censored) works... Also, a television reporter gave an unexpectedly approving report on McDonald's restaurants, suggesting that their cleanliness and good organization were something the Soviet Union might emulate (follow). THE END OF AN ERA February 1992... The Soviet Union's last leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, initiated reform in a policy named glasnost, or freedom of speech... What Gorbachev did not realize was that by giving people complete freedom of expression; he was unleashing emotions and political feelings that had been held back for decades.
DOCUMENT #3 Perestroika The close-minded approach of past Soviet leaders had led to economic problems. People were told when, where, and how much to produce of everything. Even wages were decided by the government, leading to poor performance by Soviet workers. Perestroika (restructuring) was an economic policy. "The Soviet Union, the world's biggest producer of steel, raw materials, fuel and energy has shortfalls in them due to wasteful or inefficient use... Our rockets can find Halley's comet and fly to Venus with amazing accuracy, but side by side with these scientific and technological triumphs is an obvious lack of effectiveness in using scientific achievements for economic needs, and many Soviet household appliances are of poor quality... the improvements in living standards was slowing down and there were difficulties in the supply of food stuffs, housing, consumer goods and services" - Mikhail Gorbachev, 1987 In 1986, Gorbachev introduced Perestroika, or economic restructuring. Local managers were able to make decisions on production without government approval. People could own their own private businesses. Workers were to be given more money to work harder, foreign investment was encouraged to help build business, and farmers could make their own profits by selling extra crops.
DOCUMENT #4 A Chain Reaction across Europe With Gorbachev in power, the other Communist nations of Eastern Europe did not take long to remove their antidemocratic and authoritarian rulers. Other Communist Nations in Eastern Europe (not part of the Soviet Union) Solidarity The first anti-communist movement began in Poland in 1980 by a trade Union known as Solidarity. Workers went on strike in the Lenin shipyard, beginning a summer of protest. Led by the electrician and political activist Lech Walesa, the strike was part of a growing campaign to improve economic conditions for Poland's labor force - and push for political freedom. The strike was also reflective of a longer term incompatibility between Polish laws, culture and religion, and Communism. Over the next nine years of protests, some 10,000 opposition activists were jailed and dozens were killed in clashes with police. On 9 December 1990, Mr. Walesa became the first freely elected president of Poland in 50 years. By the end of 1989 other Communist nations such as Czechoslovakia, Hungary, East Germany, Romania, and eventually Bulgaria followed in Poland s footsteps and changed to a democratic government.
DOCUMENT #5 Breakup of the Soviet Union Gorbachev s reforms were meant to reform the Soviet system, but not to end it. The idea of political freedom caught on so rapidly that many of the ethnic minority s throughout the vast Soviet Empire wanted self-rule, outside of Soviet Influence. As a result, territory after territory began to declare independence from the Soviet Union. As of December of 1991, the Soviet Union was no more. The collapse of the Soviet Union has not only led to the creation of a new world order, but transformed the lives of all those who once lived there. The collapse of the USSR opened up the world for me, and every minute I remember and am aware that the world is open. Peter Bares, Estonia Eastern Europe after the Soviet breakup. These territories now became independent nations. The collapse of the Soviet Union broke up our whole life. It s been years since we ve been able to see our own daughter, who lives in a neighboring former republic. Boris Kuzmin, engineer, Kyrgyzstan In spite of the fact that materially I m much better off today than 10 years ago, I still feel nostalgic for the Soviet days. I had less money then, but I slept well, not worrying about how I would provide for myself in my old age. Zinauda Bunu, entrepreneur, Moldova
Document #6- U.S. and Soviet Weapons Spending Money Earned (GDP) 1946-1992 United States Soviet Union Weapons Spending 1946-1998