Complete the True/False Warm-Up then update your TOC

Complete the True/False Warm-Up then update your TOC

The Fall of Communism & End of Cold War

1970s: Detente Period of détente* in which the US & USSR s relationship began to improve Détente ended when the USSR invaded Afghanistan Became proxy war: Soviets supplied Afghan communist gov. & US supplied jihadists fighting the Soviets President Ronald Reagan took the opposite approach & used tough rhetoric on the USSR USSR command economy struggled

EVENTS 1978: Election of John Paul II He was the first non- Italian Pope in 400 years inspired Polish nationalism Spoke out strongly against Communism, encouraging freedom for all people and human rights Pope John Paul II speaking to a crowd in Poland

PEOPLE Mikhail Gorbachev* Leader of the Soviet Union (USSR) from 1985 until its collapse in 1991. Reformed many Communist policies, bringing more freedom and openness (glasnost) Glasnost- more transparent gov. that shared more information, allowed (some) discussion of problems Many of his policies ultimately failed

Ronald Reagan* President of the United States from 1981-1989 Tough on the Soviet Union Dramatically increased US military spending Soviet Union did not keep pace

1970s- 1980s Growth in the West Western capitalist nations experienced huge rise in the standard of living after World War II Homeownership became common along with car ownership

A wide variety of consumer goods were produced including radios, televisions, phones, VCR's, microwaves and clothing. 1970s- 1980s Growth in the West Huge production of consumer goods fueled economic growth.

1970s- 1980s Problems in the Soviet Union In contrast, communist Soviet Union & its satellites experienced rapid industrialization but mainly focused on producing military equipment not consumer goods Standard of living remained lower in the USSR Shortage of basic living goods

1970s- 1980s Problems in the Soviet Union Standing in line for products and rationing became common along with a shortage of housing Eventually the spending on the military came at the expense of consumer production This led to the collapse of the Soviet economy.

1980: Solidarity Movement in Lech Walesa inspired a series of workers strikes across Poland in 1980 Poland The authorities were forced to negotiate with Walesa and gave the workers the right to strike and to organize their own independent union, called Solidarity.

Late 1980s: Gorbachev Reforms the Soviet Union Goal: maintain communism but improve it Turned to some free market ideas Government became slightly less authoritarian Two new major reforms

Gorbachev Reforms the Soviet Union Glasnost political policy that allowed more openness such as freedom of speech. Perestroika economic policy that encouraged more private ownership of business and innovation FREE SPEECH

1989-1990: Change in the UUSR 1989: Fall of the Berlin Wall The Berlin Wall, which had separated East and West Berlin since 1961, was opened in November 1989. https://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=fk1mwhedjhg Germans could now travel freely back and forth

Protests throughout Eastern Europe Inspired by Poland s Solidarity movement, people across Eastern Europe staged mass demonstrations calling for democratic reform Only in Romania, the protests turned violent

Election of Lech Walesa In 1990, Lech Walesa was elected President of the Republic of Poland Poland was the first Eastern European country to establish a non-communist government. By 1990, every Eastern European country had replaced its communist govt.

1990: Reunification of Germany West Germany s leader helped negotiate the reunification of Germany which was official in 1990 Germany became a Democratic Republic

THE IRON CURTAIN FALLS

The Soviet Union Collapses Reforming the Soviet Union ultimately led to its break up Various ethnic groups began calling for their freedom from the Soviet Union After a failed overthrow, Gorbachev resigned and the Communist party disbanded

The Soviet Union Collapses Video clip 1991, Russia, Belarus & the Ukraine all declared their independence from the Soviet Union. Other republics followed USSR collapsed in 1991 Boris Yeltsin* became president Economy was in crisis Today Russia is democratic, although restricted Some people want a return to communism, others want less corruption

Newly independent nations formed after the collapse of the Soviet Union

Collapse of the Soviet Union Political Cartoon Assignment READ the provided information Think about the cartoons in context of the Cold War Ask for help when needed Cartoon 2: Speak No is crushing a sign that says Dissidents (protestors) #8- explain beyond openness

READ the provided information Think about the cartoons in context of the Cold War Ask for help when needed Reforms Cartoon 2: Speak No is crushing a sign that says Dissidents (protestors) #9- explain beyond openness