1. End of the Cold War

2. Arms Race Gets Crazy! US President Reagan increases funding for arms (example: “Star Wars” missile defense system) USSR, already strapped, throws more $ into nukes Economically, begins to unravel –Could not sustain weapons build up AND make consumer goods (centrally planned economy)

3. 1985 - Gorbachev comes to power Gorbachev ushered in an era of reform. Once the door to criticism was cracked open, it couldn’t be cut off again –perestroika (restructuring) Economic reforms (more market based – could suggest improvements, etc.) –Glasnost (openness) allowed greater free expression and criticism of Soviet policies

4. Gorbachev's reforms led many soviets citizens to demand more freedoms and an immediate move to capitalism. Throughout the late 80's there eastern European nations had movements against their Communist governments. The Soviet Union did not stop them. Velvet Revolution 1989

5. Gorbachev and President Bush held a summit meeting at Malta and negotiated important reductions in intermediate range nuclear weapons. Late in 1989 there was a coup in the Soviet Union. Hard line soviet leaders held Gorbachev hostage. He was "rescued” by Boris Yeltsin. The Berlin Wall came down and the Cold War was over.

6. 1989 - Berlin Wall falls Hungary opened its border with Austria, allowing East Germans to flee to the West. massive public demonstrations; East Germany and Eastern Europe; Berlin Wall fell on November 9.

7. Fall of Berlin Wall

10. End of the USSR Various soviet republics protested to be free of the system The Soviet and home nations’ armies were unwilling to fire upon citizens any longer The power of the soviet political elites crumbled. 1992 – USSR official ceases to exist.