1. By: McKenzie DiResta, Nikki Hodkinson, Nicole Sable, Brittney Alicea

2. Nation The last Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, also sought reforms in the Union, introducing the policies of glasnost and perestroika in an attempt to end the period of economic stagnation and democratize the government.

3. Rise to power He was a member of the central committee by 1971, party secretary of agriculture of1978, and a full member of the ruling group called the politburo by 1980.

4. He wanted to improve the run-down Soviet economy by using his reforms perestroika and glasnost, in doing that, he believed in allowing more freedom to the common man. Perestroika was a political within the communist party of the soviet union. Glasnost was a policy in Russia openness and transpiring in government. This policy ended censorship and encouraged people to discuss openly the problems in the soviet union. beliefs

5. Gorbachev planned to link socialism with democracy to improve relations with the world and the people within Russia

6. Impact on their nation Gorbachev put an end to the cold war and to dominance of communism, both in the soviet union and throughout the world. He ended it by having meetings with Ronald Regan and became civil with the US.

7. Impact on their Nation Gorbachev almost entirely eliminated the threat of nuclear war that had been hovering over the world. He signed treaties agreeing not to use nuclear weapons with other countries.

8. Regents Questions During the presidency of Mikhail Gorbachev, which problem faced the Soviet Union? 1.ethnic minorities demanded the right of self- determination 2.agricultural production grew faster than food consumption 3.the nations of Eastern Europe insisted that the Soviet Union keep troops in Eastern Europe 4.Western European nations refused to trade with the Soviet Union