The Soviet Union Falls Apart Chapter 21

A New Phase By the 1970’s the Cold War had entered a new phase called detent Detent – a relaxation of tensions and improved relations b/w the two superpowers By 1979 the collapse of the detent had began a new period of East-West confrontation By the 1970’s the Cold War had entered a new phase called detent Detent – a relaxation of tensions and improved relations b/w the two superpowers By 1979 the collapse of the detent had began a new period of East-West confrontation

Watergate US President Richard Nixon uses illegal methods to gain info about his political opponents Men working for Nixon’s reelection campaign break into the Democratic National Headquarters and try to bug it At the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. Nixon repeatedly denied his involvement, but… White house tapes emerged that proved his involvement US President Richard Nixon uses illegal methods to gain info about his political opponents Men working for Nixon’s reelection campaign break into the Democratic National Headquarters and try to bug it At the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. Nixon repeatedly denied his involvement, but… White house tapes emerged that proved his involvement

Nixon Resigns August 9, 1974 – Nixon resigns the presidency and his VP Gerald Ford b/c president Nixon resigned so he would not have to face impeachment Ford does not win the next presidential election Jimmy Carter becomes president in – Ronald Reagan b/c president August 9, 1974 – Nixon resigns the presidency and his VP Gerald Ford b/c president Nixon resigned so he would not have to face impeachment Ford does not win the next presidential election Jimmy Carter becomes president in – Ronald Reagan b/c president

Tensions Grow 1979 – SU invades Afghanistan SU wanted to restore a pro-Soviet regime there US viewed this as an act of communist expansion US President Jimmy Carter… Canceled US participation in the 1980 Olympics to be held in Moscow Placed an embargo on the shipment of US grain to the SU 1979 – SU invades Afghanistan SU wanted to restore a pro-Soviet regime there US viewed this as an act of communist expansion US President Jimmy Carter… Canceled US participation in the 1980 Olympics to be held in Moscow Placed an embargo on the shipment of US grain to the SU

Tensions Get Worse The Cold War gets worse when Ronald Reagan was elected president in 1980 Reagan… Called the SU an “evil empire” Built up the military & b/g a new arms race Gave military aid to Afghan rebels to prevent the SU from taking over Afghanistan The Cold War gets worse when Ronald Reagan was elected president in 1980 Reagan… Called the SU an “evil empire” Built up the military & b/g a new arms race Gave military aid to Afghan rebels to prevent the SU from taking over Afghanistan

Beginning of the End 1985 – Mikhail Gorbachev comes to power in the SU Gorbachev… Eventually brings an end to the Cold War Encouraged glasnost Glasnost – a policy of openness in discussions of public policy Gorbachev’s “New Thinking” campaign A willingness to rethink SU foreign policy 1985 – Mikhail Gorbachev comes to power in the SU Gorbachev… Eventually brings an end to the Cold War Encouraged glasnost Glasnost – a policy of openness in discussions of public policy Gorbachev’s “New Thinking” campaign A willingness to rethink SU foreign policy

Making Peace 1987 – SU and US make an agreement Intermediate-range Nuclear Force (INF) Treaty To eliminate intermediate-range nuclear weapons Gorbachev stopped giving SU military support to communist govts. in Eastern Europe Opens the door to overthrow the communist regimes in Eastern European countries A mostly peaceful revolutionary mvmt swept through Eastern Europe 1987 – SU and US make an agreement Intermediate-range Nuclear Force (INF) Treaty To eliminate intermediate-range nuclear weapons Gorbachev stopped giving SU military support to communist govts. in Eastern Europe Opens the door to overthrow the communist regimes in Eastern European countries A mostly peaceful revolutionary mvmt swept through Eastern Europe

Germany Reunited 1990 – Reunification of Germany Eastern Germany opened its borders to Western Germany People b/g to tear down the Berlin Wall The govt. orders the rest of the wall to be torn down A powerful symbol of the end of the Cold War!!! 1990 – Reunification of Germany Eastern Germany opened its borders to Western Germany People b/g to tear down the Berlin Wall The govt. orders the rest of the wall to be torn down A powerful symbol of the end of the Cold War!!!

Gorbachev Reforms the SU Perestroika – restructuring (radical reforms) Gorbachev’s perestroika 1. Economic reform – start a market economy where consumers influenced what was produced Have free enterprise (private ownership of business) Have private property Perestroika – restructuring (radical reforms) Gorbachev’s perestroika 1. Economic reform – start a market economy where consumers influenced what was produced Have free enterprise (private ownership of business) Have private property

More Reforms 2. Political reforms by Gorbachev Established a new SU parliament Members were to be elected Non-Communist political parties were allowed to organize Got rid of the constitutional provision that guaranteed the Communist Party a “leading role” in govt. Created a new state presidency 1990 Gorbachev b/c the SU first (and last) president 2. Political reforms by Gorbachev Established a new SU parliament Members were to be elected Non-Communist political parties were allowed to organize Got rid of the constitutional provision that guaranteed the Communist Party a “leading role” in govt. Created a new state presidency 1990 Gorbachev b/c the SU first (and last) president

Gorbachev Arrested Gorbachev’s reforms threaten the power of traditional SU institutions The army, govt., KGB, and military industries The end of the SU would mean an end to their privileges August 1991 – a group of conservative leaders arrest Gorbachev and try to seize power Their attempt was a failure Now rebels led by Boris Yeltsin go after full independence Gorbachev’s reforms threaten the power of traditional SU institutions The army, govt., KGB, and military industries The end of the SU would mean an end to their privileges August 1991 – a group of conservative leaders arrest Gorbachev and try to seize power Their attempt was a failure Now rebels led by Boris Yeltsin go after full independence

End of the Soviet Union Boris Yeltsin and thousands of Russians resisted the rebel forces in Moscow They get full independence! December 1991 – the Soviet Union is no longer  Russia is back! Gorbachev resigns and turns over his presidential office to Yeltsin Yeltsin is now the president of Russia By 2000 Vladimir Putin replaced Yeltsin Boris Yeltsin and thousands of Russians resisted the rebel forces in Moscow They get full independence! December 1991 – the Soviet Union is no longer  Russia is back! Gorbachev resigns and turns over his presidential office to Yeltsin Yeltsin is now the president of Russia By 2000 Vladimir Putin replaced Yeltsin