Fall of Communism & the end of the Cold War!
Why did the Communism Fail? In groups come up with a Theory or reason
Think about which factors were most important Leaders Social unrest Intervention in other countries Economic problems Pressure from democracies Diverse ethnic groups
Revolutions of 1989 Poland: Free elections, Communist Party fails
Cont’d Austria and Hungary open borders –Allows East Germans to flee –Opening in Iron Curtain
Revolution in Romania and Czechoslovakia Gorbachev does not interfere Denounces Brezhnev Doctrine
FALL OF BERLIN WALL Riots and demonstrations in East Germany in 1989 New govt. in Nov. Orders opening of Berlin Wall- symbols end of war
Implosion Theory USSR collapsed from within No creativity, Competition, and Incentive Communism = problem
Personality Theory – People made the difference 1.Gorbachev’s reform Perestroika + glasnost
Cont’d 2. Ronald Reagan - defense spending - Strategic Defense Initiative 3. Yeltsin- pushed for more reforms
Strategic Overstretch Theory: Too big Interfered too much
1. Superpowers withdraw 2. Spread of Democracy New countries enter international politics
Break up of the Sov Union left 15 independent countries! * Armenia*Latvia *Azerbaijan*Lithuania *Belarus*Moldova *Estonia*Russia *Georgia*Tajikistan *Kazakhstan*Turkmenistan *Kyrgyzstan*Ukraine *Uzbekistan
4.Nuclear Legacy??? 5.Greater use of United Nations 6.Ethnic/national tension
European Union A movement toward unity
European Economic Community Formed 1957 Also Called Common Market
Goals Eliminate Tariffs Similar wages and benefits
EEC a Huge Success Other countries join Britain, Denmark, Ireland admitted in 1973.
The Common Market becomes the European Union Becomes known as the EU in Euro, common currency 1999
Possible Problems for EU 1.independent states in E. Europe? 2.Influence of Germany makes others uneasy.
THE EURO The currency of twelve European Union countries: Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland.