1. History 171D The United States and the World Since 1945

2. The End of the Cold War

3. Debate: The End of the Cold War Thursday, May 22 Resolved: “More than any other leader, Ronald Reagan deserves the credit for ensuring a Western victory in the Cold War.”

4. Iran/contra Affair

5. December 1987—Gorbachev came to Washington and signed Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Reagan

6. November 1988— Vice President George H. W. Bush was elected president

7. Upon taking office, slowed down pace of rapprochement with Soviet Union

8. But Gorbachev forged ahead to end Cold War

9. 1989—Gorbachev withdrew Soviet troops from Afghanistan

10. Afghan Mujahidin

11. Stinger missiles

12. Stunning events in Eastern Europe in 1989

13. Pattern 1: Electoral Change Poland Hungary

14. Pattern 1: Electoral Change In Poland and Hungary, noncommunist parties prevailed in free elections Poland Hungary

15. Pattern 1: Electoral Change In Poland and Hungary, noncommunist parties prevailed in free elections Lech Walesa of Poland

16. Pattern 2: Massive Street Protests In East Germany, after escalating protests, hard-line communist leader Erich Honecker stepped down in favor of Egon Krenz, who promised reforms Honecker Krenz

17. Pattern 2: Massive Street Protests In Berlin, after initial attempt to maintain status quo, East German government removed barrier between East and West—Berlin Wall came down

18. Pattern 2: Massive Street Protests In Czechoslovakia, peaceful demonstrations (“Velvet Revolution”) convinced communist government to resign

19. Pattern 2: Massive Street Protests In Czechoslovakia, peaceful demonstrations (“Velvet Revolution”) convinced communist government to resign

20. Pattern 3: Violent Revolt In Romania, hard-line dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was forcefully overthrown and executed Nicolae Ceausecu

21. Meanwhile, Soviet Union faced severe economic conditions; Gorbachev’s reforms allowed citizens freedom to examine and discuss economic problems, but couldn’t solve those problems

22. July 1991—US and Soviet Union signed Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START) agreement: each side limited to 6,000 strategic warheads

23. Boris Yeltsin

24. December 1991—Yeltsin met with leaders of Ukraine and Belarus and formed Commonwealth of Independent States, effectively abolishing Soviet Union

25. Debate: The End of the Cold War Thursday, May 22 Resolved: “More than any other leader, Ronald Reagan deserves the credit for ensuring a Western victory in the Cold War.”