1. The Fall of the Soviet Union

3. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
7 Satellite
Countries:
Bulgaria, Czech Republic, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia
Eastern Bloc
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
15 Republics: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

4. History’s Important Russian Revolution in 1917
Established a communist state; became totalitarian
Tried to create unified, central state where national and ethic differences were eliminated

5. Historical Problems in Russia
Non-Russian ethnic groups resisted assimilation
Economic planning failed to meet the needs of the State (arms race with US)
Communism never took root and lost influence

6. Underlying Causes
Years of Soviet military buildup at the expense of domestic development
Economic growth stalled/stagnant economy
Failed attempts at reform
General feeling of discontent, especially in the Baltic republics and Eastern Europe (i.e. Chernobyl)

7. Why did the USSR Collapse?
A massive, home-grown insurgency, led by a number of different participants, contributed to the collapse:
Workers
Dissident intellectuals
Advocates of national self-determination
Reformers

8. Czechoslovakia fights USSR
The Brezhnev Doctrine was articulated in 1968 when the Soviet army occupied Czechoslovakia to end the Prague Spring, an attempt by Alexander Dubcek to build “socialism with a human face.”

9. Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
In 1978, the USSR invaded Afghanistan after feeling that the soviet- friendly Afghan government was under attack by rebel forces.
It became the USSR’s Vietnam, a long war with no clear victory possible and many casualties and high costs.
The US supported the Afghani rebels known as the mujahedeen.
In 1989 the Soviets finally withdrew. Islamic extremists used the opportunity to take over the country.
The defeat weakened the Soviet’s economy and morale.
Mujahedeen celebrate the downing of a Soviet helicopter

10. Nixon and Communism
Détente- the easing of hostility or strained relations, especially between countries.
Nixon visits communist China!!
Nixon visits Moscow, Russia!
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty
Détente- Nixon’s policy aimed at easing Cold War tensions
Nixon visits communist China!!
Opened diplomatic and economic relations
Pursued rapprochement (renewal of friendly relations) with China
Nixon visits Moscow, Russia!
He signs the SALT I treaty
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty

11. Chernobyl

13. Mikhail Gorbachev March 11, 1985
Inherited many problems; recognized need for change (the economy needed fundamental reforms)
Introduced two-tiered policy of reform to meet the needs of the Russian state

14. Policy #1: Glasnost Freedom of speech and free elections
1989 elections - reformist politicians swept into power
unwittingly unleashed emotions and political feelings that had been pent up for decades
Pandora’s Box

15. Policy #2: Perestroika
Economic reform and rebuilding (complete economic restructuring)
did not have the immediate results Gorbachev had hoped for and had publicly predicted
Unsuccessful – bureaucratic corruption
People used free speech to criticize Gorbachev

16. Berlin Wall June 12, 1987, Reagan challenged Gorbachev:
“General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

17. Fall of the USSR Disintegration began on the peripheries
Baltic nationalist movements; demanded autonomy
Lithuania 1990
challenge to glasnost
Non-Russian minority groups agitated for independence during this period

18. The Rise of Nationalism
With the iron grip of the centralized Soviet state relaxed and the growing failure of the state to adequately feed and clothe its people, nationalism in the republics surged and separatist movements threatened the very existence of the Soviet Union.
Moldova: The hot, angry face of nationalism - Apr 13, 2009

19. August Coup August 1991 – “hard-line” Communists take over government
last-ditch effort to save USSR
country went into an uproar; massive protests
soldiers themselves rebelled – “can’t fire on our countrymen”
Coup collapsed after 3 days

20. Results of August Coup
Gorbachev was unable to reestablish real control
negotiated the transition of power made inevitable by the will of the people.
December 1, 1991 all non-Russian republics declared independence (population wanted democracy)
political movements which had emerged since the implementation of glasnost resulted in immediate fall

21. The Wall Came Down
Finally, on the night of November 9, 1989, ordinary Germans poured through the Berlin Wall. The GDR quickly disintegrated, and by the end of 1990, all of East Germany had been incorporated into the wealthy, powerful Federal Republic of Germany.

22. Collapse of the Soviet Union
a new entity was formed “Commonwealth of Independent States" [CIS]
Russia and 15 independent former USSR countries
complete political independence, linked to other Commonwealth countries by economic, and military ties
the Soviet Union, with its centralized political and economic system, had ceased to exist
December, 1991

23. Boris Yeltsin
Boris Yeltsin, who headed the Russian Republic, replaced Gorbachev as president of a much- diminished state.
Issues arise:
Shock therapy
Chechnya

24. President Ronald Reagan
recognized the change in the direction of Soviet leadership
shifted to diplomacy to pursue substantial arms agreements
four summit conferences between 1985 and 1988
believed that he could persuade the Soviets to allow for more democracy and free speech, this would lead to reform and the end of Communism

25. Response in the West victory for freedom
triumph of democracy over totalitarianism,
superiority of capitalism over socialism
Rejoicing - formidable enemy was brought to its knees
Relief – end of Cold War which had hovered over the two superpowers

26. The End of the Cold War
The Cold War was over, brought to a close not by the missiles and tanks of the principal participants, but by the collective courage and willpower of ordinary men and women.

27. Results of the Fall transformed the entire world political situation
reformulation of political, economic and military alliances
America sole military and world hegemonic power
End of Cold War and MAD threat