1. The Cold War and the Collapse of the Soviet Union

2. Communism in Czechoslovakia
communism came to Czechoslovakia in February 1948 as a result of Soviet influence
country was a two-state federation made up of Czechs and Slovaks
problems arose due to lack of cooperation between the two groups
communist rule was able to suppress these differences until communism collapsed in November 1989
in 1993, the country was split into two separate countries – the Czech Republic and Slovakia

3. Communism in Yugoslavia
in January of 1946, communism officially came to Yugoslavia under the leadership of Josip Broz Tito
Tito was able to suppress democratic movements until his death in 1980 when challenges to communist rule began to increase
in 1990, because of growing nationalism, different ethnic groups in Yugoslavia began to try to break away from the country
calls for democratic reforms were met with extreme violence by communist supporters

4. Communism in Yugoslavia
in June of 1991, communism in Yugoslavia collapsed as the country broke apart into new countries split along ethnic lines
in the country of Serbia and Montenegro, ethnic cleansing (the brutal removal of one ethnic group from an area) and other atrocities occurred under the leadership of Slobodan Milosevic
in 2001, Milosevic surrendered and was arrested, charged with crimes against humanity, and imprisoned until his death in 2006
in 2006, Serbia and Montenegro split into two countries
ethnic violence continued in the Serbian province of Kosovo
in 2008, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia

5. The European Union replaced the EEC in 1993
sought to continue lowering trade restrictions
wanted to create a “single market” in Europe by having countries cooperate economically
created a new currency – the Euro
many former communist countries have now joined the EU (27 total members after Oct. 2019)
NAFTA – North American Free Trade Agreement – created free trade zone in North America between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada