1. The Collapse of the Soviet Union

2. USSR/USA Lose Influence Over time, other countries became stronger Western Europe grew under the Marshall Plan Oil gave Middle East countries more influence in world affairs M.E. used their influence to resist superpowers (USA/USSR) The Soviet/American economy struggled under massive military spending

3. The Superpowers are Challenged Revolt in Czech. almost removed them from Warsaw Pact ( 1960’s) China started friendly relations with the US (1970’s) Solidarity Movement in Poland tried to change the communist gov’t (1980’s) Soviets invaded Afghanistan to maintain power (1980’s USSR lost) Cuba became communist (1959) US sent troops (1960’s) to Dominican Republic to stop Cuban-style revolt Lost the war in Vietnam (1973) Participated in Lebanese Civil War (1980’s) Economy also weighed down by heavy military spending USSR USA

4. 1970’s Attempts at Peace US/USSR began to have Détente talks Détente – relaxing of tensions Détente – relaxing of tensions Small economic ties were built between US/USSR President Richard Nixon started SALT agreements with the Soviets President Richard Nixon started SALT agreements with the Soviets Strategic Arms Limitation Talks Strategic Arms Limitation Talks Froze the current number of certain missiles (can’t build more) SALT II continued under President Jimmy Carter Suggested reducing numbers of different missiles US Congress did not accept SALT II agreements Still showed that the US and USSR were willing to begin working together under current leadership US/USSR continued to have indirect conflicts in Middle East, South America, South Asia

6. 1980’s - Cold War Heats Up Again New President Ronald Reagan vowed to increase military spending – build more missiles New President Ronald Reagan vowed to increase military spending – build more missiles Claimed there was a missile gap – US is losing the nuclear arms race Stop communism everywhere Called the USSR the “Evil Empire” (Star Wars) Placed missiles in Western Germany (6 min. from Moscow) Spent $2.2 trillion over 8 years Tried to outspend the Russians - created large U.S. debt Tried to outspend the Russians - created large U.S. debt Continued to send troops around the world – civil wars Continued to send troops around the world – civil wars

7. Soviet Collapse – 1980’s US/USSR suffered economically under military spending Soviets suffered worse than U.S. Money not being spent to improve living conditions in Russia Could not keep up in arms race spending Premier Mikhail Gorbachev wanted to spend less on military Spend more on people at home Gorbachev said USSR would not intervene in E. Europe affairs Many E. Eur. Countries began changing gov’ts – no communism

8. The Cold War Ends USSR lost influence over Warsaw Pact Allies Nov. 1989 - Berlin Wall is opened Brandenburg Gate Speech, 1987, Reagan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtYdjbpBk6A&feature=related Dec. 1989 – Mikhail Gorbachev and President George HW Bush announced the end of the Cold War Feb. 1990 – Communists no longer only party in the USSR Gorbachev resigned in 1991 USSR fractured into 15+ different nations “Soviet Union” no longer existed = non-communist Russia Other countries wanted independence and self-gov’t Currently the US and Russia are considered “friendly”