1. The Collapse of the Soviet Union Lesson starter Which events damaged the ‘thawing of relations’ between the Superpowers in the 1970s and 1980s? (5 marks) Today we will understand the reasons behind the Collapse of the Soviet Union

2. Financial Problems No official figures regarding Soviet Economy – no one kept track of finances Quality of goods produced was poor – Lada cars, TV explosions in 1982 No figures on government salaries, defence budgets Had to drop out of Arms Race due to financial problems

3. 1980s Lada

4. Economic problems

5. A report in 1983 told Gorbachev all he needed to know – the Soviet Economy would collapse of he did not act New policies Glasnost – openness Perestroika – renewal He wanted Soviet people to speak more openly He wanted to rebuild the Soviet state However there were many who wanted it completely gone

6. Glasnost/Perestroika

7. Glasnost made most Eastern Europeans criticise the communist system Hungary/Czech especially These countries still wanted freedom Would Gorbachev send in the tanks? Czechoslovakia

8. Poland 1980-9 Polish unhappy – 80% Catholic Strikes, protests etc – new Trade Union Solidarity Secret alliance made between Reagan and John Paul II Money provided from West 1989 deal struck for free elections – Solidarity took power First ever non Communist government in a USSR satellite state

9. Solidarity and Poland

10. Why was this allowed? Gorbachev knew the USSR needed a new way of dealing with the East He let them sort out their own problems Abandoned Brezhnev doctrine

11. Gorbachev

12. 1989 Berlin Wall destroyed When Hungary took down the barbed wire along their Austrian border, 1000s fled to the West Berlin had to follow suit

13. Fall of the Wall

14. After this, many Soviet Communist governments collapsed – Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Romania Regan retired 1989 Bush meets Gorbachev Dec 1989 – ‘The Cold War is Over’ Germany reunited as one country

15. Collapse of Communism

16. Many hard line Communists tried to rebel against Gorbachev – led by Yeltsin Gorbachev resigned – no longer a Soviet Union to lead

17. Yeltsin Post Cold War Berlin