The Cold War (The
End)
(The dissolution of the Soviet Union...)
As the Cold War carried
on..
1980’s: Soviet -U.S relations improve
considerably
1985: Gorbachev appointed leader
Gorbachev’s
appointment followed
the death of three
previous Soviet
leaders in three years.
Q.....What would this
create?
A feeling of uneasiness?
Gorbachev’s
Perestroik
Reforms..
a
: economic reforms (1987), attempt to
aid the economy. Some Free Market elements were added.
Glasnost: With the Soviet public becoming more
disenchanted with their secretive government, Gorbachev
attempted to compensate by committing to openness and
transparency with the media. However, this backfired as the
public learned of long-standing political cover ups revealing
past and recent atrocities, missteps by leadership, social and
health failures of the USSR and the true extent of national
economic problems.
Results.....
Still failing
economy
and public
knowledge of
wrongdoings...
A d
T h e
dChteorntohbeylmDiix
. ..
sa s ter...
1987:Reagan and Gorbachev sign the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces
Treaty (INF) in Washington. It removes more than 2,600 medium-range nuclear
missiles from Europe.
1989: Hungary decides to allow free elections
and take down the fence between Hungary
and Austria.
Gorbachev says he will not stop the moves.
June 1989 — Poland holds its first free elections. The Solidarity (labor) Party beats the Communists.
July 1989 — Thousands of East Germans "vacation" in Hungary and then flee to the Austria and the West.
October 1989 — East German leaders celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Communist GDR. Two days
later 70,000 protesters demand an end to the regime. Russian troops stay in their barracks and GDR soldiers and police back
down. Communist leader Honecker is voted out of office by the Politburo.
November 1989 — Soldiers in East Berlin open some of
the gates in the Berlin Wall. Crowds respond by tearing
the wall down.
Soldiers open flood gate....
November 1989 — Bulgaria's communist party leader resigns. Free elections held in June, 1990.
December 1989 — Protesters in Czechoslovakia jangle keys in front of the government saying, "Your time is up." The
government gives up without violence, and elections are held.
December 1989 — Romanian communist forces kill 73 in riots. Crowds storm the government and later capture the
leader Ceausescu. He and his wife are tried and executed. Elections are held.
June 1991 — In Yugoslavia, the provinces of Croatia and Slovenia declare their independence igniting a decade of
fighting and genocide. Eventually, the country splits into Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, and the region
of Kosovo.
August 1991 — Russian military leaders put Gorbachev under
house arrest and take over governing in order to save the Soviet
Union. Boris Yeltsin, leader of the Russian Republic, occupies
the Parliament building, defying the coup. The Army backs
down.
On Aug. 23, 1991, Yeltsin suspended all
Communist Party activity. Party files were seized and
sealed. The statue of Felix Dzerzhinsky, founder of the
Soviet secret police, was removed from its pedestal in
front of the KGB's headquarters.
Moscow was jubilant.
December 1991 — The republics of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine
act to dissolve the Soviet Union, finally freeing Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and
Kazakhstan.
Meaning.....????
The end of Soviet Union/USSR
and the subsequent end of the
Cold War...
Russia is now...
“The Russian Republic”
with Boris Yeltsin as President..
Add to your
timeline..... 1985:
Gorbachev appointed leader
1986: Chernobyl Disaster
1987: Nuclear Forces Treaty (removal)
1989: Destruction of the Berlin Wall
1991: End of the Soviet Union & Cold War
Activities
Activity 1: Gorbachev and Yeltsin
character profiles
For both Gorbachev and Yeltsin, create a character
profile similar to the ones you have created for other
historical players.
Make sure you include their legacy... i.e. what are
they known for...?
For Gorbachev, you should include descriptions of
the two major reforms he brought in:
‘Perestroika’ and ‘Glasnost’
Activity 2: Chernobyl
Answer the following questions...
1.Write a paragraph in your own words
describing the Chernobyl Accident. Include;
when and where it happened, why it
happened, and the affects it had.
2. Which nuclear disaster was
stronger? Chernobyl or
Hiroshima? (WWII)
3. Find 3 different photos that
represent some of the effects of the
Chernobyl Disaster.
1. photo of Human effects
1. Environmental effects
1. Effects on building and infrastructure.
Activity 3: Winners or losers
Do you think the U.S actually won the ‘Cold
War’?
What pros and cons can you think of in
terms of their involvement.
