Aim:Why did the Soviet union break up?

Do now:
Define: Glasnost Perestroika – from the
handout
Identify: Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin
Home work # 5
Describe causes of Communism’s collapse in
Soviet Union – refer to pages 846-847
 What were the two reforms of
Mikhail Gorbachev?
• In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became the
Soviet leader. To improve social and
economic conditions, Gorbachev
developed two new programs.
• These programs were known as
Perestroika(restructuring), and
glassnost(openness)
 What is perestroika?
• It was an economic program to make the
Soviet economy more efficient.
• Citizens gained the right to set up their
own businesses. Heads of large factories
were told to make their plants profitable.
 What is glassnost?

• It is a political reform which granted

increased freedom of speech and the
press to Soviet citizens
How did these reforms improve
the relations with the west?

• In 1987, and in 1991, the United States

and the Soviet Union signed major nuclear
arms reduction treaties. Gorbachev
ordered Soviet forces out of Afghanistan in
1989. He also stopped supporting Marxist
governements and movements around the
world to end the economic drain on the
country.
• How did these reforms improve the relations with
the west?
• In 1987, and in 1991, the United States and the
Soviet Union signed major nuclear arms
reduction treaties. Gorbachev ordered Soviet
forces out of Afghanistan in 1989. He also
stopped supporting Marxist governements and
movements around the world to end the
economic drain on the country.
How did the reforms cause the
collapse of communism and the
break up of Soviet Union?
• Some communists opposed Gorbachev,
believing that his reforms were ruining the
Soviet Union and violating the teachings of
Marx. In 1991, these communists led an
unsuccessful coup against Gorbachev. To
lessen the power of the communists,
Gorbachev resigned from the party. The
Soviet Parliament suspended all party
activities.
 Effects of the reforms – Cont
• To lessen the power of the communists,
Gorbachev resigned from the party. The
Soviet Parliament suspended all party
activities. The Communists party no longer
controlled the government, the economy
or the military.
• Effects of the Reforms
• Gorbachev continued his reforms. In spite
of his efforts, Russia, Ukraine, and the 13
other republics that had once formed the
Soviet Union declared their independence.
At the end of 1991, Gorbachev resigned
as president. Most of the former Soviet
republics then formed the Common wealth
of Independent States (CIS).
• Boris Yeltsin
• Boris Yeltsin was elected president of the
Republic of Russia in 1990. He had been
a leader in the Communist Party and had
supported Gorbachev’s reforms. Yeltsin
maintained good relations with the West.
• Severe economic problems hampered his
efforts.
Aim: How has the fall of
Communism changed Europe and
the world?
• Do Now: Read the hand out

• H.W. #6
• Describe the Fall of Communism in two
Eastern European countries. Page # 867-
870
 How did the Eastern Europe
change to democracy?
• The reforms of Gorbachev had sparked
demands for democracy and national
independence. Poland , East Germany,
Romania, Bulgaria, and other countries of
Eastern Europe broke away from Soviet
control. Through much of the region, there
were attempts to enact democratic
reforms and make the transition from a
command economy to a market economy.
• How did Poland become democratic?
• In the 1980’s in Poland, economic
hardships caused labor unrest. Led by
Lech Walesa, workers organized
Solidarity, an independent trade union.
With millions of members, Solidarity called
for political change.
• Poland becomes a democratic nation
• At first, the Soviet Union tried to suppress
Solidarity. International pressure as well
as internal pressure led to elections in
Poland. In 1989, Lech walesa was elected
the first president of Poland.
• East and West Germany united
• By 1989, East German leaders could no
longer count on support from the Soviet
Union. A rising wave of protests forced the
communist government from power. In
November 1989, the Berlin Wall was torn
down by joyous Germans.
• New nations and civil wars
• Czechoslovakia split peacefully in to two
separate countries, the Czech republic
and Slovakia.
• Elsewhere, ethnic divisions often resulted
in open warfare. – Ex. Armenia and
Azerbaijan
• Turmoil in the Balkans
• In the Balkan peninsula, ethnic conflict
ripped the multinational state of
Yugoslavia. After the fall of communism,
Croatia, Slovania, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
and Macedonia separated from
Yugoslavia and became independent
states.
• Ethnic Cleansing
• The breakup of Yugoslavia did not come
peacefully. In newly independent Bosnia,
for example, Serbs tried to remove non-
Serbs by force. Many Bosnians became
refugees and other were brutalized or
killed. This policy of removing or killing
people of a certain ethnic group became
known as ethnic cleansing.
Review -
Review
Review
Review
Review
Review
Review
Review
Review
Review
Review
Review
Review
Review
Review
Review
Review
Review