Gorbachev/GlasnostGorbachev/Glasnost

Mikhail Gorbachev, wow that’s Mikhail Gorbachev, wow that’s fun to say!fun to say!

Born in March 2, Born in March 2, 19311931

Studied law at Studied law at Moscow UniversityMoscow University

Married a Married a philosophy student, philosophy student, Raisa Titorenko.Raisa Titorenko.

Communist partyCommunist party

Gorbachev joined Gorbachev joined the communist the communist party secretariat as party secretariat as Agriculture Agriculture secretary.secretary.

In 1980, he joined In 1980, he joined the Politburo as the the Politburo as the protégé of Yuri protégé of Yuri Andropov.Andropov.

With great power comes great With great power comes great responsibility.responsibility.

After Andropov’s After Andropov’s death, Gorbachev death, Gorbachev assumed full control assumed full control over the economy.over the economy.

He used his He used his newfound power to newfound power to bring in a bunch of bring in a bunch of comprehensive comprehensive reforms to the reforms to the Soviets.Soviets.

This is your USSRThis is your USSR

Typical communist Typical communist stuff. You name it , stuff. You name it , they probably they probably didn’t have it didn’t have it unless the unless the government said government said so. Which usually so. Which usually didn’t happen didn’t happen unless you were in unless you were in the party.the party.

Hey! Teacher! Leave them Hey! Teacher! Leave them kids alone!kids alone!

Glasnost reformed Glasnost reformed history education history education of the Soviet Union.of the Soviet Union.

The Soviet history The Soviet history textbooks became textbooks became useless as whole useless as whole periods of history periods of history were rewritten with were rewritten with the truth of some the truth of some of their dictators.of their dictators.

Mmmpphh! Mmm! MMmm!Mmmpphh! Mmm! MMmm!Translation: Help! Help! Help!Translation: Help! Help! Help!

Glasnost also Glasnost also reformed the reformed the press, allowing press, allowing them to print any them to print any opinions they had, opinions they had, and unlike before, and unlike before, the Communist the Communist party didn’t have party didn’t have to approve it.to approve it.

So basically…So basically…

The goal of Glasnost was to make the The goal of Glasnost was to make the country’s functions transparent.country’s functions transparent.

It opened previously censored It opened previously censored sections in the library.sections in the library.

It also allowed for greater freedom in It also allowed for greater freedom in the press.the press.

Well, Glasnost was aptly named, it Well, Glasnost was aptly named, it means “Openness” in Russian.means “Openness” in Russian.

And the results are in…And the results are in…

Glasnost resulted Glasnost resulted in the Soviets in the Soviets losing their grip on losing their grip on the media, which the media, which was necessary to was necessary to keep a grip on the keep a grip on the people.people.

OopsOops

The Glasnost The Glasnost reforms along with reforms along with the other reforms, the other reforms, perestroika, perestroika, demokratizatsiya, demokratizatsiya, and uskoreniye and uskoreniye contributed to the contributed to the collapse of the collapse of the Soviet Union.Soviet Union.

But it wasn’t all bad. If that But it wasn’t all bad. If that last thing can be considered last thing can be considered

bad.bad. Gorbachev’s reforms, as Gorbachev’s reforms, as

well as his willingness to well as his willingness to talk with president Reagan talk with president Reagan gave him many honors.gave him many honors.

Among which was the Among which was the Nobel peace prize in 1990 Nobel peace prize in 1990 for "his leading role in the for "his leading role in the peace process which today peace process which today characterizes important characterizes important parts of the international parts of the international community.“community.“

He was also the Time He was also the Time magazine man of the year.magazine man of the year.

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