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Chapter 11Modern Issues
1. Changes in the Cold War-During the early 1970s, Cold War tensions between the US and Soviet Union eased-President Richard Nixon issued a policy of détente with the USSR-However, this policy ended when President Reagan took office in 1981. -Fiercely anti-Communist, Reagan increased defense spending and put both economic and military pressure on the Soviet Union -Both sides again entered into a nuclear arms race building more and more nuclear missiles-US Pop culture and the media strengthened this division by nicknaming the Soviet Union as the “Evil Empire”-Both the US and USSR and their allies boycotted the Olympics to show their ill will towards each other(US and allies -1980 Olympics held in Moscow, 1984- USSR and allies Olympics in Los Angeles, US
2. Reforms under Gorbachev - In 1982, the Politburo chose Mikhail Gorbachev as the Communist Party’s new leader and he took over as the leader (Premier) of the Soviet Union-Gorbachev relieved that the Soviet Union need to become more modern by allowing the free flow of ideas and information.-He hoped that this change would bring about economic and social reform -This new policy was called Glasnost and brought about new changes to the totalitarian USSR-Political prisoners were released, the media was allowed to criticize the government and previously banned books were allowed to be published.
3. Economic Changes-This new openness allowed Soviet citizens to complain about the economic problems of the USSR-To solve this problems and change the inefficientways of Communism, Gorbachev introduced a new program to restructure the economy known as Perestroika.-Under this system, small private businesses were allowed and the government control of manufacturing and production were loosened
4. Ethnic Tensions-As these new reforms began to loosen government control, ethnic tensions across the Soviet Union began to tear the empire apart.-Non-Russians formed a majority in all of the satellite republics of the Soviet Union-The Baltic Nations of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia were the first to challenge the authority of the Soviet Union-Lithuania was the first of these republics to declare its independence in March 1990.-The Soviet Union sent troops to the area to stop the rebellion killing many civilians.-This action led to a coup within the Communist Party-The Soviet government voted to stop all Party activities and Gorbachev resigned-After the collapse, all Soviet republics declared their independence
5.Breakup of the USSR -Leaders of the former Soviet Republics met to decide their future-Boris Yeltsin, leader of the Russia Republic, became leader of the CIS or Commonwealth of Independent States-In 1991, Chechnya, a Muslim region of Russia, wanted to declare their independence.-Yeltsin denied their right by ordering Russian troops to combat the rebellion-Due to the public outcry over the Chechnya rebellion, Yeltsin resigned and Vladimir Putin became President of the CIS
6. Eastern European Changes-As the Soviet Union began to breakup, the former Warsaw Pact countries of Eastern Europe began dissolve their Communist governments and embrace democracy A. Poland - In 1980, Lech Walesa formed a national trade union called Solidarity-It gained support of the workers and the Roman Catholic Church-As the movement gained international support, the Polish government agreed to hold free elections endingCommunist rule-Lech Walesa began the first freely elected President of Poland
6. Eastern European Changes Pg.2
B. Czechoslovakia-Mass demonstrations took place in 1988 and 1989-The Communist government collapsed in 1989 and elected Vaclav Havel as President-Due to ethnic conflicts, the country split into two nations; the Czech Republic and Slovakia
6. Eastern European Changes Pg.3C. East Germany/West Germany-Due to the growing outrage of Communist rule, many East Germans began to flee to Capitalist West Germany-East Germany finally gave in to the protestors and opened its border to the West-Thousands began tearing down the Berlin War, the symbol of the Fall of Communism-In 1990, voters supported the reunifications of Germany -Helmut Kohl became the first elected leader of unified Germany
6. Eastern European Changes Pg.4D. Yugoslavia-Even though a Communist state, Yugoslavia was never a satellite country of the Soviet Union-In 1990, the Communist Part lost power and ethnic tensions between the 6 republics of Yugoslavia threatened to tear it apart-The Republic of Serbia declared war against the Republic of Croatia -After a cease-fire agreement with Croatia, Serbia attacked the Republic of Bosnia-After taking a majority of their territory, Serbia began systematically killing Bosnia’s Muslim population (ethnic cleansing)-Also, Serbia began an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Albanian people in the small region of Kosovo-NATO forces were called in to end the fighting -Slobodan Milosevic was arrested for crimes against humanity (committed suicide in jail)
7. Reforms in China-When Mao Zedong died in 1976, Deng Xiaoping look over control of Communist China-He started the Four Modernizations Policy, which focused on a complete reform of the agricultural, industrial, technological and defense programs-These reforms brought about Western capitalist ideals to these programs.-As China began to promote Western ideas, Chinese students wanted to reform the government by introducing democracy-Massive protests were held in Tiananmen Square to call for an end of Communism-Deng Xiaoping ordered tanks and troops into the Square to crush the demonstration-Hundreds of students were killed
8. Tibet-In 1950, the Chinese took control of Tibet by force-The people of Tibet have their own culture and religion (Tibetan Buddhism)-With the Chinese takeover, the Dalia Lama (Leader of Tibetan Buddhism), and his followers fled to India-Throughout the years, Tibetan people have revolted for their independence from China-Chinese troops have violently put down these rebellions
9. Mother Teresa -One of the most remarkable efforts in modern times for caring of the poor in third world nations came from a Roman Catholic nun Mother Teresa-Starting in 1950, she started the order of The Missionaries of Charity to help the poorest of the poor in India and other impoverished nations-She devoted her life to publicize and help the poor and disease ridden people of these nations-For her works she has received the Nobel Peace Prize and after her death in 1997, the Roman Catholic Church has begun the process to issuing sainthood.
10. Modern Challenges-As the world has become more interdependence, more global issues have emerged-Global Pollution -Deforestation of Rain Forests-Global Population Growth -Chinese Family Planning Laws-Urbanization of Third World Nations-Widespread Disease -HIV/AIDS, Ebola Virus-Nuclear Proliferation -SALT Treaty (US/USSR)-Green Revolution
