The Collapse of theSoviet Union

USSR/USA Lose Influence

Over time, other countries became stronger

Western Europe grew under the Marshall Plan

Oil gave Middle East countries more influence in world affairs

M.E. used their influence to resist superpowers (USA/USSR)

The Soviet/American economy struggled under massive military spending

The Superpowers are Challenged

Revolt in Czech. almost removed them from Warsaw Pact (1960’s)

China started friendly relations with the US (1970’s)

Solidarity Movement in Poland tried to change the communist gov’t (1980’s)

Soviets invaded Afghanistan to maintain power (1980’s USSR lost)

Cuba became communist (1959)

US sent troops (1960’s) to Dominican Republic to stop Cuban-style revolt

Lost the war in Vietnam (1973)

Participated in Lebanese Civil War (1980’s)

Economy also weighed down by heavy military spending

USSRUSA

1970’s Attempts at Peace

US/USSR began to have Détente talksDétenteDétente – relaxing of tensions – relaxing of tensionsSmall economic ties were built between

US/USSRPresident Richard Nixon started SALT President Richard Nixon started SALT

agreements with the Sovietsagreements with the SovietsSStrategic trategic AArms rms LLimitation imitation TTalksalksFroze the current number of certain

missiles (can’t build more)SALT II continued under President Jimmy

CarterSuggested reducing numbers of different

missiles US Congress did not accept SALT II

agreementsStill showed that the US and USSR were

willing to begin working together undercurrent leadership

US/USSR continued to have indirect conflicts in Middle East, South America, South Asia

1980’s - Cold War Heats Up AgainNew President Ronald Reagan New President Ronald Reagan

vowed to increase military vowed to increase military spending – build more missilesspending – build more missiles

Claimed there was a missile gap – US is losing the nuclear arms race

Stop communism everywhereCalled the USSR the “Evil

Empire” (Star Wars)Placed missiles in Western

Germany (6 min. from Moscow)Spent $2.2 trillion over 8 yearsTried to outspend the Russians -Tried to outspend the Russians -

created large U.S. debtcreated large U.S. debtContinued to send troops Continued to send troops

around the world – civil wars around the world – civil wars

Soviet Collapse – 1980’s

US/USSR suffered economically under military spending

Soviets suffered worse than U.S.Money not being spent to

improve living conditions in Russia

Could not keep up in arms race spending

Premier Mikhail Gorbachev wanted to spend less on military

Spend more on people at homeGorbachev said USSR would not

intervene in E. Europe affairsMany E. Eur. Countries began

changing gov’ts – no communism

The Cold War Ends

USSR lost influence over Warsaw Pact Allies

Nov. 1989 - Berlin Wall is opened Brandenburg Gate Speech,

1987, Reagan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtYdjbpBk6A&feature=rela

ted

Dec. 1989 – Mikhail Gorbachev and President George HW Bush announced the end of the Cold War

Feb. 1990 – Communists no longer only party in the USSR

Gorbachev resigned in 1991 USSR fractured into 15+

different nations “Soviet Union” no longer

existed = non-communist Russia

Other countries wanted independence and self-gov’t

Currently the US and Russia are considered “friendly”