The End ofthe

Cold War:1981 to

1991

Ronald ReganRonald Regan} U.S. President U.S. President

1981-19881981-1988} Ideas:Ideas:- Confront the Confront the

Soviets Soviets everywhereeverywhere

- Increase military Increase military spendingspending

} 25% of Soviet 25% of Soviet GDP spent on GDP spent on armsarms

} Result:Result:- Soviet economic Soviet economic

problemsproblems- U.S. military U.S. military

build-upbuild-up

Konstantin Konstantin ChernenkoChernenko

(1984)(1984)

Yuri AndropovYuri Andropov(1983)(1983)

New Soviet LeadershipNew Soviet Leadership

Mikhail GorbachevMikhail Gorbachev(New General (New General

Secretary in 1985)Secretary in 1985)

Gorbachev’s ReformsGorbachev’s Reforms} GlasnostGlasnost: :

encouraged Soviet encouraged Soviet citizens to discuss citizens to discuss ways to improve ways to improve societysociety

} PerestroikaPerestroika: : Soviet Soviet economic economic restructuringrestructuring

1985

1985

Gorbachev’s ReformsGorbachev’s Reforms} DemocratizationDemocratization: :

gradual opening of gradual opening of political system political system leading to election of leading to election of new legislative bodynew legislative body

} Foreign PolicyForeign Policy: : diplomacy over force diplomacy over force and arms controland arms control

1987

1987

Intermediate-Range Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF

Treaty)Treaty)} December 1987December 1987} Banned nuclear Banned nuclear

missiles with missiles with ranges of 300 to ranges of 300 to 3,400 miles3,400 miles

Hungarian Communism FallsHungarian Communism Falls} October 1989: October 1989:

reformers take over reformers take over communist party & communist party & disband partydisband party

} October 1990: Free October 1990: Free elections put non-elections put non-communist govt. in communist govt. in powerpower

} April 1989: April 1989: Solidarity Party Solidarity Party legalizedlegalized

} 1989-90: Free 1989-90: Free elections out elections out Communist reignCommunist reign

} FIRST TIME EVER!FIRST TIME EVER!

Poland Breaks AwayPoland Breaks Away

Communism Continues to Communism Continues to FallFall

Czechoslovakia: Czechoslovakia: } December 1989: Milo December 1989: Milo

Jakes & communist Jakes & communist govt. resignsgovt. resigns

Romania: Romania: } December 1989: December 1989:

uprisings lead to uprisings lead to execution of execution of Ceausescu Ceausescu

} Free elections held in Free elections held in 1990 &19921990 &1992

Fall of the Berlin WallFall of the Berlin Wall} October 1989: October 1989: Closed Closed

borders leads to borders leads to demonstrations & demonstrations & Honecker resignsHonecker resigns

} November 1989: November 1989: new new leader Krenz opens the leader Krenz opens the Berlin WallBerlin Wall

German ReunificationGerman Reunification

} By end of 1989: By end of 1989: East German East German communism fallscommunism falls

} October 3, 1990: October 3, 1990: officially reunitedofficially reunited

Unrest in Soviet UnionUnrest in Soviet Union} Georgia, Ukraine, Georgia, Ukraine,

Moldavia, Moldavia, Lithuania, Latvia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia and Estonia demand self-ruledemand self-rule

} June 1991:voters June 1991:voters elect Boris Yeltsin elect Boris Yeltsin as first directly as first directly elected presidentelected president

Boris Yeltsin

The August Coup The August Coup } August 1991August 1991} Gorbachev detained Gorbachev detained } Protestors gather Protestors gather

outside Yeltsin’s office in outside Yeltsin’s office in Moscow and demand Moscow and demand constitutionconstitution

Fall of the Soviet UnionFall of the Soviet Union} December 25, 1991: Gorbachev December 25, 1991: Gorbachev

resignsresigns} Soviet parliament vote to stop all Soviet parliament vote to stop all

party activities………………….. Soviet party activities………………….. Soviet Union falls!!Union falls!!

} By early December all 15 republics By early December all 15 republics had declared their independencehad declared their independence