1970s Leonid Brezhnev Intent on keeping Eastern Europe under Soviet control Brezhnev Doctrine—right of USSR to intervene if necessary Heavy industry emphasized Soviet Union in trouble— economy was poor, alcoholism up, workers dissatisfied

1980s Still not looking good Ronald Reagan, President of US Used term “evil empire” to describe USSR Afghanistan Build up of military US and USSR nuclear stockpiles

Chernobyl 1986 Worst nuclear accident in history Debate on cause—some say human error and others argue the reactor design was flawed Caused 336,000 people to be resettled Accusation of Soviet cover-up Forced USSR to become more open about nuclear power 56 direct deaths and thousands more from cancer

APRIL 26, 2006 US News & World Report NUCLEAR FALLOUT. Twenty years ago, reactor No.4 of the Chernobyl power plant, 62 miles north of Kiev, in modern-day Ukraine, exploded when a routine safety test went awry. The blast released a fallout cloud with 400 times the radioactivity of Hiroshima. Today, as the world commemorates the worst nuclear accident in history, the debate still rages about the blast's effects. Of the 5 million people exposed to the radiation in Europe and the former Soviet Union, only a fraction were evacuated. In a September 2005 report, the United Nations concluded that the accident was far less lethal than originally feared, citing fewer than 60 deaths directly linked to radiation while predicting a future toll of up to 4,000 radiation-related fatalities. The report sparked an accusation of whitewashing by the environmental group Greenpeace, which countered that more than 90,000 people were likely to die of radiation-induced cancer. The disputes will no doubt continue as many countries, including the United States, take a new look at nuclear power.

RUSSIA Mikhail Gorbachev Perestroika “restructuring” Wanted to start with reforming economy and moving toward more of a market economy, but also realized would need to help Established new Soviet Parliament (first since 1918) Elected members Allowed non-Communist parties Strengthened his role— became President of the USSR

RUSSIA Gorbachev GLASNOST, “Openness” Expand freedom of press and speech Openness with west— led to increased travel and communication Stop corruption Freedom of press exposed problems in Russia- economy, alcoholism, pollution, food and housing shortages, position of women

RUSSIA Gorbachev Made an agreement with the US to limit arms buildup INF treaty signed with Reagan in 1987 Stopped giving military aid to countries in Eastern Europe Arms race slows down

Breakup of USSR As Gorbachev loosened hold of Communism, regions in USSR began to demand independence

Coup 1991 Soviet conservatives in army, government, KGB, and military became worried— thought Gorbachev made too many reforms Breakup of USSR would end their privileges Aug 19 arrested Gorbachev and tried to seize power Failed because Boris Yeltsin, president of Russian Republic resisted the rebel forces

December, 1991 Announced that the Soviet Union, “ceased to exist” Gorbachev resigned Boris Yeltsin took over

Eastern Europe Revolutions broke out after it was known that Gorbachev would not intervene

POLAND Lech Walesa, organized Solidarity, a trade union in 1980 Gained support of the workers and the Roman Catholic Church 1983 won Nobel Peace Prize for effort to free Poland from communism 1988 agreed to free parliamentary elections—first free elections in E. Europe since WWII Walesa chosen as President—tried to move to free market—but problems occurred—unemployment and discontent

Czechoslovakia – Velvet Revolution Demonstrations (peaceful) started to occur in Czechoslovakia Communist government collapsed Vaclav Havel became President New government faced differences 1993 formed Czech Republic and Slovakia “velvet divorce”

Romania 1965 Nicolae Ceausescu took over and ruled with dictatorial rule Opposition grew December 1989 secret police murdered thousands of peaceful demonstrators Army refused to support Ceausescu He was captured and executed for crimes against the state

Germany November 9,1989 East German government opened Berlin Wall. October 3, 1990 East and West Germany reunited

Cold War After WWII, Tito managed to rule Yugoslavia as independent from Russia (still Communist) After his death, ruled as collection of representatives from 6 republics and 2 provinces 1980s—looked to reform

Break up of Yugoslavia, Slovenia, and Croatia Regions wanted independence Serbia and Slobodan Milosevic wanted to avoid that UNLESS borders redrawn to allow Serbs living within Yugoslavia to create new Serbia Slovenia and Croatia declared independence in 1991— started war Eventually Slovenia and Croatia receive independence

Break up of Yugoslavia Bosnia 1992 Serbia attacks Bosnia Serbs accused of ethnic cleansing against the Muslims living in Bosnia NATO involved and Serbs agreed to loose union of a Serb Republic and a Muslim-Croat federation U S troops will serve with NATO forces

Kosovo Was an autonomous state within Serbia Milosevic attacked US and NATO involved Still unresolved

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