The End of the Bipolar World (1989-1991) (http://www.frccusa.org/END%20OF%20COLD%20WAR%206-1-88.jpg) (http://www.freedomagenda.com/images/1989-11-09_People_freed_from_communist_East_Germany_for_first_time_in_40_years_as_the_Berlin_Wall_is_torn_down_November_11_1989.jpg) The End of the Bipolar World (1989-1991) Victores, Alejandro – Period 3 AP Due: 3/31/2009 Mr. Marshall

Crisis in the Soviet Union Heavy burdens were placed on the Soviet economy by the Cold War, which had to support development of weapons systems to compete with those in development by the U.S. (Bulliet 858) Production (industrially and agriculturally) within the Soviet Union decreased and social morale decreased with it, thus prompting Mikhail Gorbachev (who became secretary of the Communist Party in 1985) to pursue policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring). (Andrea 511) The perestroika was an attempt to form limited market economy in the Soviet Union (while still maintaining a Communist system of control and centralization of power). (http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/soviet.exhibit/perest.html) This policy of profitability coupled with Communist political ideologies created further economic difficulties (i.e. shortages of goods) and prompted social unrest. (http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/soviet.exhibit/perest.html) Also during Gorbachev’s time in power, nuclear arms treaties were signed with the United States to avoid conflicts. (Armstrong 260) As a result of Gorbachev’s new policies, the Soviet Union seemed to be “re-evaluating” itself, thus causing it to look weaker in the eyes of other nations. (Armstrong 260) Former Soviet Premiere Mikhail Gorbachev (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/news/02/03/images/mikhailGorbachev.jpg )

The Collapse of the Socialist Bloc Changes in the Soviet Union were fueled by the formation of Solidarity, a labor union, and by the emboldened Polish people (who received support from the Catholic Church). (Bulliet 859) Solidarity remained a strong national force in Poland through the 1980’s, and leaders of many communist nations lost faith in the Soviets when Gorbachev loosened power after the mid 1980’s. (Bulliet 859) As 1989 ended, many Communist governments in eastern Europe collapsed and Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria initiated political reforms. (Bulliet 859) Among these reforms were the adoption of economic systems modeled after capitalism. (Armstrong 260) After the fall of the Berlin Wall, patriotism spread throughout what was once East Germany and the reunification of Germany in 1990 was met with no military opposition. (Bulliet 859) On December 24, 1991, the USSR dissolved into fifteen independent nations, the largest of which was Russia (which had been ruled by Boris Yeltsin); Gorbachev no longer had a union to preside over. (Spodek 658) Above, the Berlin Wall collapses marking the end of a divided Germany. (http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41120000/jpg/_41120924_berlinwall_ap203b.jpg)

Eastern Europe in Late 1991 This map depicts Eastern Europe after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the separation of formerly Soviet states into independent nations. (http://chnm.gmu.edu/1989/archive/fullsize/commonwealth_db48968fc3.jpg)

The Persian Gulf War 1990-1991 The Persian Gulf War was the first significant global conflict to take place after the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. (Bulliet 861) Saddam Hussein (Iraq’s ruler) had borrowed large sums of money from Kuwait’s royal family and sought a decrease in his debt in addition to control of Kuwaiti oil fields. (Bulliet 861) In August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait (in hopes of doubling its oils reserves). (Bulliet 861) In 1991, the U.S. and UN sent forces to remove Iraqis from Kuwait. (Armstrong 270) Rapids success of these American and UN forces caused Iraq to be humiliated and punished with UN monitoring, limits on military activity, and economic sanctions. (Armstrong 270) Regardless of this, the UN did not make efforts to remove Saddam Hussein from power and he continued to maintain a brutal dictatorship (violating key portions of the peace treaty that allowed him to keep power after invading Kuwait). (Armstrong 270) A possible effect of an Iraqi victory in the Persian Gulf War would have been an increase in oil prices (as Iraq would have controlled a large portion of the world’s oil reserves). (http://www3.northstar.k12.ak.us/schools/nph/twt/storm/gulfwar.htm) Above, tanks cross the desert in the Persian Gulf War of 1991. (http://www.israeli-weapons.com/history/desert_storm/ds_abrams.jpg)

Bibliography Andrea, Alfred J., and James H. Overfield. Human Record. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. Armstrong, Monty. Cracking the AP World History Exam 2009 Edition. 200th ed. New York, NY: The Princeton Review, Inc., 2009. BBC NEWS | News Front Page. 28 Mar. 2009 <http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41120000/jpg/_41120924_berlinwall_ap203b.jpg>. Bulliet, Richard W. The Earth And Its Peoples A Global History. 3rd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. Center for History and New Media. 28 Mar. 2009 <http://chnm.gmu.edu/1989/archive/fullsize/commonwealth_db48968fc3.jpg>. Columbia University in the City of New York. 28 Mar. 2009 <http://www.columbia.edu/cu/news/02/03/images/mikhailGorbachev.jpg>. Freedom Agenda. 28 Mar. 2009 <http://www.freedomagenda.com/images/1989-11-09_People_freed_from_communist_East_Germany_for_first_time_in_40_years_as_the_Berlin_Wall_is_torn_down_November_11_1989.jpg>. "Perestroika." Ibiblio ebooks. 28 Mar. 2009 <http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/soviet.exhibit/perest.html>. "Persian Gulf War." 28 Mar. 2009 <http://www3.northstar.k12.ak.us/schools/nph/twt/storm/gulfwar.htm>. Spodek, Howard. The World's History Combined (2nd Edition). Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2000. Weapons. 28 Mar. 2009 <http://www.israeli-weapons.com/history/desert_storm/ds_abrams.jpg>. Welcome to the Russian Cultural Centre Hompage. 28 Mar. 2009 <http://www.frccusa.org/END%20OF%20COLD%20WAR%206-1-88.jpg>.