The End of the Cold War
The Soviet Union Declines Following WWII, little rewards for USSR. Khrushchev more freedom than Stalin Still command economy Still forced obedience in satellite nations
The Soviet Union Declines What is a command economy?
The Soviet Union Declines In USSR, command economy couldn’t match capitalism in US. Soviet goods were not good quality. Why?
The Soviet Union Declines 1985: Gorbachev Wanted to avoid Cold War tensions Signed arms control treaty with US Glasnot—Open discussion of political and social issues Perestroika (per-es-troi-ka)— Restructuring of the government and economy
The Soviet Union Declines Still economic problems Gorbachev’s policies fed unrest Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania regained independence Gorbachev resigned 1991: remaining satellite nations split and gained independence
The Berlin Wall http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-wall
Communism Fails Berlin Wall fell In Vietnam North Korea Cuba First time since 1939, Eastern European nations were free 1991: Warsaw pact crumbled In Vietnam Changed economically Encouraged tourism Exported coffee North Korea Isolationism, famine Cuba Decline without USSR support
The result? US the sole superpower