The Fall of the Soviet Union 1970s to 1991 Cold War
Leonid Brezhnev and Détente Post Khrushchev – why was he retired? High-ranking officials were worried that he was trying to undercut their authority USSR sees Arms race as unsustainable DETENTE – the relaxation of Cold War tensions during the 1970s Brought in to ease relations between the superpowers and restore Soviet dignity
The Prague Spring Alexander Dubeck and Czechoslovakia want a little of what Poland and Hungary want Students again… People are tired of working for the state Want to be independent bridge between superpowers Soviets invade after “too much independence” US watches…again
Brezhnev Doctrine 26 Sept 1968 “When forces…try to turn the development of some socialist country towards capitalism, it becomes…a common problem and concern of all socialist countries.”
US Finally Wins Space Soviet tragedies set back program US develops Saturn V rocket and learns secrets of linking crafts in space 16 July 1969 – Apollo 11
And then the 1970s… Vietnam failure Nixon and Watergate Carter’s presidency (1973) Oil crisis – OPEC decided to cut back on fuel production and that hurt US as fuel prices rose sharply Soviets in Afghanistan Iron Hostage Crisis student revolutionaries took control of the US embassy in Tehran Reagan released $8 billion in assets and the hostages were freed after 444 days Three Mile Island and Love Canal Nuclear meltdown
The Communists Strike Back In the 1970s, communist movements spread into Africa, the Middle East, South America, and Central Asia US stock falls
“Help us Ronald Reagan, you’re our only hope” 1980 election – Reagan runs to oppose spread of communism Raises defense spending Star War Liberals see him as dangerous…what is he doing?
Afghanistan and Reagan Afghan War spending combined with new US arms race, cause Soviet economic disaster Social programs cut Soviets can’t buy bread and guns at the same time…
Mikhail Gorbachev: The Last Hope Perestrokia Economic restructuring Capitalism? Glasnost Social openness Freedoms of press and speech
1989 In the wake of Gorbachev renouncing Brezhnev… Solidarity leads Poland (Lech Walesa) Backed by Pope John Paul II (assassination attempt b/c of threat) Berlin Wall falls 9 Nov 1989
Other States Fall… Hungary Bulgaria Czechoslovakia (Velvet Revolution and Vaclav Havel) Romania (Ceausescu) Freedom!!
Christmas 1991 Aug 1991 – hardliners seize power and Gorbachev Boris Yeltsin (President of the Russian Republic) “leads people to freedom” 25 December 1991 USSR bans communism
The Return of the Jedi