1. Foreign Policy After the Cold War

2. Mikhail Gorbachev Mikhail Gorbachev and his rise to power in the Soviet Union in 1985 marked a new era in that nation’s history. Gorbachev grew up under the oppressive regime of Joseph Stalin and refused to follow in the brutal dictator’s footsteps. Instead, Gorbachev wanted Glasnost & Perestroika for the Soviet Union

3. Glasnost & Perestroika Glasnost is the Russian term for “openness” which refers to Gorbachev’s approach to “opening” the relationship between the people and its government. Glasnost allowed –Open criticism of the government –More freedom of the press without state censorship

4. Glasnost & Perestroika Perestroika refers to “Restructuring” the Soviet society. Gorbachev wanted the government to take less of a role in dominating citizens’ lives. Perestroika called for: –Less government control of the economy –The introduction of private enterprise –Steps toward establishing a democratic government in the USSR

5. Reagan Welcomes Gorbachev’s Message President Reagan welcomed the change in Soviet attitude that Gorbachev brought about. As a result both leaders signed the Intermediate- Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF.) The INF allowed for two provisions: – the elimination of two classes of weapons systems –Voluntary on-site inspections by both countries

10. Collapse of the USSR The biggest result of Glasnost & Perestroika was the eventual collapse of the USSR. Before his resignation, Gorbachev encourage the people of East Germany and Eastern Europe to go their own ways. As a result, in 1989 the Berlin Wall was destroyed by the people of East Germany, and many of the Baltic States declared their independence.

15. Communism Falters To Americans in the late 1980s, it looked as if communism was losing its appeal world wide. Why? –USSR was breaking up –Democracy demonstrations in China –Communist influences were failing in Latin America (Nicaragua & Grenada)

17. Reagan Blunders In his efforts to stamp out communism, Reagan eventually blundered in what became known as the Iran-Contra Scandal. When a terrorist organization loyal to Iran took American prisoners in Lebanon in 1983 – Reagan – who initially vowed never to negotiate with terrorists, agreed to sell weapons to Iran for the release of the prisoners.

18. Reagan Blunders Reagan broke the law when he took the profits from the arms sales and funded the pro democracy Contras in Nicaragua to fight against the Communist Sandinistas.