1. The Fall of the Soviet Union
Christmas Day, 1991

2. Initial Goals Soviet Union established in 1918:
Unite disparate people;
Centralize Economy;
Centralize Government.
Initial Goals

3. Problems Non-Russian ethnic groups
Economic Failure- Arms and Military Buildup strained economy
Totalitarian Government
Problems

4. “…that much of what happened to the Soviet Union did so because freedom had been disregarded, scorned and neglected. One of the main aims of the October Revolution had been freedom, and yet its victory did not free the people. Freedom can exist only in conditions of real democracy.”
Stalin Triumph and Tragedy, Dmitri Volkogonov, page 551
Soviet Indictment

5. The USSR represented the union of 15 different republics that joined together in one nation. The government and economy of these republics was highly centralized and controlled in Moscow.
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)
USSR

6. In addition, after WWII, there were a number of countries in Eastern Europe whose governments supported the policies of the USSR.
These countries were called satellites of the USSR.
Satellites

7. Google Image Result for http://users. erols
Google Image Result for ussr1950.gif
Soviet Satellites: e_USSR%27s_satellite_nations
Russia

8. As the 1970’s ended, it seemed that the US and the western powers were facing numerous challenges.
Chief among these were the economic problems facing the US and England.
Cold War

9. 1980’s: A decade of Recovery
Major change in Economic Policy (Starting in 1978 with a new Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volker)
Election Of Reagan in 1980:
Supply Side Revolution: reduce taxes and regulation and the economy will take off
Led to 25 year Economic Improvement
1980’s: A decade of Recovery

10. Similar changes were taking place in England with the election of Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister in 1978
A move toward conservative government in the west
England

11. In addition to economic recovery, President Reagan also stepped up the arms race.
The USSR, in order to keep up, had to significantly increase its spending on military weapons and systems.
Challenges to the USSR

12. Afghan War (Dec 1979 to Feb 1989)
Soviet troops fight Afghans, who are supported by a wide variety of countries, including the US. Major US support goes to the Mujahidden (now our enemy in Afgahistan).
Economic Stagnation
Political Unrest threough much of Eastern Europe (Solidarity in Poland)
March 11, Mikhail Gorbachev takes over
1985

13. Gorbachev was a different leader than the USSR had previously had
Gorbachev was a different leader than the USSR had previously had. He fully understood the problems that the USSR faced at the time.
When asked about farming in the country, consider Gorbachev’s response in this passage from The End of the Cold War by Robert Service page 111:
““Everyone always says that everything’s going well, but that’s wrong. In fact agriculture is a disaster across the whole USSR.” Taken aback, Chernenko asked “Since when?” Gorbachev, unabashed, responded: “Since 1917”.
Gorbachev

14. Gorbachev

15. Two Tiered Approach Glasnost Perestroika Freedom of speech
Economic reform or rebuilding
Two Tiered Approach

16. Dilemma Freedom of speech is easy and quick to grant and accomplish;
Economic reform is slow and painful; corruption and entrenched bureaucracy are more difficult to change.
Citizens used free speech to complain about the lack of economic improvement.
Dilemma

17. YouTube - The Collapse of the Soviet Union
End of the Line

18. Challenges Republics start to demand autonomy from the Soviet Union
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine, Meldova, Byelorussia
Challenges

19. Gorbachev decides not to use force to put down the protests; Unlike previous challenges to state in Hungary or Czechoslovakia
Response

20. Coup D'état Gorbachev kidnapped August 1991; “Too sick to lead”;
Massive protests;
Military sides with people, not with coup leaders;
Coup collapses within 3 days.
Coup D'état

21. Collapse Gorbachev realizes he could no longer lead;
Dec 25, 1991 he resigns;
Jan 1992, Soviet Union ceases to exist
Collapse

22. WHY? What explanations do you have for why the USSR failed?
Economic Problems
Arms Race
US Intervention
Increased Flow of Information
What can we learn from the fall of the USSR? How can you relate this to the on-going problems the world faces today?
WHY?

23. Google Image Result for http://users. erols
Google Image Result for ussr1950.gif
Soviet Union Collapse

24. Commonwealth of Independent Republics
Countries linked by: economic and military ties,
BUT
Complete political independence
Commonwealth of Independent Republics

25. There still remain disputes over territory (Soviet aggression in Crimea and Ukraine)
And Economic and Social problems remain
What indicators would you look at to see how well Russia is doing?
CIA - The World Factbook -- Russia
Problems

26. “Christmas Presents”

27. What benefits (presents) would the US and the world see from the end of the Cold War?
“Peace Dividend”- reduced military spending
Economic Benefit
Change focus of decision making: How do you think this changes things for the US?
End of Cold War