1. May 21, 2014
Goal: Examine the policies of President Reagan and President Gorbachev that led to the thawing of the Cold War as well as the changes seen in Eastern Europe.
QOD: What do you know about President Ronald Reagan?
Homework: Study for your test tomorrow!!! Binders due tomorrow!!!

2. End of the Cold War

3. Fall of Communism
Glasnost and Perestroika resulted in chaos. This led to uprisings
Satellite countries began to declare independence from the USSR
Russian Republic led by Boris Yeltsin wanted more reform and called for Democracy and a Market Economy
1991 official breakup of the Soviet Union

4. I. Gorbachev tries Reform
1985 Mikhail Gorbachev comes to power and makes changes
Signed arms control treaty with US
Pulled out of Afghanistan
Ended censorship
Restructured government and economy to make it more efficient by giving people more control over factories and farms

5. USSR Crumbles
Gorbachev’s early reforms brought $ problems to Russia…more shortages, high unemployment, prices rose.
Countries along the Baltic wanted independence (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania).
Strict Soviets wanted Gorbachev out…staged an overthrow that didn’t work so he resigned.
By 1991, 12 satellite nations became independent.

6. Hungary calls for reform
When Gorbachev’s started losing power, countries like Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Poland pushed for freedom (revolts grew).
Staying loyal to the Warsaw Pact, Hungary pushed reforms like expanding market economy, new political parties, opening the border with Austria.
Hungary pushed for more, but Soviets squashed further freedoms using tanks and force.

7. Poland and East Germans Demand Change
By 1980, Poland’s workers fought for political and economic changes…the beginning of the end.
Lech Walesa (Solidarity leader) led workers on strikes and to force the issues of change. He is arrested and the people fight for his release.
In Germany, many East Germans, seeing the freedoms of West Germany and other countries, crossed the wall/borders. Others demonstrated.

8. Communist Governments Fall and Czechoslovakia Splits
By the late 1980s, Gorbachev said he wouldn’t interfere with Eastern European reforms allowing countries to do as they wish!
In Poland, Lech Walesa is elected president in the first free elections.
By 1989, one by one communist gov’t fell…no more communism.
In Czechoslovakia, a new president is elected and there is a peaceful division of the country…now two Czech Republic and Slovakia.
By 1991, the symbol of the Cold War, the division in our world between communism and capitalism was being taken down – the Berlin Wall.

9. Fall Of the Berlin Wall http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjWDrTXMgF8
Q. Why is the Berlin Wall so important?