1. Cold War Thaws
Soviet Union to Today.

2. Russian Leaders After Stalin!
2. Khruschev (1953 –1964)
Eliminated KGB “de-Stalinization”
Peaceful coexistence
Cold War
1956 – crushed Hungarian Revolution
1961 –built Berlin Wall
1962 – Cuban Missile Crisis

3. 3. Brezhnev (1964 – 1982)
Repression of Human Rights “Re-Stalinization”
1968-sent Russian troops to Czechoslovakia Brezhnev Doctrine
1972 – SALT I signed, Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty
1979 – Afghanistan Invasion – their Vietnam

4. Solidarity, a labor union in Poland was formed
Solidarity, a labor union in Poland was formed. Demanded end of Communist power in Poland. Martial law (strict military rule) declared in Poland. Stalemate reached. Polish leader, Lech Walesa, is awarded Nobel peace Prize for efforts in Poland. Suppression of human rights continues until 1988.

5. 1989 – Solidarity regains power
1990 – Lech Walesa is elected President
1980 Carter imposes a grain embargo and USA boycotts Olympic Games in Moscow.

6. 5. Andropov (1982 – 1984)
1983 – Korean Airline shot down by soviet plane and 269 killed.
6. Chernenko (1984 –1985)
Led Soviet boycott of L.A. Olympic games

7. Gorbachev (1985 – 1993)
Reformer, 2nd Russian Revolution
SOCIAL : Glasnost: a policy of greater openness, greater freedom of speech and press, within the Soviet Union as well as foreign openness.

8. POLITICAL: Democratization: people given voice in gov’t other political parties allowed.
ECONOMIC: Perestroika: restructuring of Soviet economy and society. – allowed some private ownership in business.

9. Dissidents, those speaking out against the Soviet regime, were released from prison.
Rise of nationalism created tensions in Soviet Union. Soviet Union included 15 republics as well as 120 ethnic groups.
1990: Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia demanded independence. Other Republics followed their lead.
1991 – Coup against Gorbachev failed. In the Russian republic, President Boris Yeltsin denounced the Coup. Gorbachev returned to power.

10. 12/91 – it was evident that the Soviet Union ceased to be
12/91 – it was evident that the Soviet Union ceased to be. The republic joined together in a Commonwealth of Independent States; 12/25/91- Gorbachev resigned as President of the Soviet Union.
This Commonwealth is a union of equal Republics with Russia playing the leading role. Russia has control of the nuclear arsenal and the Russian republic controls the Soviet Union’s former seat in the UN Security Council.
Vladimir Putin, former KGB, (2000) became president. Today he is prime minister.