1. Chapter 29: The Western World (since 1970)
Michael Prygoski
Morgan Potter

2. Key Individuals
Mikhail Gorbachev- Soviet President who helped bring the Cold War to an end.
Leonid Brezhnev- Soviet leader who refused change in the USSR, preceded Gorbachev.
Boris Yeltsin- Russian President after the Soviet break-up.

3. Key Individuals Continued
Vladimir Putin- Ex-KGB member who replaced Yeltson as head of Russia.
Margaret Thatcher- Great Britain’s first female Prime Minister, was very anti-union and anti-soviet.

4. Key Events
Reunification of Germany/Fall of the Berlin Wall, caused by the collapse of the USSR, and led to a unified Germany.
Break up of the Soviet Union, caused by economic conditions and the change in leadership under Gorbachev, led to the formation of today’s Europe.

5. Key Events Cont.
Revolutions of 1989, caused by Gorbachev’s promise of Soviet nonintervention, led to the formation of many new nations in eastern Europe.
Wars in Bosnia and Kosovo, caused by ethic tensions in Yugoslavia, led to the break up of Yugoslavia and the downfall of Milosevic.

6. Abstracts Revolutions
Perestroika- Gorbachev’s policy of restructuring in the Soviet Union.
March Gorbachev becomes first President of the Soviet Union.
Revolutions
Poland- led by Lech Walesa and the Solidarity movement.
Albania- took longer than other nations, first free election in 1991.
Hungary- Changes brought in by Kadar.

7. Abstracts Cont.
Czechoslovakia- Vaclav Havel helped lead the revolution in Czechoslovakia.
Romania- Changes ushered in by the National Salvation Front.
Bulgaria- revolution occurred thanks to the United Democratic Front.
War in Bosnia- Fought between Serbs and Bosnian Muslims, intervention occurred against the Serbs by the U.S. and NATO.
War in Kosovo- fought between the Yugoslavian army and the KLA. Helped to end the rule of Milosevic ultimately leading to him being charged with war crimes.

8. Key Themes and Movements
Fracturing of the Soviet Union- caused by multiple reasons including economic and political reasons, the splitting of the USSR led to the birth of new nations and the acknowledgment of the U.S. as the main world power.
End of the Cold War- Allowed for both sides, the U.S. and Soviet Union, to relax on their military programs and cut spending in order to improve other parts of their nations. Also ended the many alliances and rivalries and allowed for a less divided union of world nations.

9. Key Themes Cont.
Economic Decline of the 1970’s- First global recession after WWII and led to many decisions which would ultimately lead to the breaking up of the Soviet Union.
Rise of Democracy- Due to the collapse of the Soviet Union many new nations were formed in which the people wanted top have a say. Led to Europe as it is today.

10. Cultural Movements Philosophy Women’s Equality Terrorism Democracy
Green Movement
Art Styles
Pop Art
Postmodernism
Abstractionism

11. Intellectual Movements
Advances in Medicine
Computer Technology
Transportation Advances
Green Energy

12. Necessities Reunification of Germany/ Fall of the Berlin Wall
Breaking up of the Soviet Union
End of the Cold War
Eastern European Revolutions and Wars