1. REAGAN & GORBACHEV Reagan elected president in 1980
Former HOLLYWOOD ACTOR
GOVERNOR of California when elected
OLDEST man to serve as President

2. Reagan believed in a tough approach toward the Soviet Union (the “EVIL EMPIRE”)
Very costly MILITARY BUILDUP
STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE  proposed creation of massive satellite shield in space (nicknamed “Star Wars”)

3. Reagan INCREASED U.S. military and economic PRESSURE on the Soviet Union
CHALLENGED moral legitimacy of the Soviet Union  example: SPEECH AT BERLIN WALL
Despite fierce anti-Communist attitude, Reagan developed CLOSE FRIENDSHIP with Soviet leader Mikhail GORBACHEV

4. Gorbachev’s policies
To reform ailing Soviet system, Gorbachev instituted GLASNOST and PERESTROIKA
Glasnost: means “POLITICAL OPENESS” (freedom of speech)
Perestroika: means “RESTRUCTURING”, an economic policy to allow LIMITED free enterprise (capitalism)

5. END OF THE SOVIET UNION: REASONS FOR COLLAPSE
INCREASING Soviet military EXPENSES to compete with the United States
Rising NATIONALISM in the Soviet republics

6. Fast-paced REFORMS (market economy)
Economic INEFFICIENCY
Policies of GLASNOST and PERESTROIKA = opening up of the political system

7. Fall of Berlin Wall, Soviet Union Dissolves
NOVEMBER 9, 1989 – Berlin Wall comes down

9. Mikhail GORBACHEV RESIGNED the presidency of the Soviet Union on December 25, 1991 and the Soviet Union was DISSOLVED by the next week
Soviet Union was REPLACED by a LOOSE ALLIANCE of former Soviet republics called the COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES

10. Reagan at Brandenburg Gate