1. End of the Cold War

2. A Weakened Soviet Union
The long rule of Leonid Brezhnev ( ) saw the USSR rise to the height of its power & then begin decline

3. Declining Economy By the late 1970’s, the Soviet economy is shrinking
Key indicators in decline:
Industrial & Farm Production
Medical Care
Population Growth
Education
Food importation needed
Government corruption is widespread

4. Solidarity Movement Lech Walesa forms Solidarity Movement in Poland
1980
Demonstrates Soviet weakness

5. US-Soviet Relations Improve
Death of Brezhnev ultimately leads to visionary new leader in 1985
Mikhail Gorbachev
Believed striking a deal with US was only way to save Soviet economy
Glasnost ended media censorship
Perestroika restructured Soviet government

6. The End Is Near
Calls for glasnost and perestroika awakened hopes for freedom throughout Soviet Empire
A spirit of nationalism arises in Eastern Europe

7. Eastern Europe Crumbles
Gorbachev knew Soviets couldn’t afford to support Eastern Europe countries
Removes troops and warns of reform
Many citizens don’t wait that long
All across Europe, revolutions break out in late 1980’s

8. REVOLUTION Poland: Hungary: Czechoslovakia: Romania:
Solidarity Movement forces free elections (1990)
Hungary:
Opens border to Austria & many flee to freedom (1989)
Czechoslovakia:
Nonviolent (Velvet Revolution) sweeps out communists.
Romania:
Demonstrators bring down dictator who is then publicly executed.

9. Fall of Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall was repressive symbol of Soviet Communism
Rising protests lead East German government to open gates of wall in November 1989
Thousands go through to freedom
Both sides climb wall and begin tearing it down
World watches in awe
Germany re-united less than year later

11. End of the Soviet Union
Hard-liners seize Gorbachev in coup before he can sign bill granting Soviet citizens partial freedoms
Boris Yeltsin, leader of Russian Republic comes to his aid
As soldiers & tanks come to arrest Yeltsin, a mass of unarmed Soviet citizens surround them
Yeltsin climbs on tank & soldiers take no action.

12. The End Gorbachev was released
He had unleashed forces that now overwhelmed him
Soviet republics begin declaring independence
Gorbachev resigns and no one replaces him
Soviet Union is dissolved.