2. The Soviet Union was slowly going
bankrupt….
The space race and
arms race severely
hurt the Soviet
economy.
Attempting to spread
communism ALSO
weakened the Soviet
economy.
As the Soviet people
saw their economy
crumbling, discontent
began to grow in the
Soviet Union.
3. Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev was elected Soviet
leader in 1982.
He slowly moved the Soviet state from
totalitarianism.
Supported perestroika (economic
restructuring) which allowed private
property.
And glasnost (openness) which allowed
the people more rights and freedoms
5. Reagan
Ronald Reagan was
elected president in
1980 and immediately
went on the offensive
against communism.
Called the Soviet Union
an “EVIL EMPIRE”
Proposed the Strategic
Defense Initiative - a
satellite and ground
based protection from
nukes.
6. A Cold War Thaws….
In 1985, Gorbachev
and Reagan met in
person and began
discussing ways to limit
the Cold War.
They agreed to limit
their weapon stockpiles
and end the arms race.
Gorbachev agreed to
democratization, or
allowing the people to
choose their
grovernment.
7. Meanwhile….
At the same time that the Soviet Union
began to change, Eastern European
countries began hungering for freedom.
Countries behind the Iron Curtain were
poor but could see their nearby
neighboring countries were wealthy.
This led to the growth of resistance
movements against the Soviet controllers.
9. Two Examples
The Polish Solidarity
movement used strikes to
gain recognition.
They elected Lech Walesa
as the first democratically
elected leader of Poland.
In Hungary, they literally
cut a hole in the fences
separating them from
freedom.
Because of this example,
the Hungarian people
overthrew their communist
government in 1989.
10. “Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall”
These events inspired the East Germans.
In 1989, East Germans began tearing down the
Berlin Wall.
When the Wall was torn down, Germany was
finally reunited as one democratic country.
The ultimate symbol of Soviet oppression was
destroyed.
11. Finally
Events throughout
Europe began
inspiring states in the
Soviet Union to want
freedom also.
Lithuania was the
first to declare
independence in
1990.
Although Gorbachev
tried to blockade
them, he failed.
This led to the Soviet
Union falling apart in
1991.
