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THE COLD WAR - THE END
Part 3
Essential Question
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What events led to the dissolution of the Soviet
Union?
Soviet Stagnation (1964-1982)
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Krushchev was removed from power in 1964 &
Soviet Union fell into stagnation
 Planners
couldn’t predict needs of people
 No incentive to work hard
 Farms failed to produce enough food
 Consumer good were low quality
 Living standards fell
 Soviet economy couldn’t keep up with Western
 Communist Party members enjoyed privileges
Soviet Stagnation (1964-1982)
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Soviets tried to ease tensions with West, failed
when Soviet troops stopped rebellions in
Czechoslovakia & Afghanistan
Some imprisoned for demanding human rights
Soviet troops became tied up in war against
Afghani Nationalists
The Gorbachev Years (1985-1991)
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1985 – Mikhail Gorbachev takes control
Wanted to preserve Communism, but sought reform
 Glasnost
– Introduced openness, freedom of speech &
press allowed, Congress of People’s Deputies created
 Perestroika – Economic reform that allowed individuals
to own businesses
 Foreign Policy – Entered into talks with Pres. Reagan
that eventually allowed creation of democratic
governments in Eastern Europe
Iron Curtain Falls in Eastern Europe
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Poland led push for change
Solidarity, an independent trade union, was created
1981-1983 – Government tried to stop movement
Gorbachev opposed the use of force
Poland was 1st to elect a non-Communist
government
Iron Curtain Falls in Eastern Europe
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Changes promoted lifting of Curtain in other
countries
Demonstrations staged across Eastern Europe
Berlin Wall opened in November 1989
Free-elections across Eastern Europe brought nonCommunist governments to power
Gorbachev’s Problems Grow
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Policies failed to solve economic problems
Openness of Glasnost led to nationalism
Non-Russian nationalities demanded independence
1991 – Boris Yeltsin elected President of Russian
Republic
Gorbachev helpless to stop nationalism
Dissolution of Soviet Union (1991)
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August 1991 – Communist leaders temporarily took
power in a military coup
Coup collapsed & Communist Party was discredited
Gorbachev allowed many nations to become
independent in 1991
By end of 1991 the U.S.S.R. dissolved
Reunification of Germany
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West German leader negotiated reunification,
which became official at end of 1990
Germany reunited, & the capital was moved back
to Berlin
Changes Come to China
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Communist leaders introduced free-enterprise
Deng Xiaoping replaced Mao
Reformed changes made by Mao’s Cultural
Revolution
Goal was to modernize China by reforming
economy
Economic Changes under Xiaoping
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Land Reforms – State-run farms disbanded, peasants
took farms & productivity increased
Consumer Goods – Began producing more consumer
goods like TVs & radios
New Factory Management – Allowed to sell products to
buyers for profit
Limited Capitalism – Individuals could own businesses, &
became responsible for China’s industrial output
Foreign Investment – Foreign companies allowed to start
joint ventures with Chinese enterprises
Tiananmen Square
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Chinese leaders refused to abandon Communism
1989 – College students peacefully demonstrated
in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square for personal freedom
& democracy
Tanks fired on demonstrators, killing hundreds
Western leaders reduced trade with China
Now trade has resumed, & economic freedom has
made China the fastest growing economy