COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION

UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS (USSR)

EQ: What was the USA’s involvement in the collapse of the Soviet Union?

Post-1975 Pretest

1. Which nation collapsed on December 25, 1991?

a. The U.S.S.R c. The United Kingdomb. The U.S. d. Brazil

2. After September 22, 2001, how did the U.S. try to improve security?

a. U.S. borders were permanently closed.b. Airlines no longer land in the U.S.c. The Patriot Act passed.d. The U.S. jailed all September 11th hijackers.

3. With what country did the U.S. fight against in the Persian War?

a. Afghanistan c. Israelb. Kuwait d. Iraq

4. What organization is responsible for the 9/11 attacks?

a. Saddam Hussein c. Democratsb. Al Qaeda d. Kuwait

5. President Bush declared_________ in response to the 9/11 attacks.

a. Operation Desert Storm c. Civil Warb. War on Iraq d. War on

Terrorism

• In 1985, Gorbachev became the leader of the Soviet Union.

• Gorbachev knew his country could not continue an arms race against the USA.

• The Soviet economy was in bad shape. Many Soviets were poor and hurting.

•

Mikhail Gorbachev

The Soviet Union could not keep spending billions of dollars on nuclear weapons; it needed to spend more on improving production and providing basic needs for its citizens.

Under Gorbachev, the USSR made changes that allowed more freedom and some capitalism – he even allowed freedom of speech for the first time.

Free speech?!

Once the people in these countries got a taste of freedom, many of them did not want to remain citizens under communist governments anymore – now that they could speak out, citizens demanded independence.

By the late 80’s, communist governments began to fall and many Eastern European countries replaced their old communist regimes with more democratic forms of government and allowed more capitalism.

Ronald Reagan1981 – 1989

Pressured the U.S.S.R. to break apart.

“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall”

U.S. offered to help them rebuild governments

Berlin Wall Built in 1961

Berlin Wall

Action in Germany

Germany became a unified country once again.

The East German government opened the border between East & West Berlin!

People celebrated in the streets, climbing on the Berlin Wall and breaking it apart with hammers and chisels.

Berlin Wall coming down!

Eventually, the Soviet Union dissolved in

the early ‘90s. It broke into several independent

countries. The collapse of the Soviet Union marked

the end of the Cold War and Western fears about communism in Europe.

No more Iron Curtain!

Fall of Berlin Wall Knocked it down because it was

no longer necessary – allowed people to travel back and forth between E & W Berlin

Collapse of USSR

Fall or breakdown of USSR – countries were independent to have their own government