The Soviet Union Falls ApartThe Soviet Union Falls ApartChapter 21Chapter 21

A New PhaseA New Phase

By the 1970’s the Cold War had entered a new phase called detentDetent – a relaxation of tensions and

improved relations b/w the two superpowers

By 1979 the collapse of the detent had began a new period of East-West confrontation

By the 1970’s the Cold War had entered a new phase called detentDetent – a relaxation of tensions and

improved relations b/w the two superpowers

By 1979 the collapse of the detent had began a new period of East-West confrontation

WatergateWatergate

US President Richard Nixon uses illegal methods to gain info about his political opponents Men working for Nixon’s reelection campaign

break into the Democratic National Headquarters and try to bug it

At the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C.Nixon repeatedly denied his involvement,

but…White house tapes emerged that proved his

involvement

US President Richard Nixon uses illegal methods to gain info about his political opponents Men working for Nixon’s reelection campaign

break into the Democratic National Headquarters and try to bug it

At the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C.Nixon repeatedly denied his involvement,

but…White house tapes emerged that proved his

involvement

Nixon ResignsNixon Resigns

August 9, 1974 – Nixon resigns the presidency and his VP Gerald Ford b/c presidentNixon resigned so he would not have to

face impeachmentFord does not win the next presidential

electionJimmy Carter becomes president in 19761980 – Ronald Reagan b/c president

August 9, 1974 – Nixon resigns the presidency and his VP Gerald Ford b/c presidentNixon resigned so he would not have to

face impeachmentFord does not win the next presidential

electionJimmy Carter becomes president in 19761980 – Ronald Reagan b/c president

Tensions GrowTensions Grow

1979 – SU invades AfghanistanSU wanted to restore a pro-Soviet regime

thereUS viewed this as an act of communist

expansionUS President Jimmy Carter…

Canceled US participation in the 1980 Olympics to be held in Moscow

Placed an embargo on the shipment of US grain to the SU

1979 – SU invades AfghanistanSU wanted to restore a pro-Soviet regime

thereUS viewed this as an act of communist

expansionUS President Jimmy Carter…

Canceled US participation in the 1980 Olympics to be held in Moscow

Placed an embargo on the shipment of US grain to the SU

Tensions Get WorseTensions Get Worse

The Cold War gets worse when Ronald Reagan was elected president in 1980

Reagan… Called the SU an “evil empire”Built up the military & b/g a new arms

raceGave military aid to Afghan rebels to

prevent the SU from taking over Afghanistan

The Cold War gets worse when Ronald Reagan was elected president in 1980

Reagan… Called the SU an “evil empire”Built up the military & b/g a new arms

raceGave military aid to Afghan rebels to

prevent the SU from taking over Afghanistan

Beginning of the EndBeginning of the End

1985 – Mikhail Gorbachev comes to power in the SU

Gorbachev…Eventually brings an end to the Cold WarEncouraged glasnost

Glasnost – a policy of openness in discussions of public policy

Gorbachev’s “New Thinking” campaignA willingness to rethink SU foreign policy

1985 – Mikhail Gorbachev comes to power in the SU

Gorbachev…Eventually brings an end to the Cold WarEncouraged glasnost

Glasnost – a policy of openness in discussions of public policy

Gorbachev’s “New Thinking” campaignA willingness to rethink SU foreign policy

Making PeaceMaking Peace

1987 – SU and US make an agreementIntermediate-range Nuclear Force (INF)

TreatyTo eliminate intermediate-range nuclear weapons

Gorbachev stopped giving SU military support to communist govts. in Eastern EuropeOpens the door to overthrow the communist

regimes in Eastern European countriesA mostly peaceful revolutionary mvmt swept

through Eastern Europe

1987 – SU and US make an agreementIntermediate-range Nuclear Force (INF)

TreatyTo eliminate intermediate-range nuclear weapons

Gorbachev stopped giving SU military support to communist govts. in Eastern EuropeOpens the door to overthrow the communist

regimes in Eastern European countriesA mostly peaceful revolutionary mvmt swept

through Eastern Europe

Germany ReunitedGermany Reunited

1990 – Reunification of GermanyEastern Germany opened its borders to

Western GermanyPeople b/g to tear down the Berlin Wall

The govt. orders the rest of the wall to be torn down

A powerful symbol of the end of the Cold War!!!

1990 – Reunification of GermanyEastern Germany opened its borders to

Western GermanyPeople b/g to tear down the Berlin Wall

The govt. orders the rest of the wall to be torn down

A powerful symbol of the end of the Cold War!!!

Gorbachev Reforms the SU

Gorbachev Reforms the SU

Perestroika – restructuring (radical reforms)

Gorbachev’s perestroika1. Economic reform – start a market

economy where consumers influenced what was produced

Have free enterprise (private ownership of business)

Have private property

Perestroika – restructuring (radical reforms)

Gorbachev’s perestroika1. Economic reform – start a market

economy where consumers influenced what was produced

Have free enterprise (private ownership of business)

Have private property

More ReformsMore Reforms

2. Political reforms by GorbachevEstablished a new SU parliament

Members were to be electedNon-Communist political parties were allowed

to organizeGot rid of the constitutional provision that

guaranteed the Communist Party a “leading role” in govt.

Created a new state presidency1990 Gorbachev b/c the SU first (and last)

president

2. Political reforms by GorbachevEstablished a new SU parliament

Members were to be electedNon-Communist political parties were allowed

to organizeGot rid of the constitutional provision that

guaranteed the Communist Party a “leading role” in govt.

Created a new state presidency1990 Gorbachev b/c the SU first (and last)

president

Gorbachev ArrestedGorbachev Arrested

Gorbachev’s reforms threaten the power of traditional SU institutionsThe army, govt., KGB, and military industries

The end of the SU would mean an end to their privileges

August 1991 – a group of conservative leaders arrest Gorbachev and try to seize powerTheir attempt was a failure

Now rebels led by Boris Yeltsin go after full independence

Gorbachev’s reforms threaten the power of traditional SU institutionsThe army, govt., KGB, and military industries

The end of the SU would mean an end to their privileges

August 1991 – a group of conservative leaders arrest Gorbachev and try to seize powerTheir attempt was a failure

Now rebels led by Boris Yeltsin go after full independence

End of the Soviet UnionEnd of the Soviet Union

Boris Yeltsin and thousands of Russians resisted the rebel forces in MoscowThey get full independence!

December 1991 – the Soviet Union is no longer Russia is back!Gorbachev resigns and turns over his

presidential office to YeltsinYeltsin is now the president of Russia By 2000 Vladimir Putin replaced Yeltsin

Boris Yeltsin and thousands of Russians resisted the rebel forces in MoscowThey get full independence!

December 1991 – the Soviet Union is no longer Russia is back!Gorbachev resigns and turns over his

presidential office to YeltsinYeltsin is now the president of Russia By 2000 Vladimir Putin replaced Yeltsin